For more information about
divorce see:
The State Bar of Texas: Family Law Section
For more information about
child support or to check
Harris County child support
payments see:
The Harris County District Clerk - Child Support
For current appraised
values of property see:
Harris County Appraisal District
Custody of Children:
Standard is joint
managing conservatorship - child still lives with one parent and other parent
has visitation and pays child support (note-this is for
Issue if contested is
based upon “best interests of child”
Visitation:
Courts have standard
guidelines
Summary:
1st, 3rd, 5th Fridays of each month from 6pm to Sunday at 6pm
30 days in summer
(42 days if living over 100 miles apart)
Alternating Spring Break
and alternating Thanksgiving
Christmas season-
alternating years before/after Christmas
Wednesday nights during
regular school term 6pm to 8pm
Child Support:
Guidelines based upon
NET income (use gross income/ compute net from table)
1 child
= 20% of net
2 children =
25% of net
3 children =
30% of net
4 children =
35% of net
5 children =
40% of net
(if person paying
support has other children to support, percentages decrease)
Wage Order/garnishment
from employer for child support
Health insurance for
children-person paying child support normally is ordered
Property division:
House/land
Automobiles
Bank accounts/ savings/
investments/stocks
Retirement/pension/401k/
profit sharing/ stock options
Household goods
Debt division:
Secured debts
(collateral involved) usually goes to party who receives the collateral
Unsecured debts
Debt division is not
necessarily binding on creditor (if default in payment,
Spousal support/alimony:
Limited after-divorce
alimony in Texas
Marriages over 10 years
One spouse earns
substantially greater than other spouse, who has no work skills or work history
Range is from
0% to 20% of net to maximum of $2500 per month, maximum time is 3 years
