HILD SUPPORT

Section 154.125

APPLICATION OF GUIDELINES TO NET RESOURCES OF $6000.00 OR LESS

The guidelines for the support of a child in this section are specifically designed to apply to situations in which the obligor's monthly net resources are $6000.00 or less. The Court shall apply the following schedule:

1 child 20% of the Obligor's net resources
2 children 25% of the Obligor's net resources
3 children 30% of the Obligor's net resources
4 children 35% of the Obligor's net resources
5 children 40% of the Obligor's net resources
6+ children Not less than the amount for 5 children

Section 154.126

APPLICATION OF GUIDELINES TO NET RESOURCES OF MORE THAN $6000.00 MONTHLY

If the obligor's net resources exceed $6,000.00 per month, the Court shall presumptively apply the percentage guidelines to the first $6,000.00 of the obligor's net resources. Without further reference to the percentage recommended by these guidelines, the Court may order additional amounts of child support as appropriate, depending on the parties and the proven needs of the child.

However, in no event may the obligor be required to pay more child support than the greater of the presumptive amount equal to 100 percent of the proven needs of the child.

Section 154.129

ALTERNATE METHOD FOR COMPUTING SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN IN MORE THAN ONE HOUSEHOLD

MULTIPLE FAMILY ADJUSTED GUIDELINES (%) OF NET RESOURCES
Number of children before the Court
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
40.00
40.00
1
17.50
22.60
27.38
32.20
37.33
37.71
38.00
2
16.00
20.63
25.20
30.33
35.43
36.00
36.44
3
14.75
19.00
24.00
29.00
34.00
34.67
35.20
4
13.50
18.33
23.14
28.00
32.89
33.60
34.18
5
13.33
17.86
22.50
27.22
32.00
32.73
33.33
6
13.14
17.50
22.00
26.60
31.27
32.00
32.62
7
13.00
17.22
21.60
26.09
30.67
31.38
32.00

BOLD column indicates the number of other children for whom obligor has a duty to support.

ISITATION AND CONSERVATORSHIP

Section 153.131

PRESUMPTION THAT PARENT TO BE APPOINTED MANAGING CONSERVATOR

1. Unless the Court finds that appointment of the parent or parents would not be in the best interest of the child because the appointment would significantly impair the child's physical health or emotional development, a parent shall be appointed the sole managing conservator or both parents shall be appointed as Joint Managing Conservators of the child.

2. It is a rebuttable presumption that the appointment of the parents of a child as joint managing conservators is in the best interest of a child. A finding of a history of family violence involving the parents of a child removes the presumption under this subsection. Ask Attorney for proposed visitation schedule for children under the age of three.

Section 153.134

COURT-ORDERED JOINT CONSERVATORSHIP

3. If a written agreement of the parents is not filed with the Court, the Court may render an order appointing the parents joint managing conservators only if the appointment is in the best interest of the child, considering the following factors:


  a.   whether the physical, psychological or emotional needs and development of the child will benefit from the appointment of joint managing conservators;

  b.   the ability of the parents to give first priority to the welfare of the child and reach shared decisions in the child's best interest;

  c.   whether each parent can encourage and accept a positive relationship with the child and other parents;

  d.   whether both parents participated in child-rearing before the filing of the suit;

  e.   the geographical proximity of the parent's residences;

  f.   if the child is twelve of age or older, any preference of the child for or against the appointment of joint managing conservators; and

  g.   any other relevant factors.

Section 153.253

STANDARD POSSESSION ORDER IN APPROPRIATE OR UNWORKABLE

4. The Court shall render an order that grants periods of possession of the child as similar as possible to those provided by the standard possession order, unless the work schedule or other special circumstances of the managing conservator, the possessory conservator, or the child, or the year-round school schedule of the child, make the standard order unworkable or inappropriate.

CHILD LESS THAN THREE YEARS OF AGE

1. The Court shall render an order appropriate under the circumstances for possession of a child less than three years of age.

2. The Court shall render a prospective order to take effect on the child's third birthday, which presumptively will be the standard possession order.