Upcoming Changes to Texas Child Support Caps: What Parents Need to Know
If you or your co-parent are currently paying or receiving child support in Texas, an important change is coming that could significantly affect your monthly obligation or payment. Starting September 1, 2025, Texas will officially increase the income cap used to calculate guideline child support. While the exact new cap hasn’t yet been announced, the change itself is already law, and the expected increase could make a meaningful difference in high-income cases.
Here’s what parents need to know, and why now is the time to talk to an attorney about modifying your existing order.
How Child Support Is Calculated in Texas
Texas uses a percentage-based system to calculate child support, based on the obligor’s (the person paying support) net monthly income. The percentages are fixed, typically 20% for one child, 25% for two, and so on, but there’s a twist: Texas caps the amount of income that can be considered in this calculation.
Until now, that cap has been set at $9,200 per month. So even if someone earns $15,000 or $20,000 a month, their child support obligation would still be based on $9,200.
What’s Changing on September 1?
A new law passed by the Texas Legislature allows this income cap to increase for the first time since 2019. While the Office of the Attorney General has not yet officially published the new cap, the legal and legal-adjacent communities are buzzing with an expected increase to $11,700 per month, a $2,500 jump.
That means noncustodial parents with high incomes could see their child support obligations increase by hundreds of dollars per month, depending on how many children they support.
Who Will This Affect?
This change primarily impacts higher-income earners, specifically, parents who make more than $9,200 per month in net income. In places like Collin County, where many families fall into this income bracket, the new cap could reshape the financial dynamics of current child support arrangements.
It’s also worth noting that this change doesn’t happen automatically for existing court orders. If your current child support order is based on the older cap, you’ll need to file a modification to update the amount in accordance with the new law.
Why You Should Act Now
If you’re a custodial parent and the other parent makes significantly more than $9,200 a month, you may be entitled to more support starting in September, but only if you pursue a modification.
If you’re a noncustodial parent, this may be a good opportunity to preemptively assess your financial obligations and potentially negotiate terms that make sense for your current circumstances.
In either case, modifying a child support order can be a complex process. You’ll need to demonstrate that a material and substantial change has occurred (which this new law may qualify as), and you’ll want to work with a legal team that knows how to present your case effectively.
Let The Fox Firm Help
At The Fox Firm, we’re closely following this change and working with families throughout Collin County and beyond to make sure their child support orders reflect the latest law.
Whether you’re seeking to increase the support you receive or prepare for a possible increase in your payment, our team can guide you through the process with compassion and strategy.
Schedule a consultation today to review your options and protect your family’s financial future.