Did Texas Raise the Child Support Cap?

 Posted on March 09, 2026 in Child Support

If you have a child support order in Texas, or you are going through a divorce or custody case, there is a major change you need to know about. On September 1, 2025, Texas updated the income limit used in its child support guideline formula, marking the largest adjustment to the cap in many years. The change affects how courts calculate support in cases across the state today. A Fort Worth family law attorney can help you understand how it applies to your situation. 

What Did Texas Change About Child Support in 2025?

Texas calculates child support based on the paying parent's monthly net income, which is take-home pay after taxes and certain deductions. Under Family Code Chapter 154, Texas law applies a set percentage based on how many children are involved: 20 percent for one child, 25 percent for two, 30 percent for three, and so on.

But there has always been a cap. The formula only applied to income up to a certain amount. Once a parent earned above that limit, the percentage stopped increasing. That cap was $9,200 per month. As of September 1, 2025, it jumped to $11,700, a $2,500 increase.

Here is what that means in real numbers for parents at the cap:

• One child: Monthly maximum increased from $1,840 to $2,340.
• Two children: Monthly maximum increased from $2,300 to $2,925.
• Three children: monthly maximum increased from $2,760 to $3,510.

If the paying parent earns less than $11,700 per month, the same percentage formula still applies. This change matters most when income is at or above the cap. Texas made the update to keep up with inflation and the rising cost of raising children. Child care alone now costs families an average of about $13,128 per year in the United States, according to Child Care Aware of America, showing how quickly the cost of raising children has increased and why the old cap simply was not keeping pace.

Does the New Cap Apply to Your Existing Child Support Order?

If your child support order was set before September 1, 2025, it stays the same until a court changes it. The new law only applies automatically to orders made on or after that date.

That means if you receive support and your co-parent earns at or above the old cap, your child may now be entitled to more, but you have to ask for it. And if you pay support and your income is near the cap, your co-parent could file to increase your payments. Either way, nothing changes on its own. You have to act.

How Do You Request a Child Support Modification in Tarrant County?

To change a child support order in Texas, you must show the court there has been a "material and substantial change in circumstances," meaning something significant has changed since the original order was set. In some cases, the higher cap may affect whether the guideline amount is different enough for a court to review support, especially when a parent’s income is near or above the limit.

Courts can also review support if it has been at least three years since the last order and the new amount would differ by 20 percent or $100 per month, whichever is less.

In Fort Worth, you file a Petition to Modify the Parent-Child Relationship. You serve your co-parent, attend a hearing, and a judge decides whether to approve your request to change child support payments. 

Some cases settle without a full trial. Others, especially when there are disputes about income, require more time. A judge has to sign a new order before anything changes. You cannot just agree with your co-parent on a new amount and expect it to be enforced.

Do not wait. Texas courts generally will not make modifications go back further than your filing date. Every month you delay is money that cannot be recovered.

Talk to a Fort Worth Child Support Lawyer Today

If you need to modify an existing order or are starting a new custody case in 2026, the experienced Fort Worth, TX child support attorney at The Law Office of J. Kevin Clark P.C. can help you understand your options. The firm's two attorneys handle divorce, custody, and child support matters in Fort Worth.

The Law Office of J. Kevin Clark P.C. focuses on complex disputes and has experience with divorces involving narcissistic spouses. Free consultations are available. Call 817-348-6723 today.