Child support in Texas is a subject that many people find is more complex than they initially realized. In today’s blog post, we provide some basic information regarding the process and how it is governed under state law.
An initial point to note is that the Texas Office of the Attorney General serves as the state’s official child support enforcement agency. The Child Support Division that operates pursuant to its directives and oversight directly handles most functions associated with this important subject matter.
As noted on a relevant child support page of The Attorney General of Texas website, the state’s official child support program has a broad-based mandate over support matters, coupled with significant powers required to carry out its duties. Those duties centrally include the following:
- Finding absent noncustodial parents
- Establishing paternity
- Enforcing support orders and, when necessary, adjusting them
- Collecting and distributing support money that is owed
State authorities command plenary powers to compel payment performance and to punish noncustodial parents who do not comply with court support orders. Among other things, the Child Support Division can order a parent’s employer to withhold wages; intercept federal and state tax return refunds; file liens against personal and real property; suspend driving and professional licenses; and impose a jail term for civil contempt.
A proven family law attorney with a deep well of child support-related experience can help both custodial and noncustodial parents seeking assistance with support matters. Child support is a subjective and complicated process in Texas, with aggressive and client-empathetic legal advocacy often helping parents to secure equitable results and fully promote their legal interests, while at the same time being cognizant of the best interests of affected children.
