Child support plays a central role in safeguarding a child’s well-being after parents separate. In Texas, these payments help maintain stability in both households, so a child does not experience a drastic change in daily life. Support is calculated under the guidelines of the Texas Family Code however, high-income families and those with complex assets often face special challenges when determining what is fair and appropriate.
At Mims Ballew Hollingsworth, we help parents in Fort Worth, Southlake, and surrounding communities understand what child support is designed to cover and how to ensure orders are clear, enforceable, and tailored to a child’s needs.
The Purpose of Child Support in Texas
What is the purpose of child support? Child support exists to protect the standard of living that a child relied on before the parents’ separation. Texas Family Code §154.001provides i that support is meant to meet a child’s basic needs. This includes food, shelter, health care, clothing, and education.
Support is not intended to support a parent’s personal or luxury spending. The law expects both parents to contribute financially, but child support ensures the receiving household has enough for the child’s needs. This predictability is especially important for children in high-conflict or high-asset situations where disputes over money can escalate quickly.
What is Child Support Supposed to Cover?
Child support covers a broad range of day-to-day and long-term needs, including:
Necessities. Theseinclude groceries, clothing, school uniforms, shoes, and stable housing costs such as rent, mortgage payments, and utilities.
Healthcare and insurance. Child support helps cover medical, dental, and vision care. Texas often requires one parent to maintain health insurance for the child. Parents may also divide uninsured expenses such as co-pays, medications, therapy, or orthodontia.
Education. School supplies, registration fees, technology required for learning, tutoring, and classroom materials are common educational expenses. Separate arrangements may be necessary if the child attends a private school.
Childcare. When a parent works, reliable childcare is essential. Support may help cover daycare, preschool, nannies, and after-school programs. These expenses allow the custodial parent to maintain employment while ensuring the child is in a safe environment.
Transportation. This includes fuel, car maintenance, rideshare costs, bus passes, and other expenses needed to transport the child to school, medical appointments, and visitation exchanges.
Recreation and extracurriculars. Reasonable extracurricular activities—such as sports teams, art classes, music lessons, or summer programs—support the child’s development and social growth. These costs vary widely, so parents benefit from establishing clear agreements.
For more information on how support payments are calculated, see our child support calculator.
What Child Support Does Not Cover
Some expenses fall outside the standard purpose of child support. These include:
College tuition. Unless specifically ordered by the court, college costs are not part of child support.
Private school tuition, specialized camps, or high-cost activities. These expenses may be shared by agreement but are not automatically included.
Luxury items. High-value gifts, personal purchases for a parent, or expenses unrelated to the child’s well-being are not covered.
Parents can negotiate these items in a parenting plan or mediated settlement. At MBH, we help families craft agreements that match their values, financial capabilities, and long-term goals.
How Child Support Funds Are Applied
Texas does not require the receiving parent to give receipts or a detailed accounting to the paying parent. Similarly, the paying parent may not demand this without taking legal action. While this can be frustrating, the law assumes that funds used within the household benefit the child. However, concerns about misuse can be raised in court.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is responsible for overseeing the enforcement of support orders. If a parent believes payments are being misused or if income has changed significantly, legal action may be appropriate.Common Disputes Over Child Support Usage
Parents often face disagreements about:
- How the receiving parent spends support
- What counts as an extracurricular expense
- How to handle uninsured medical or dental costs
These disputes are common, especially when the financial stakes are high. Withholding payment is never permitted. The correct remedy is to seek enforcement, modification, or clarification from the court.
Modifying or Enforcing Child Support Orders
Life changes. Income shifts. Children develop new needs. When these changes occur, child support orders may need adjustment.
A modification may be appropriate when:
- A parent’s income increases or decreases.
- The child has new medical, educational, or developmental needs.
- The existing order no longer reflects the family’s circumstances.
At MBH, we help parents:
Prepare and file modification requests.
Enforce unpaid or overdue support.
Negotiate changes that serve the child’s best interests and comply with Texas law.
How MBH Helps Parents with Child Support Matters
High-net-worth families often face unique challenges when calculating child support. Income may come from business ownership, complex compensation packages, real estate, or investments. These factors require careful analysis to determine fair support.
At Mims Ballew Hollingsworth, we bring decades of combined experience to these issues. Unlike many firms that assign a single attorney to a case, our lawyers collaborate and share insight. This team approach strengthens your strategy and ensures every angle is considered.
Judges and opposing counsel know we come prepared. We apply deep knowledge of the Texas Family Code and theTexas Office of the Attorney General processes to protect your child’s needs and secure a fair result.
If you have questions or need legal guidance, contact us to schedule a confidential consultation with a Fort Worth child support attorney.
FAQ about What Child Support Covers in Texas
Child support covers basic needs, including food, clothing, housing, healthcare, school expenses, and other costs tied to the child’s well-being.
Yes. Reasonable extracurricular activities may be covered because they help support a child’s healthy development.
Yes. One parent is usually required to provide health insurance, and uninsured medical expenses may be divided between the parents.
Texas does not require the receiving parent to provide an itemized breakdown of how support funds are spent. However, if you have legitimate concerns that the payments are not being used for your child’s needs, you may raise the issue with the court and request review or clarification.
Yes. A substantial change in circumstances—such as income shifts or new needs—may justify modification.
