Child support refers to the money a divorced parent pays the other to help with the costs of raising a child. In Texas, the court commonly orders the parent who does not have primary custody to financially support the parent who does. These parents are known as the obligor and the obligee, respectively.
However, matters become complicated when one parent moves to a different state or even another country. Child support laws and requirements differ depending on where a person lives, which makes it difficult to determine how the obligor handles payment if they move out of state.
How is child support handled in Texas if one parent moves abroad?
Child support obligations do not change if one parent moves to another state or another country. The same rules, responsibilities and payments remain the same regardless of where the obligor lives.
Even if the obligor lives abroad, they must continue to financially support the obligee and support the child. To ensure that child support is still received from parents living abroad or out of state, the Texas child support division works closely with other child support agencies to either enforce or modify existing court orders.
Which factors affect child support in Texas?
The court considers three factors when calculating monthly child support. These play an important role in making sure that a child of divorce receives the same level of financial support as a child living with both parents:
- Income: The court considers how much money both parents earn, typically including bonuses, overtime and rental income.
- Number of children: The number of children a couple has affects how much child support the obligor has to pay the obligee.
- Health care: The child’s health care expenses, medical insurance and other additional medical needs affect how much a parent has to pay for child support.
However, there are also cases where the court calculates child support differently. Examples include children having special needs as a result of physical or mental disabilities or both parents sharing equal custody time with their children.
What happens after one parent moves to another country?
The terms of a divorced couple’s child support order do not change if one parent moves to another state or another country. Despite this, child support laws are complex, which means difficult situations may arise. To work around these complications, parents must remain vigilant and aware of their rights, as well as their responsibilities to their child.