San Antonio child support lawyer Jennifer Espronceda helps San Antonio families establish, enforce, and modify child support payments that respect current financial circumstances while still focusing on what’s best for the children.
Child Support Attorneys in San Antonio, TX
San Antonio Child Support Attorney
Effective September 1, 2025, the Office of Attorney General will raise the cap on net resources from $9,200 to $11,700. This means that the maximum guideline child support for one child will increase to $2,340.
In plain terms, the cap sets the highest amount of income the court uses when calculating child support, which means higher-earning parents may now be required to pay more.
At Espronceda Law, we understand how challenging it can be to navigate child support issues without any legal assistance. Our law firm makes sure that you understand all your child support obligations and get comprehensive representation throughout the process. If you have questions about how to deal with the legal process, opt for our initial consultation before you hire our legal services.
If your case also involves child support concerns, working with a San Antonio child support lawyer like Jennifer Espronceda ensures that your financial obligations or entitlements are handled fairly and within the law.
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What is Child Support?
Child support is the amount of periodic payments ordered for the support of the child and can include medical and dental support. Child support orders can also address conservatorship (custody) and possession and access time (visitation) in Texas.
Child support can be ordered regardless of whether the couple is (or was) married. In Texas, the noncustodial parent is typically the one the court orders to pay child support. However, this assumes that paternity has been legally established and one parent is designated as the noncustodial parent. Even in shared- or joint-custody arrangements, support may still be ordered if there is a notable income disparity between the parents.
The Family Code allows Texas courts to take several factors into consideration when deviating from child support guidelines, including:
- The monthly resources of each parent
- The number of children a parent is supporting
- Whether alimony or spousal maintenance is being paid
- Whether the obligor has housing or other benefits furnished by another person
The court may also consider additional factors, such as the child’s increased needs or the parent’s ability to pay more or less, while setting child support. Whether you are seeking child support or need to pay it, the advice and counsel of a skilled child support lawyer in San Antonio can help your case.
No matter how unique your situation is, San Antonio child support lawyer Jennifer Espronceda can help you reach a fair settlement and find the best solution for the child.
A child support attorney can serve as a true advocate. My goal is to:
- Calculate child support payments and represent you in proceedings.
- Develop practical, creative solutions to child support disputes.
- Deliver individualized service and support that’s unique to your needs.
- Provide experienced legal advice and representation throughout the entire process.
Child support cases are not as simple as they look. Our experienced attorneys can efficiently represent your case and ensure that the adjustments are as fair to you as possible. Since many elements of a child support case are negotiable, you need an experienced child support lawyer in San Antonio who can help you get the outcome that is in the best interest of you and your child.
How Child Support Is Calculated in Texas
In Texas, the child support amount is calculated based on legal guidelines and set formulas. You can use the Texas Attorney General’s monthly child support calculator as a guide to understand what compensation you are entitled to. Although the entirety of Texas law is complex, there are basic factors to consider.
Read About Basic Factors For Calculation
- The courts can order either parent or both to provide financial support to a child.
- A certain child support amount must be provided until the child reaches the age of 18 or graduates high school unless the child is medically dependent.
- The child support orders may decide periodic, lump, or annual payments or any combination of the three.
- The parent paying child support is known as the “obligor.”
Child Support Modifications in Texas
Child support payments are not set in stone and can often be modified if financial, living, or family circumstances change.
Also, if the child support order was established or last modified more than three years ago, you may be eligible for a review of your child support obligation. Much can change in three years, and it never hurts to get an order reviewed to see if an adjustment can be made.
If your current amount of the child support payments would change by 20% or $100 based on the child support guidelines, you should consider a modification. For example, let’s say that your monthly net income was $3,600 when the order was set, and you were paying $1,080 in child support for three children. However, you were recently laid off and had to take a position with a substantially lower salary of net $2,800 a month. Based on the standard child support calculations, this would lower your child support amount by at least two hundred dollars, making you eligible for a review and possible modification.
Read About The Child Support Calculation Formula:
The actual child support amount is calculated based on the obligor’s net income and the number of children being supported.
Net income is calculated by taking the obligor’s monthly income and subtracting:
- Social security taxes.
- Federal income taxes.
- Health insurance coverage for the children (if it’s being withheld from the obligor’s paychecks).
- Union dues (if they’re being withheld from the obligor’s paychecks).
Once the net income is calculated, a percentage will be applied based on the number of children being supported.
- 1 Child = 20%
- 2 Children = 25%
- 3 Children = 30%
- 4 Children = 35%
- 5 Children = 40%
- 6+ Children = Not less than the amount for five children
For example, if your net monthly income, after deductions, is $2,300 and you have two children to pay child support for, your child support payments will be 25% of $2,300, or $575.
Ultimately, the courts have the authority to establish child support payment amounts, but these child support guidelines and calculations are generally followed.
Read About Criteria For Modification Changes:
Finally, if there has been a material or substantial change in circumstances since the child support order was entered, you may qualify for a modification. A material or substantial change can be:
- The non-custodial parent is now legally responsible for additional children.
- The children’s medical insurance coverage has changed.
- The children are now living with a different parent.
- The non-custodial parent’s income has increased or decreased.
A child support lawyer in San Antonio can help ensure the new payment is consistent with the Family Code. Modifications can be handled through:
- The Child Support Review Process (CSRP), otherwise known as an in-office negotiation
- A court hearing
Understanding the Role of a Child Support Lawyer
The issue of child support is one of the biggest concerns that arises during a custody proceeding or divorce. While it is possible to go through the child support process with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) without a lawyer, it’s important to understand that the OAG does not represent either parent—it represents the State. This means you may be left without an advocate for your specific needs.
If your case involves contested child support or unique financial circumstances—such as self-employment, irregular income, past arrearages, or co-parenting challenges—you should strongly consider hiring an attorney. Without representation, many parents feel pressured to accept settlements that are less favorable than what the law might allow. Having an experienced child support lawyer in San Antonio like Jennifer Espronceda ensures that your interests, and your child’s needs, are fully and fairly considered.
Why Choose Our Child Support Attorneys at Espronceda Law?
Jennifer Espronceda founded this law firm more than a decade ago to provide legal guidance to the people of San Antonio (TX) on family law matters. Over the years, our firm has guided countless parents through child support cases, always focused on securing fair and favorable outcomes.
Every lawyer in the firm has the experience to help clients gain a clear understanding of all the possibilities regarding child support issues.
Whether we are negotiating with your ex or representing your case at a child support hearing, we will take all the necessary steps to fight for your rights and deliver the results you need. We work closely with you and listen to all your concerns.
Our team of San Antonio child support lawyers draws on years of experience handling cases like yours, but we always tailor our strategy to the unique circumstances of each client. We will guide you through the process, explain your options clearly, and provide the legal advice you need to make informed decisions.
Typically, a CSRP is scheduled first so both parents can meet and attempt to negotiate modification terms that they agree to. If a mutual agreement can’t be made, a court hearing will be scheduled, and a judge will issue a new order.
In either case, having a San Antonio child support lawyer by your side ensures your voice is heard and your terms are fair.
FAQs About Child Support in San Antonio, TX
What if a parent fails to pay child support?
Texas does not take unpaid child support payments lightly. In fact, per available public data, Texas enforces and collects more child support payments than any other state. Failure to pay child support may result in withheld earnings, withheld tax returns, suspension of driver’s license, freezing of bank accounts, and even jail time. Our child support enforcement content covers important tips on how to enforce payments.
What is the Federal Parent Locator Service?
The FPLS is a nationwide system the government uses to help find parents who owe child support. It pulls information from agencies like the Social Security Administration, IRS, and Department of Defense to locate where a parent works or lives. The service isn’t open to the public—it’s only available to child support agencies and courts. Its main purpose is to make sure child support orders can be set up or enforced.
Are child support orders still in effect after the child turns 18?
Once a child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later, they are considered legal adults, and child support payments will no longer be ordered. However, if the non-custodial parent owes backpay for past payments, they will still have to make those payments until they’re caught up. Special circumstances that extend the age for which child support can be ordered are discussed elsewhere.
Can visitation be denied if child support payments are not made?
When making decisions, the court focuses on what is in the child’s best interest. So financial support and visitation rights are two separate issues. A noncustodial parent’s failure to pay child support on time does not automatically reduce their possession or visitation rights. Consult an expert with legal specialization to tackle such issues.
How can I enforce child support payments from a parent who is not paying?
Failure to pay comes with severe penalties. Our experienced San Antonio child support lawyer, Jennifer Espronceda, knows how to navigate and resolve enforcement cases. Jennifer is also skilled in dispute resolution and can help resolve these high-stakes cases through negotiation before taking the child support case to trial.
Child support and family law should always be about what’s best for the children, but parents’ financial circumstances are important as well. San Antonio child support lawyer Jennifer Espronceda can help you enforce, modify, and negotiate payments that work for everyone involved.
