Texas courts can deviate from the standard child support guidelines when they’d be unjust or inappropriate for a specific family. Factors a court may consider include:
- The child’s age and needs
- Each parent’s ability to contribute, and financial resources available to each
- How much time each parent actually spends with the child
- Child care costs either parent pays to stay employed
- Whether either parent supports another child
- Health insurance and uninsured medical costs
- Travel costs to exercise visitation
- Any other factor consistent with the child’s best interest
These factors exist in the law, but courts don’t always apply them without a parent and their attorney actively raising them. If your circumstances include any of the above, make sure your attorney puts them in front of the court.