A child support case in Texas always involves the crossing ofalimonymiCareful. To understand a lot about child support, we also need to talk about child custody. Even in the title of today's post, we use a term that refers to the reality of child custody. A non-custodial parent is a parent who does not have sole custody of a child. If you are the non-custodial parent of a child, in most cases you are also responsible for paying child support. This is the first lesson we need to learn about child custody in order to better understand child support.
In a custody case, either as a stand-alone case or as part of a divorce proceeding, the designation as primary guardian or custodial parent of a child is a crucial designation. This is very important because the custodial parent not only has more time with the child, but also has more rights, including the right to child support. If he becomes a noncustodial parent in a custody case, he will need to understand the ins and outs of child support. Failing to do so can have a significant impact on your child's life and get you in trouble with your co-parent and the legal system.
With that in mind, in today's post we are going to focus on what it means to pay child support and what it means to pay child support. In particular, I am most interested in issues related to what it means to be a non-custodial parent for material related to child support. While being able to rely on child support isn't a piece of cake in and of itself, it is less of a responsibility than being the parent who has to pay child support. So let's spend some time today thinking about what a non-custodial parent needs to know about child support in Texas.
What exactly is a non-custodial parent?
If you are the non-custodial parent of a child, you are the non-custodial parent of your son or daughter. While you may not be able to spend as much time with your child as you would like, that does not mean that you do not have any rights to your child. Rather, the rights you have are still essential and essential to raising your child. So I think blog posts like this, where you can learn more about your rights and responsibilities towards your child, are very important.
If you are the non-custodial parent of your child, then your co-parent is the custodial parent or primary guardian. You have the right to decide where your child primarily lives. This is the fundamental right that unlocks many of your child's other rights. The ability to determine where your child primarily resides is often called custody. You have the right to have your child at different times that you cannot control, as you know. Possession is also known as visitation rights.
The old wives' tale, no pun intended, that circulates from time to time, claims that only mothers can be the primary guardians of a child. The thinking is that parents are prohibited by law from becoming primary caregivers or are openly refused by judges to be called as such. The reality of the situation is that this is not true. Men are entitled to these kinds of guardianship rights, just like women. With that being said, the majority of non-custodial fathers are fathers, and as such, much of the information in today's blog post is geared towards men and fathers. Make no mistake, however, that non-custodial parents can be, and often are, wives and mothers.
What to do When you receive a summons, indicate an event to me.
One of the most daunting and intimidating things a parent can receive is a court summons. It is possible that he is living his life as well as he can comply with the child support laws. I want to know if he has been invited to attend a court hearing. If he reviews the material provided, he may discover that the subpoena is for child support. Even if he is not sure what the hearing is about or if he believes that he has done nothing wrong, he should plan ahead to attend that hearing.
One of the difficult parts of being a parent is that once you have used the family court system, you are more likely to return to court. This can be frustrating, but it is the reality of his circumstances. Even if he has up to this point believed that he has done nothing wrong in our current alimony, he still must attend a hearing. If he does not attend the court hearing, under certain circumstances, decisions about child support and child support can be made without his input. That means possible increases in child support, penalties for non-payment, and the like. Even if he doesn't understand why he should go to court, he should do it anyway.
At this point, I would like to mention that if you do not understand exactly why you have been asked to go to court, it is imperative that you retain an experienced family law attorney. An experienced Texas family law attorney can also help you plan the next steps in your case and ensure that you do not go wrong in any way. For a free consultation with an experienced Texas family law attorney, contact the Bryan Fagan Law Firm. Our licensed family law attorneys offer a free consultation here at our office, by phone or by video.
establish paternity
Suppose you are not married to the mother of your child. In that case, the first step you should investigate regarding child support is to establish paternity yourself: signing a legal document called an acknowledgment of paternity at the hospital or even shortly after the birth of your son or daughter is probably the most important. easy to do this. You can also establish your paternity by completing an application or by contacting the prosecutor and asking him or her to do so on your behalf. The attorney general will not represent you in a potential custody or child support case, but they can help you file a lawsuit. Please note that simply stating your name on your child's birth certificate does not establish a legal relationship between you and the child. So this has to be done legally. You cannot receive guardianship rights to a child, including the right to pay child support, until it is legally determined that you are the child's father.
However, if you are not the biological father of a child and do not want to be identified as such, you must file a denial of paternity with the state of Texas as soon as you know the child was born, where you can be the accuser. father who is the father biology of the child. This can happen if your spouse has an affair during your marriage or even if you and the child's mother are not married. In either case, you must be present when you are summoned to court, as the court may establish paternity and child support obligations for you if you do not comply with the summons.
What does it mean to sign child support papers?
This could be a lesson for both custodial and non-custodial parents. Still, I think it's more important for non-custodial parents, since you're the ones lining up to pay rather than receive it. You've probably heard the advice to read the fine print before signing anything. Even if a lawyer, judge, or representative of the Attorney General tells him that he can sign something, he should not do so until he has read it himself and has had a chance to ask questions.
Sometimes the attorney general gets impatient when you go to child support court and may even give the impression that a "settlement" is urgent and you need to make quick and hasty decisions. Don't let them influence you. It is better to walk away and leave the matter in the hands of a judge than to sign a document that you have not thoroughly reviewed. Therefore, you should read the documents before signing them. There is no guarantee that you will be able to change or modify these orders in the future.
The child support institution can help you in other areas.
I realized that registering to pay child support doesn't sound like much fun, but the reality is that by registering on the child support page, you can claim other rights related to your child. Visitation and guardianship rights will be part of the child support process. It would not happen that only alimony would be established and no other right or obligation. For this reason, you should definitely choose to be available in family court. This is true even if your summons directs you to go to a specific child support court.
Even if you don't have a lawyer, going to court is still a great decision. When it comes to child support court, you can negotiate with your co-parent about child support on other issues and not have to go to a hearing with the judge. The Board of Attorney General may be able to help you settle without going to a hearing. This would be to your advantage in many ways, especially if you are nervous about having to speak to a judge. Above all, it is wise not to go to court for any reason other than to ensure that you have a say in child support payments. At the same time, if you want to refer the case to family court outside of child support court, you can discuss this option with the judge or attorney general.
DNA testing may be provided to you in child support court
If you are not sure of the father of a child, you can get a free DNA test at the youth welfare office or family court. If you have any doubts about the paternity of a child, you should not acknowledge paternity or agree in writing to pay child support before a DNA test. These tests will go a long way to clarify a situation where you may have doubts about the acknowledgment of paternity or willingness to contribute to the life of that child. Before you make a rash decision, it's a good idea to consider taking a DNA test and see how that might work in your favor.
Go to court with documents about your income.
If you attend a child support hearing and expect to be ordered to pay child support, you must bring information and documentation about your wages. Don't expect the court to take your word for it about your income. Pay stubs, tax returns, and any other documentation about your salary or what you need to bring to court. Keep in mind that child support is generally based on the guidelines outlined in the Texas Family Code. In this regard, you can help yourself a lot by proving your income on behalf of the court.
Don't lose child support if you can help.
Even if you know you are missing child support for a month, you should pay as much as you can. Even paying half of the child support you have to pay can go a long way in keeping you out of court in a foreclosure case. Enforcement proceedings may be filed against you if you violate child support orders. However, this can cost you time and money. However, if you have agreed to pay child support in parts over time, you will be able to work with your co-parent outside of court and avoid having to go back to court.
That's what can happen when you lose your job and don't have money saved to pay child support. If you're between jobs, you're probably more concerned with paying your bills. If so, you should contact your co-parent as soon as possible to discuss your income situation and how it is likely to affect your ability to pay child support. That way, she may be aware of the circumstances she is facing and may even be willing to work with you on a payment plan. While this may not be a long-term solution to her problem, in the short term it may help you avoid a situation where you are forced to go to court for a child support case.
Suppose you are in a situation where you officially need to reduce your monthly child support payments; The best thing to do is file an amendment with the court that issued the order. This will allow you to demonstrate why significant and significant changes have occurred in your life in terms of income. The judge has the opportunity to reevaluate your circumstances and determine if a reduction in child support is in the best interest of your children. In that case, he can move on and understand that he has done all he can when it comes to formally reducing child support.
Do you have any questions about the material in today's blog post? Contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan
If you have any questions about the material in today's issueblog postplease don't hesitateContactDieBryan Fagan Law Firm. our licenseefamily lawOffer free lawyersAdvicesix days a week in person, by phone and by video. Thatqueriesare a great way to learn more about the world of Texasfamily lawand how your family circumstances may be affected by the filing of adivorceoCarefulCair.
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If you want to know more about what you can do,Other updated articles that may interest you:
- Texas Custody Lawyer Regarding Your Child Support Rights
- What is alimony?
- Four Key Factors to Support Children in Texas
- A look at Texas child support claims
- How is child support calculated in Texas?
- How can failure to pay alimony affect your vehicle registration?
- What happens to child support if one of the parents dies?
- Can you refuse visitation if your ex hasn't paid child support?
- What is health care in Texas?
- If you have sole custody (custodial parent), can you still be ordered to pay child support?
Bryan Fagan Law Firm, PLLC | Child Custody Lawyers in Houston, Texas
The Law Firm of Bryan Fagan, PLLC routinely handles matters involving children and families. For questions aboutCareful, it is important to talk to one of ourhouston, TexasTypeCustody Lawyersimmediately to protect your rights.
OurCarefullawyersen Houston, TexasThey are experts in listening to your objectives during this difficult process and proposing strategies to achieve them.Contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLCby calling (281) 810-9760 or entering your contact information in our online form. Bryan Fagan Law Firm, PLLC Takes OverCustody Cases in Houston, Texassmall cypressModesto,Kingwood,tomball,the forest,houston, the FM 1960 area or vicinity, includingHarris County,Montgomery County,liberty County,Chambers County,galveston county,Brazoria County,Fort Bend County, miWaller County.