Frisco Child Support Attorneys

• Travel expenses. Significant costs for long-distance visitation should be reflected in the child support arrangement.
• Possession schedules. Parents who share equal time with their children may seek adjustments to the standard support percentage.
• Other financial obligations. Support provided to other children or substantial debt assumed during the marriage are factors courts may consider.

When the opposing party attempts to hide income or underreport earnings, particularly in self-employment or cash-based businesses, we can work with forensic accountants to reconstruct the true financial picture so the court can base its decision on reality rather than incomplete data. If you’re the paying parent, we defend against inflated income assessments that could leave you with an unmanageable obligation.

When Can a Child Support Order Be Modified in Texas?

A child support order from several years ago may no longer reflect your family’s current reality. Texas law allows for modifications, but you must meet specific legal standards to change the amount. We guide parents through this process whether you need an increase to cover growing needs or a reduction following a financial setback.

Material and Substantial Change

The most common ground for modification is proving that a “material and substantial change” has occurred since the court issued the last order. An order can’t be modified simply because one parent feels it’s unfair.

We build modification cases around significant life events, including:

1. Major income fluctuations. Job loss, a significant promotion, or a long-term reduction in hours can each qualify.
2. New financial responsibilities. Legal adoption or the birth of a new child alters the net resources available for support.
3. Changes in custody. A modification may be warranted when a child begins living with the other parent or the possession schedule shifts substantially.
4. Evolving needs. When a child develops medical, educational, or psychological needs requiring greater financial support, the original order may no longer be adequate.

The Three-Year Rule

Even without a major life event, you may qualify for a modification. Under the Texas Family Code, a review is permitted if three years have passed since the last order was established or modified, provided the new calculated amount differs from the current order by at least 20% or $100 per month, whichever is greater. No separate proof of a material and substantial change is required when that threshold is met.

For example, if the non-custodial parent’s income has steadily risen over three years, the current guidelines might produce a payment $300 higher than the existing order. That difference may give the court authority to update the obligation without requiring proof of a material and substantial change.

How to Enforce a Child Support Order in Texas

When the other parent fails to pay, the financial strain on your household is real. We can file a motion for enforcement, alert the court to the violation, request immediate relief, and represent you at the enforcement hearing.

Texas judges have broad authority to address non-payment. Options include an income withholding order for direct deduction of payments from wages, suspension of the non-compliant parent’s driver’s or professional licenses, property liens, and contempt penalties including jail time. We act decisively to pursue available enforcement remedies.

Navigating the Texas Office of the Attorney General Child Support Division

Many parents in Frisco and Denton County first encounter child support proceedings through the Texas Office of the Attorney General Child Support Division, the state’s designated agency for establishing parentage, collecting arrears, and reviewing existing obligations. Understanding what the OAG process actually involves, and what it doesn’t provide, is important before you walk into a proceeding.

The OAG doesn’t represent either parent. Its mission is to establish and enforce child support, not to advocate for your individual financial situation. OAG proceedings can also result in orders that address conservatorship and possession provisions, not just payment amounts, so the stakes extend well beyond a monthly figure. Parents who attend without an attorney are representing themselves before a high-volume agency with no staff assigned to protect their specific interests.

Having a child support attorney in Frisco before an OAG proceeding can make a meaningful difference. We can review your income documentation in advance, ensure that variable or irregular income such as overtime, commissions, or seasonal earnings is correctly characterized, and advocate for a support figure that reflects your actual financial situation. Clients who come in represented may resolve OAG matters more efficiently and with greater confidence in the process.

We represent parents on both sides of child support disputes throughout Frisco and Denton County, in both OAG-initiated and court-based proceedings.

Whether you need help with an initial determination, a modification, enforcement, or an OAG proceeding, we’re ready to help. Call (469) 218-2802 or contact us online to schedule your consultation. Virtual appointments are available.