When parents divorce, the parent who has legal custody or primary joint custody receives child support from the non-custodial parent for the care of any children from the relationship who are minors. This includes adopted as well as biological children. The same holds true for parents who are not married. In Texas, custody of a child is referred to as “conservatorship”. The financial care of children from a relationship is the responsibility of both parents, whether or not the children involved live with a parent full time, part time, or not at all. This also applies to children of parents in same sex relationships if both in the relationship are legal parents of the children. In the cases of same sex relationships, the non-biological parent who has adopted his or her partner’s child is also responsible for the continued financial care and support of the child until he or she turns 18 or finishes high school.
Basically, child support is ordered as part of many court suits involving a parent-child relationship. In order to ensure your child or children receive a fair amount, a Dallas child support lawyer can help. Dallas Child Support Lawyers are also available to answer questions arising regarding child support from either parent. Sometimes support decrees need to be modified due to a chance in a financial situation for either parent. If the custodial or non-custodial parent loses a job, or has a reduction or significant increase in income, that can be a reason for needing a Dallas child support lawyer to help modify the support arrangement. In other cases, if the “obligator”, i.e., the one who pays support, has children from multiple relationships, support may be worked out quite differently than what is normally decreed.
These situations, and any questions, can be dealt with effectively by a reputable Family Law attorney. A good child support lawyer will help you sort out the financial and legal aspects related to your obligations to your child.