The More You Know: Are You Entitled to an Increase in Child Support?

A significant change to Texas child support law has taken effect since September 1st, 2025 raising the maximum income cap used to calculate guideline child support for the first time in six years. This update means higher guideline support amounts for many families, impacting both new cases and modifications finalized on or after the effective date.

What Changed in the 2025 Legislative Session

The Texas Legislature in September of 2025 increased the monthly net resources that child support is subject to from $9,200 to $11,700. You may be asking, How does that impact the child support amounts I pay or receive?

New Guideline Support Amounts

Texas applies percentage-based guidelines to a parent’s net monthly income, up to the cap amount. With the higher $11,700 limit, payments will now be calculated as follows:

• One child (20%): $2,340/month (previously $1,840/month)

• Two children (25%): $2,925/month (previously $2,300/month)

• Three children (30%): $3,510/month (previously $2,760/month)

  
  

If there are additional children that the For families with higher income levels, this adjustment means more financial support is available for children under the guideline framework.

Who Is Affected by the Change?

Any child support orders finalized on or after September 1, 2025, will reflect the higher cap. Parents entering into new support orders after that date should expect the updated guidelines to apply.

Cases that are pending or modified after September 1, 2025, will also be calculated under the new cap. Parents with ongoing modifications should be prepared for updated amounts once the court finalizes the order.

Orders finalized before September 1, 2025, remain based on the old $9,200 cap unless they are successfully modified. This distinction makes it important for parents to review their existing orders and determine whether a modification request is appropriate.

Should You Seek a Modification of Support? Have you considered Increased Medical Premiums?

You should seek the advice of legal counsel to determine if a modification would be advisable. Why? There are two major reasons: First if you believe that the person paying you child support income is over the old cap you should be entitled to a increase (remember no one can make you a guarantee of what will happen in court. Second, and as important, determine if health insurance costs for the children have or are about to substantially increase since the last order. If your order has a low reimbursement amount to health insurance premium that no longer matches your actual cost, a modification may be in your best interest.