Parents in Texas who divorce or separate have a number of matters to address. Not only do they have to handle the division of their property, but they also need to discuss the care of their children and their need for financial support.
Texas state law has rules regarding the division of child custody and the child support obligations that the parents may have after the end of a marriage. There is a relationship between child support and child custody that parents need to understand as they negotiate the issues pertaining to their children during a Texas divorce.
What influence does custody have on support?
The Texas state statutes on child support require a review of multiple factors when establishing financial responsibility for the children. Those factors include the income of both parents and the overall division of parenting time.
Oftentimes, one parent has more time with the children than the other. That parent is usually classified as the primary conservator of the children and could very well receive child support from the other until the children become legal adults. However, joint conservatorship after a divorce or breakup is quite common in Texas. Both parents may have a significant amount of time with the children.
Even in a scenario involving joint conservatorship, one parent may still have financial obligations to pay support. The amount of parenting time that they have may diminish the final value of the support order. Parenting time does not automatically absolve someone of the potential financial responsibility for their children.
Someone with a demanding job who earns significant income but who cannot commit to being present for the children may end up paying quite a bit in child support because of their minimal parenting time obligations. Someone who spends as much time with the children as possible may have fewer financial obligations.
Unfortunately, some parents let the desire to minimize child support influence how they approach custody matters. Instead of prioritizing what is best for the children, they might try to demand 50/50 custody in a bid to avoid child support payments. Those negotiating custody matters typically need to understand how custody might impact support for the family to make sense of the other parent’s approach to the process.