What Can I Do if I Think My Ex is Manipulating Income for Child Support? 

 Posted on December 07, 2022 in Child Support

Child support might be determined by a state formula, but that does not stop it from becoming a high-conflict part of a divorced or separated couple’s relationship. The parent paying child support often feels angry and taken advantage of, while the parent receiving child support often feels as though the amount is insufficient to properly care for the child’s needs. Whatever the reason for dissatisfaction, the end result is sometimes that the parent paying for child support will try to hide income to avoid paying the full support payments he or she would otherwise be obligated to make. If you think this is happening in your case, it is important to contact a Texas child support attorney who can help you secure the support you need. 

Child Support Income Guidelines in Texas

Before a court can set child support payments, the judge needs to know how much money the paying parent makes and whether the child’s needs justify deviating from state child support guidelines (the paying parent is the parent who does not have primary possession of the child, meaning the child spends most of his or her time with the other parent). 

Texas child support guidelines use a parent’s annual income (rather than a monthly income) divided by 12 and reduced by standard expenses like taxes or health insurance payments for the child. When calculating income, the court will include all sources of money, including, but not limited to: 

• Salary

• Tips 

• Self-employment income 

• Social security, unemployment, disability, or other governmental benefits

• Workers’ compensation 

• Dividends from investments 

• Rental income

Because income can come from such a wide variety of sources, it can be easy for a parent to try to hide income, especially if that parent is self-employed or works in a job where income is unpredictable and cash payments are common. 

What if My Spouse Avoids Working to Avoid Paying Child Support? 

Judges work with the knowledge that some parents would rather be un- or underemployed rather than pay child support. If a spouse who is healthy, competent, and otherwise capable of working does not have a job or seems to be suspiciously or chronically underemployed, the judge can order that parent to pay child support based on “imputed income” anyway. 

Whatever the reason for your belief that your spouse is not paying their fair share of child support, your attorney can help you investigate the situation, including gathering evidence, and determine whether legal action is appropriate. 

Contact a Collin County, TX Child Support Lawyer

Divorce and custody disputes often bring out the worst in people. If you suspect your spouse is trying to hide income or lie about their assets to try to manipulate the child support he or she has to pay, it is important to follow through on that hunch. You and your child deserve to get the financial support you need, and at The Ramage Law Group, we will work hard to make sure that happens. Call us today at 972-562-9890 to schedule a confidential consultation with our McKinney, TX child support attorney. 

Source: 

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/FA/htm/FA.154.htm