McKinney Child Support Lawyer
Child support is a financial obligation mandated by the court, ensuring that both parents meet a child’s basic needs following a divorce or separation. In McKinney, as in all of Texas, child support is integral to family law and is designed to safeguard the child's well-being and quality of life. Child support is neither optional nor an obligation based on parental desires but a child’s right to benefit from both parental incomes as they would have if the family had stayed together.
At Petitt Family Law, we are legal advocates for parents and children in ensuring that Texas children impacted by separation, divorce, or lack of marriage get the benefit of the financial support they need and deserve. If you need legal help in securing, contesting, enforcing, or modifying fair child support obligations, our highly experienced family lawyer can help.
Get your confidential consultation with our McKinney child support attorney by calling (469) 716-6893 or use our convenient contact form to get started.
Overview of Texas Child Support in Collin, Denton, & Dallas Counties
The primary benefit of child support to children of divorce, separation, or whose unmarried parents do not live together is to provide them with the financial resources necessary for their upbringing. It helps cover food, clothing, housing, education, medical care, and other necessities. This ensures that the child doesn't experience a drastic shift in lifestyle or lack the means for proper growth and development when families split apart.
In Texas, the parent who spends less time with the child, commonly called the “noncustodial” parent, is generally required to pay child support. This payment is made to the custodial parent, who primarily cares for the child's day-to-day needs. It is usually presumed that the custodial parent supports the child through direct spending while under their care.
Texas Child Support Guidelines
The amount of child support is determined through guidelines defined by the Texas Family Code and enforced by the Texas Attorney General’s Office. The guideline amount is typically a percentage of the noncustodial parent's income, depending on the number of children to be supported and other factors. For instance, payment is generally 20% of the payer's net resources for one child.
The Attorney General’s Office provides a monthly child support calculator to help parents calculate payments. The amounts determined under these guidelines are typically deemed the correct payment.
However, instances can occur when the support could be higher or lower than the guideline amount. Factors such as the child's age, needs, ability of the parents to contribute, educational expenses, and any proven financial hardship can influence the final amount. Judges have discretion in determining child support and can deviate from the guideline if they deem it in the child's best interest.
Enforcement of Child Support in Texas
The Child Support Division of the Office of the Attorney General handles child support matters in Texas. They work closely with various entities, including employers and community organizations, to enforce child support orders.
Where a parent becomes delinquent in supporting a child, enforcement actions can be filed in the family law courts. Courts can impose such methods as wage garnishment, interception of tax refunds, suspension of licenses, or even jail time for non-payment.
Child Support Modifications
Child support orders can be modified after they are issued. However, to modify a child support order in Texas, you must prove a significant change in circumstances. This might include a substantial increase or decrease in either parent's income, changes in the child's medical insurance, educational expenses, or custody arrangements.
Hear From Our Happy Clients
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"Amazing results. My only regret is not hiring her initially several years ago."
Melody exemplifies everything that I needed in an attorney. She followed through on every aspect of what she said she would do. Along the way, she always kept my interests in mind when following up with the courts and giving me closure. All this in just a few short weeks before closing out the 2020 year during a pandemic.
In my previous experiences, I’ve always had to chase down my attorney or come up with the solutions on my own. Melody was the exact opposite of that. Replies were very timely, and she came up with solutions prior to discussing with me with any setbacks that would come up.
My only regret is not hiring her initially several years ago.
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"Words can’t express my gratitude, thank you Melody!"Custody situations are not fun and as a father, it always seemed like an uphill battle but because of Melody I had not the best legal representation but a group of people who had my back and made sure that my son’s best interest was always THE priority. Melody was relentless in ensuring that the job was done right and successfully. Words can’t express my gratitude, thank you Melody! THANK YOU FOR MAKING THINGS RIGHT!- Josh
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"Excellent, professional and knowledgeable staff."Excellent, professional and knowledgeable staff. Always ready to serve your family law requests.- Ross
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"Smart, quick, and thorough."Melody Petitt handled my case quickly and thoroughly. I was so happy with her dedication to keeping my family and I safe and getting the proper legal measures in order. She was able to get my Protective Order filed and eventually won while keeping me informed and confident through the whole thing. I would highly recommend her to anyone.- Anonymous
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"Melody saved my case."When Melody took over my case, it was going nowhere, the previous attorney had done nothing for months but allow opposing counsel to stall, allowing my case to become dormant, luckily that attorney left the firm. When Melody took over she immediately began filing motions, requesting documents that previously had been denied. The outcome of my case was not all I’d hoped for, but Melody made sure I was able to maximize and make the best out of a bad situation. She was always honest, forthright, and meticulous in her handling of the case. She even pushed for the firm to credit my account for work that the previous attorney had not completed. If you want integrity, honesty, and hard work, definitely hire Melody Petitt as your counsel.- Tomas
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"Melody and Stacy are a dynamic pair that you can trust to have your best interests in mind always."Responsive, efficient, so knowledgeable about the law and what you need to get through the process. Melody and Stacy are a dynamic pair that you can trust to have your best interests in mind always. Love them.- Kayti
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"Melody is a great family lawyer."Melody and the firm’s staff gave us excellent assistance in our successful effort to gain custodial control of our grandson. She guided us through the process, timely filed all documents and gave us great representation in the court proceedings.- Steven
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"Simply the best lawyer I have ever had."Simply the best lawyer I have ever had. I have had the pleasure of having her work on my case for a year. She is full of information and guidance. She is not afraid to tell you if what you think is a bad move and direct you in the right direction. She will not let you down.- Anonymous
Why Choose Petitt Family Law?
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Hundreds of Satisfied ClientsWork with a dedicated law firm with positive reviews from happy clients.
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20+ Years of ExperienceAttorney Melody Petitt has over 2 decades of family law experience.
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Start with a Quick & Easy ConsultMeet with Petitt Family Law during a virtual consultation!
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Family Law Is All We DoOur law firm focuses all of our practice on family law.