Child Support Attorney for Plano, Texas

Child Support for Plano Families

Texas calculates child support as a percentage of the paying parent's net monthly resources: 20% for one child, 25% for two, 30% for three, 35% for four, and 40% for five or more. The calculation starts with gross income and subtracts allowable deductions including taxes, health insurance premiums for the child, and union dues. A statutory cap on net resources applies, and it is periodically adjusted by the legislature.

For many Plano families, the straightforward guideline calculation is only the starting point. The financial complexity that characterizes this city's professional landscape creates questions that require careful legal and financial analysis.

High-Income Deviations Above the Cap

When a parent's net monthly resources exceed the Texas statutory cap, the court applies the guideline percentages to the capped amount and then has discretion to order additional support above guidelines if the child's needs justify it. In Plano, where families often maintain a high standard of living — private activities, travel sports, tutoring, and other enrichment — the argument for above-guideline support can be compelling.

Lisa handles these cases from both sides: advocating for appropriate above-guideline support when the child's proven needs warrant it, and ensuring that upward deviations remain tethered to actual needs rather than a windfall to the receiving parent.

Executive Compensation and Income Calculation

Many Plano parents receive compensation that goes well beyond base salary. Accurately calculating net resources for child support purposes requires identifying and properly treating each component:

• Stock options and RSUs: Vesting schedules, exercise timing, and the distinction between community and separate property portions all affect how these are treated for support calculations.
• Bonuses and commissions: Variable compensation must be averaged or projected in a way that reflects the parent's actual earning pattern, not just a single pay period.
• Deferred compensation: Non-qualified deferred compensation plans common among Plano executives raise questions about when income is "received" for support purposes.
• Employer benefits: Company cars, housing allowances, employer-paid insurance beyond the minimum, and other perquisites may be considered resources under Texas law.

Lisa works with forensic accountants and financial analysts when the compensation structure demands that level of scrutiny. Getting the income calculation right at the outset prevents years of disputes down the line.

Support Modification

Child support orders are not permanent. Texas courts will modify a support order when circumstances have materially and substantially changed — a standard frequently met in Plano when a parent's employment situation shifts. A promotion, a job loss, a corporate restructuring, or a change in the child's needs can all warrant revisiting the support amount. Lisa handles modification cases and knows what documentation the Collin County courts expect.

Medical and Educational Support

In addition to base child support, Texas courts order the noncustodial parent to provide health insurance for the child when it is available through the parent's employer at a reasonable cost. In Plano, where many employers provide comprehensive coverage, the cost allocation of health insurance premiums, uninsured medical expenses, and dental or orthodontic care is an important component of the overall support picture. Courts may also address costs related to educational support, including private school tuition if the child is already enrolled or both parents agree.