The Texas Family Code states specific guidelines for determining child support to be paid. These basic guidelines are as follows:
- 20% of the obligor’s (payor’s) net resources for one child
- 25% for 2 children,
- 30% for 3 children,
- 35% for 4 children,
- 40% for 5 children,
- Not less than 40% for 6 or more children.
For instance, either party may have physical limitations, may be unemployed through no fault of his/her own, may have other children to support, may be paying spousal maintenance as well as child support, may have taken on the majority of debt from the marriage, or may have to incur travel expenses to visit the child. Some other factors which may be considered: whether either party has automobile, housing or other benefits furnished to them, and which party is paying uninsured medical expenses.