If you pay or receive child support in Texas, a major change may affect your family’s finances. The Texas child support cap increased from $9,200 to $11,700 per month on September 1, 2025. This was the first adjustment in six years and the largest increase in recent history. It is normal to feel confused or worried about what this means for you and your children. Whether you are a custodial parent hoping for more support or a noncustodial parent concerned about higher payments, understanding how this change works is the first step toward protecting your family.
At McCarty Larson, PLLC, we help parents across North Texas navigate child support matters with clarity and compassion. This guide will explain how the new cap works, who it affects, and what steps you can take if your current order needs to change.
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The Short Answer
The Texas child support cap rose from $9,200 to $11,700 in monthly net resources on September 1, 2025. This means courts can now base child support calculations on a higher portion of a parent’s income. Existing orders do not change automatically. If you want to take advantage of the new cap, you must file a motion for modification with the court. Parents who earn less than $9,200 per month in net resources are generally not affected by this change.
What Is the Child Support Cap in Texas?
The child support cap is the maximum amount of monthly income a court will consider when calculating child support payments. Texas uses a percentage-based formula to determine how much a noncustodial parent pays. However, the court only applies that percentage up to the cap. Any income above the cap is usually not factored into the standard calculation.
Before September 2025, the cap was set at $9,200 per month in net resources. The new cap is $11,700 per month. This figure is established by Texas Family Code § 154.125, which requires the Office of the Attorney General to review and adjust the cap every six years based on changes in the Consumer Price Index.
The cap matters because it sets the ceiling for guideline child support. A parent earning $15,000 per month in net resources would have their child support calculated based on $11,700, not the full $15,000. This protects higher-earning parents from unlimited obligations while still ensuring children receive adequate support. However, courts do have the power to order additional support above the guideline amount in certain situations.
How Child Support Is Calculated in Texas
Texas follows a percentage-based formula for calculating child support. The court starts with the paying parent’s gross income from all sources, including wages, salary, overtime, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, rental income, and investment earnings. From that gross income, the court subtracts specific deductions to arrive at the parents’ net resources. These deductions include federal income taxes calculated at the single filing rate, Social Security and Medicare taxes, the cost of the child’s health and dental insurance, and union dues.
Once the court determines the monthly net resources, it applies a set percentage based on the number of children who need support. For parents with children in one household, the guideline percentages are 20 percent for one child, 25 percent for two children, 30 percent for three children, 35 percent for four children, and 40 percent for five or more children. These percentages only apply up to the $11,700 cap.
It is important to know that a new spouse’s income cannot be counted. Under Texas Family Code § 154.069, the court must exclude the resources of a spouse when calculating child support. This means that remarrying does not automatically change your child support obligation. You can learn more about how the math works in our guide on how to calculate child support payments in Texas.
How the New Cap Changes Maximum Payments
The most direct impact of the cap increase is on the maximum guideline child support amount. Under the old $9,200 cap, the maximum for one child was $1,840 per month. Under the new $11,700 cap, that maximum is now $2,340 per month. That is a $500 per month increase for families at the cap.
For two children, the maximum went from $2,300 to $2,925 per month. For three children, it went from $2,760 to $3,510 per month. These are significant increases that can add up to thousands of dollars over the course of a year.
This change matters most for parents who earn more than $9,200 per month in net resources. If you or the other parent earns less than that, the cap increase likely does not affect your situation. Your child support would still be calculated based on the actual income, not the cap. But for parents whose income falls between $9,200 and $11,700 per month, the new cap means the court can now consider a larger portion of that income when setting support amounts.
Does This Affect Your Current Child Support Order?
No. Your current child support order does not change automatically because of the new cap. The higher cap only applies to new cases filed after September 1, 2025. If you already have a child support order in place, it will stay the same unless someone asks the court to modify it.
To change an existing order, you would need to file a petition for child support modification with the court. Texas law allows modifications when there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances since the last order was signed. The cap increase itself may qualify as a material change if the paying parent’s income was previously above the old $9,200 cap.
Texas law also allows you to seek a modification if it has been at least three years since the last order and the monthly amount would change by at least 20 percent or $100. Given the size of the cap increase, many families who were at or near the old cap could meet this threshold. You can read more about what qualifies in our blog on how to prove a substantial change in circumstances for child support modification.
When You Should Consider Filing a Modification
There are several situations where the new cap might make a modification worth pursuing. If the paying parent earns more than $9,200 per month in net resources and the existing order was calculated under the old cap, the new cap could result in a meaningful increase. If the paying parent received a raise or promotion since the last order, the combination of higher income and a higher cap could significantly change the calculation.
Other common reasons parents seek modifications include a job loss or reduction in income, changes in the child’s medical or educational needs, a parent having additional children, or a change in custody arrangements. Any of these factors, combined with the cap increase, could strengthen a case for modification.
If you think the new cap might affect your family, it is a good idea to speak with an experienced attorney who can review your current order and advise you on whether filing makes sense. Our team helps parents in Ellis County, Johnson County, and Tarrant County navigate child support modifications every day. We can help you understand your options and what to expect from the process.
What Happens When a Parent Earns More Than the Cap
If a parent earns more than $11,700 per month in net resources, the guideline percentages stop at the cap. The court does not automatically include income above that amount. However, the court has the authority to order additional child support beyond the guideline amount under Texas Family Code § 154.126.
Courts may order above-guideline support when the child has proven needs that exceed the standard amount. This often comes up in families where the child has significant medical or therapeutic needs, attends private school, participates in expensive extracurricular activities, or has travel costs for visitation between parents who live far apart. The court will look at the child’s lifestyle before the parents separated and try to maintain a similar standard of living.
If you are a high-income parent on either side of a child support case, it is especially important to work with an attorney who understands how courts in Ellis, Johnson, Tarrant, and Dallas Counties handle above-guideline support. The outcome of these cases depends heavily on the evidence presented and how the child’s needs are documented.
Parents With Children in Multiple Households
If the paying parent has children in more than one household, Texas uses adjusted guideline percentages. For example, a parent who owes support for one child in this case, but also supports one child from another relationship, would pay 17.5 percent instead of 20 percent. The adjusted percentages ensure that the parents’ obligations are balanced across all the children they support.
The new $11,700 cap still applies to these adjusted percentages. This means that parents in multiple-household situations could also see their maximum obligations increase under the new cap. It is important to disclose all children you are legally responsible for so the court can apply the correct calculation. Failing to provide this information could result in an order that does not reflect your true situation.
What If the Other Parent Is Not Paying?
The new cap does not change how child support enforcement works in Texas. If the other parent is not making their payments, the state has strong tools to collect. These include wage garnishment, interception of federal and state tax refunds, suspension of driver’s and professional licenses, liens on property, and even jail time for willful nonpayment.
Our child support enforcement lawyers can help you take action if you are not receiving the support your child is entitled to. You should not have to struggle financially because the other parent refuses to meet their obligations. You may also want to read our blog on whether you can go to jail for not paying child support in Texas to understand the consequences the other parent could face.
How McCarty-Larson Can Help
At McCarty-Larson, PLLC, we understand how stressful child support issues can be for families. Whether you are seeking a modification because of the new cap, fighting for fair support for your children, or dealing with a parent who refuses to pay, our team is here to help.
Our Texas child support lawyers can assist you by:
- Reviewing your current child support order to determine if a modification could benefit your family
- Calculating how the new $11,700 cap applies to your specific income and circumstances
- Filing modification petitions and representing you through the court process
- Pursuing enforcement actions if the other parent is behind on payments
- Advising on above-guideline support for high-income families or children with special needs
- Protecting fathers’ rights and ensuring fair treatment in child support proceedings
We serve families from our offices in Midlothian, Burleson, and Granbury across Ellis, Johnson, Tarrant, and Dallas Counties. Every case is different, and we take the time to understand your situation before recommending a course of action.
Take the Next Step
If you or someone you know is dealing with a child support issue in Texas, it is crucial to seek professional legal help as soon as possible. The team at McCarty Larson, PLLC has the experience and knowledge to help you navigate this challenging time. Whether the new cap means you could receive more support for your children or you are concerned about a potential increase in your payments, we can review your situation and explain your options.
Do not wait to get the legal support you need. Contact McCarty Larson, PLLC today at (972) 775-2100 for a free consultation. Our Texas family law attorneys are ready to stand by you every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
The child support cap increased to $11,700 per month in net resources on September 1, 2025. This is the maximum income courts use when applying guideline child support percentages. The previous cap was $9,200 per month and had been in place since 2019.
No. Existing child support orders do not change on their own. You must file a motion for modification with the court. A judge will review your circumstances and determine whether an adjustment is appropriate based on the current income and needs of the family.
For one child, the maximum guideline amount went from $1,840 to $2,340 per month. For two children, it went from $2,300 to $2,925. For three children, it went from $2,760 to $3,510. The actual change depends on the paying parent’s net resources.
Yes. Under Texas Family Code § 154.126, the court can order support above the guideline amount if the child has proven needs that require additional financial support. The court will consider the child’s lifestyle, medical needs, educational expenses, and other relevant factors.
You need to file a petition to modify with the court that issued the original order. The petition must show that a material and substantial change in circumstances has occurred since the last order. Our attorneys can help you file the petition and represent you through the process. Learn more in our guide on how to prepare for a child support modification case in Texas.
The Office of the Attorney General reviews the cap every six years and adjusts it based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The current $11,700 cap took effect in September 2025, and the next scheduled review will likely occur around 2031.