Texas Raises Child Support Income Cap to $11,700: What It Means for Your Case

Texas Raises Child Support Income Cap to $11,700

Texas has raised the income cap used to calculate guideline child support, and the change is already affecting new orders and modification requests across the state. If you are paying or receiving child support in Frisco or Collin County, here is what changed and what it could mean for you.

What Changed

Texas calculates guideline child support as a percentage of a paying parent's net monthly resources. For years, that calculation was capped at $9,200 in net monthly resources, meaning income above that amount was not factored into the guideline formula. Effective September 1, 2025, the cap increased to $11,700.

This does not change the percentage formulas themselves. A parent with one child is still generally looking at 20 percent of net resources, two children at 25 percent, and so on up the chart. What changed is the size of the number those percentages apply to for higher-earning parents.

Who This Affects Most

This update is most significant for higher-income households. If a paying parent's net monthly resources fall below $9,200, this change likely has little to no effect on their support obligation. But for parents whose income exceeds the old cap, the guideline calculation now reaches further into their earnings, which can mean a meaningfully higher support amount under a new or modified order.

Does This Affect Existing Orders?

Not automatically. Child support orders do not update on their own when the law changes. If your order was calculated under the old $9,200 cap and the paying parent's income has consistently exceeded that amount, this change may be worth discussing with an attorney as a potential basis for a modification. Texas generally requires a material and substantial change in circumstances to modify an existing order, and a change in the statutory cap combined with the paying parent's income level can be part of that conversation.

If your order was already calculated using income above the old cap, or if the paying parent's income does not reach $9,200, this change likely does not affect your current order.

What This Means Going Forward

For any new child support order or pending modification filed on or after the effective date, the higher cap applies. Parents beginning the divorce or custody process now should expect this updated figure to be part of the support calculation from the outset.

Child support calculations involve more than the cap itself. Net resources are calculated after specific deductions, and courts can also consider add-on expenses like health insurance and childcare. Every family's numbers look different.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the new $11,700 cap automatically apply to my existing order?
No. Existing orders remain in effect as written until a court modifies them. If your order was calculated under the old cap and the paying parent's income has consistently exceeded it, this change may support a request to modify.

How is net monthly resources calculated?
Net resources start with a parent's gross income and subtract specific items such as Social Security taxes, federal income taxes at a single-person rate, union dues, and the cost of the child's health and dental insurance premiums.

What if the paying parent earns more than $11,700 a month in net resources?
The guideline percentage still applies only up to the $11,700 cap. Amounts above the cap are not automatically included in the guideline formula, though a court can consider additional support in certain circumstances.

Can I request a modification just because the cap changed?
A change in the cap alone is not automatically sufficient. Texas generally requires a material and substantial change in circumstances, and how the cap change factors into that determination depends on the specifics of your case.

Working with a Family Law Attorney in Frisco

Child support calculations involve more than a single number, and a change like this one can affect families differently depending on income, existing orders, and individual circumstances.

Pfister Family Law assists clients in Frisco, Plano, Allen, McKinney, and throughout Collin County with child support matters, including new orders and modifications. If you have questions about how this change affects your case, contact the firm to schedule a consultation.