At Hargrave Family Law, we help Dallas-Fort Worth families handle child support matters with a focus on your child’s long-term stability.
Since 2013, our team has used collaborative, non-adversarial strategies to protect children, reduce conflict, and help parents make empowered and informed decisions that set their children up to thrive.
In a county of about 2.66 million residents, where 24.5% are under 18, reliable child support can make a real difference for many Dallas families.
Our firm works to make the child support process more manageable for you by explaining your options in clearly and helping you build practical solutions around your child’s needs. You do not have to figure this out alone.
Understanding Child Support and Why It’s Important in Dallas
Child support is court-ordered financial help for a child’s everyday needs, including housing, food, clothing, and medical support. “The Texas Office of the Attorney General oversees child support in Texas, monitoring payments disbursed by the Texas State Disbursement Unit.
In Dallas, child support is usually set using Texas guideline formulas, but the court can adjust the amounts awarded when the facts of a case call for it. Texas courts look at the child’s needs, each parent’s ability to provide support, custody arrangements, and healthcare coverage.
For example, Texas guideline support for one child is commonly 20% of a parent’s net resources, but unique medical or education needs may call for additional child support to better meet the child’s needs.
Texas child support state guidelines are reviewed at least once every four years to evaluate whether guideline amounts remain appropriate in relation to inflation and other factors. That is why Dallas parents benefit from clear, up-to-date legal guidance when confronting child support decisions.
Our experienced Dallas family law attorneys understand the intricacies of the Texas child support process and will guide you toward resolutions that protect their children’s well-being. Whenever possible, we use collaborative and non-adversarial methods to minimize conflict and reach resolutions that serve your children’s needs.
Our Child Support Services in Dallas
- Child Support Establishment
- Child Support Modification
- Child Support Enforcement
- Child Support Review
- Income Withholding Issues
- Medical Support Matters
- Child Custody & Support
- Post-Divorce Modifications
Why Clients Choose Hargrave Family Law
Clients across Dallas-Fort Worth choose Hargrave Family Law because they want clear guidance and a process that respects their family, their privacy, and their future.
- Board-Certification in Family Law
Board Certification in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization is a meaningful mark of proven experience in this field. We have attorneys and paralegals who have reached this distinction, and are ready to skillfully guide you through your case.
- A Dignified, Resolution-Focused Approach
We offer collaborative, non-adversarial strategies that help reduce conflict, protect children from unnecessary fallout, and keep decisions aligned with your values and goals for your children.
- Trusted by High-Net-Worth Clients
When divorce involves businesses, executive compensation,or other non-standard compensation , clients choose a team built to handle sensitive financial matters strategically. Alternative child support agreements can be created to make sure your children have what they need to thrive in a way that makes sense for your family.
- Recognized Excellence
Clients often feel reassured by our reputation and respected honors such as inclusion in Best Lawyers in America® and Tier 1 Best Law Firms®, as well as Texas Super Lawyers®, and AVVO recognition.
- Support Beyond the Legal Case
Hargrave Family Law focuses on empowering clients with information, resources, and steady communication so they can make informed decisions and make sure their children are supported.
How Child Support Is Calculated in Texas
In Texas, child support is based on the paying parent’s net resources, not gross income. That can include wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, and certain other earnings . The court then applies guideline percentages based on the number of children involved.
Texas also places a cap on the income used for standard guideline support, which can be especially important in higher-income cases. Often medical and dental support is also awarded. In most cases, that results in a final guideline amount that is presumed to be appropriate, but it does not fit every family.
Judges can order a different amount of child support when the facts support it. Reasons for this may include a child’s medical or educational needs or unusual expenses.
When child support is being calculated, a careful review of income, expenses, and the child’s needs can make a meaningful difference.
Modifying Child Support Orders
Child support orders can be changed, but certain hurdles must be cleared. . In Texas, a court may modify support when there has been a “material and substantial change” in circumstances, such as job loss, a major income increase, a change in custody, disability, or new medical needs for the child.
In some cases, a review may also support a change if the current order no longer matches Texas guideline support.
The most important thing to know is that you cannot privately rewrite the court’s child support and assume it will be enforceable, even if you and your ex-partner agree. Unless a judge signs a new child support order, the existing order is in effect and enforceable.
Enforcing Child Support Orders
If child support is not being consistently paid, enforcement options are available to you. Our goal would not be more conflict, but simply to ensure your child’s stability and long-term well-being.
Depending on the facts, the court may consider an enforcement consequence such as:
- Wage withholding by the paying parent’s employer
- A contempt action for their willful failure to pay
- A money judgment for any child support arrears
- Additional orders for attorney’s fees and court costs
- Suspension of licenses in serious nonpayment cases
- Jail time as an absolute last resort
The right approach depends on the facts, the payment history, and whether resolution is still possible without making the family conflict worse.
At Hargrave Family Law, we help Dallas-area parents pursue enforcement with a clear, practical strategy focused on stability, and long-term outcomes that allow your children to thrive.
Hargrave Family Law, Your Trusted Partners
Hargrave Family Law is a boutique family law firm serving Dallas-Fort Worth since 2013. Founded by Jennifer Hargrave, our firm was built for clients who want a thoughtful, strategic approach to divorce and family law matters, not unnecessary conflict. That means we deliver strong advocacy and a focus on solutions that protect your family.
Our team is well-known for helping our clients move through difficult transitions with dignity and clarity. Instead of pushing every case toward a courtroom fight, Hargrave Family Law knows the value of emphasizing collaboration, informed decision-making, and creative problem-solving when those paths make sense.
Clients also turn to Hargrave Family Law for our depth of experience and credibility. We have earned inclusion in Best Lawyers in America® and Tier 1 Best Law Firms®, as well as Texas SuperLawyers® and AVVO recognition. A hallmark of our firm is how we stay connected with our clients throughout the process and continue to offer support beyond the legal case itself.
Child support orders can affect a family for years to come. We guide you as you work to make sure your children have what they need to grow and flourish now and in the future.
Our Client Process in Dallas
- Reach out to our team
You will first connect with a Client Care Coordinator, who helps start the process and makes sure you get to the right next step.
- Complete an initial intake
Your Client Care Coordinator gathers the basic details of your situation and schedules a complimentary case evaluation with our Client Intake Specialist.
- Meet with the Client Intake Specialist
This case evaluation is focused on your concerns, goals, and options, which may include doing nothing for now, continuing to work on the relationship or pursuing counseling, hiring our firm, or scheduling an attorney consultation.
- Speak with our team
If it makes sense for your situation, you can meet with an attorney for a paid consultation to review those same options in more depth or get specific legal advice.
- Retain the firm and begin legal representation
Once you hire us, your legal team takes over your case while your Client Care Coordinator continues to check in monthly to offer support, resources, and feedback opportunities outside the legal work itself.
- Stay connected after the case ends
After your matter is resolved, your Client Care Coordinator continues annual check-ins to provide ongoing support and resources.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Custody
If my ex is self-employed or owns a business in Texas, how does the court figure out child support when their income seems impossible to pin down?
Texas courts look at net resources, not just whatever shows up on a paycheck stub. If a parent is self-employed, the court may review tax returns, business records, bank deposits, expense patterns, and whether personal costs are being run through the business.
If the reported income does not match the lifestyle, that can also become a serious issue in court.
Can child support be changed in Dallas if there has not been a huge emergency, but the numbers just do not make sense anymore?
Yes, a Texas child support order can sometimes be modified even without a dramatic crisis or life change. Courts usually want to see a “material and substantial change” in circumstances, such as a job change or major income difference, or that the existing order no longer matches Texas guideline support calculations.
What happens if my child’s other parent keeps paying late, paying part, or ignoring the order completely?
A child support order is enforceable in Texas, and partial payments do not erase the unpaid balance. Depending on the facts, you can ask the court for help. The court may use enforcement tools that can include wage withholding, liens, license suspension, money judgments, and contempt proceedings. Be sure to keep detailed records of payments.
Do I have to let the other parent stop paying child support just because they say they are not getting enough visitation?
No. In Texas, child support and possession are completely separate issues, so one parent cannot withhold support because parenting time is disputed. The reverse is also true, a parent cannot block court-ordered visitation because support has not been paid. A parent that wants a modification to either child support or possession time must go to the court to ask for a new order.
Lcal Resources in Dallas for Child Support Cases
- Dallas County Child Support Office
- Dallas County Child Support (IV-D) Court
- Dallas County District Clerk – Family Court Records
- Dallas County District Clerk – Family Court Forms
- Dallas County District Clerk – Forms for Self-Represented Persons
- Texas Office of the Attorney General – Child Support Division
- Texas State Disbursement Unit (SDU)
- TexasLawHelp.org
- Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
- Dallas Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Community Legal Resources
- Texas Access and Visitation Hotline / Directory
- The Family Place
Schedule a Confidential Case Evaluation
If you are facing a child support issue, the steps you take now can affect your child’s ability to thrive, and how you handle your family’s path forward. A complimentary case evaluation can help you understand your options and empower you to make decisions that protect your children and your peace.
At Hargrave Family Law, we help clients approach difficult family matters with clarity, discretion, and a focus on resolution. To schedule a confidential case evaluation, reach out to speak with our team about the next right step for your family. We’re here to help.
