In a divorce case, we have a rule about not using the “F’ word. No, it is not that word, but it is the word “Fair”. Everyone wants a fair divorce settlement, but exactly what’s “fair”? There are two major issues that must be resolved in any divorce–how to divide assets and what to do about the kids. The major financial issues are to determine what assets belong to the community estate and what assets are separate property, who will pay child support, the amount of child … [Read more...]
Child Support for Elementary School Children (Ages 6-12)
Texas guidelines for setting child support don’t address the increased cost of raising children as they mature or contain any mechanism for setting child support payments when couples share custody of their children. Every parent knows that child expenses increase when they begin school because children need larger clothes, school lunches, supplies for activities, and other school related expenses. It’s difficult for couples in litigation to arrange child support based on the age and … [Read more...]
Child Support for Older Children (Ages 13-17)
Texas guideline child support often doesn’t cover the increased cost of raising older children as they mature, because the children engage in more expensive activities such as sports, dance, music, cars, and dating. The only recourse for couples who litigated their divorce is to file for modification of child support every three years and ask for increased support payments to cover the added costs. However, couples who choose a collaborative divorce can negotiate child support payments that … [Read more...]
Child Support and Custody
Child custody involves allocation of parental rights or duties and the amount of time the children spend with each parent. Rights and duties can be exercised independently by each parent, shared jointly by both parents, or awarded solely to one parent, depending on whether they can cooperate. Physical custody can be according to the standard possession order (one parent has primary custody of the children and the other parent visits his or her children every other weekend), the … [Read more...]
Setting Child Support For Infants And Young Children
How much should a parent pay to support his/her children? According to the Texas Legislature, which established statutory guidelines for setting child support payments, the amount should be based primarily on the net income of the payer and the number of children before the court. However, parents will tell you it’s much more expensive to support a teenager than an infant. This is an important issue for most couples, because child support payments continue until the last child … [Read more...]
