Child Support Enforcement- Williamson County Texas

Child Support Enforcement             

If a court in Williamson County enters a child support order it retains jurisdiction to render a contempt order for failure to comply with the child support order if a motion to enforce that child support order is filed prior to the 2^nd anniversary of when the child has become an adult or the child support obligation has ended by the court’s order or by operation of law.

However, the court will retain jurisdiction to deal with other matters for 10 years. For instance, the court will be able to confirm the amount of child support arrearages and render a cumulative money judgment for the past due child support until the 10^th Anniversary of the child becoming an adult or the child support obligation is otherwise terminated.

What happens if a parent’s child support obligation ends when the child turns 18, but the parent is required to pay on arrearages for child support until the child reaches the age of 20? In this situation the parent is still obligated to pay child support until the child reaches the age of 20 years old, but the trial court’s jurisdiction to enforce this obligation by contempt is not extended. If the court was allowed to retain jurisdiction under these circumstances, the court could retain jurisdiction for an indefinite period of time.

In Texas parties can agree that child support will end at any specific time. This does not mean that the court will approve of and enforce a child support order that ends prior to the child turning 18. Specifically, the Texas Family code specifies that absent an agreement by the parties the obligation to pay child support will continue until the child turns 18, or graduates from high school. However, the court can end the child support obligation if the minor child becomes emancipated or gets married. 

An agreement to shorten or lengthen the child support obligation will affect the timelines discussed above to enforce the child support obligation or to obtain a cumulative money judgement. If you are dealing with a child support case you should discuss the facts of your case with an experienced family or childsupport lawyer. Clifford Alan Swayze’s office is located in Round Rock, Texas at 1000 Heritage Center Circle, Round Rock, Texas 78664.

To speak with Clifford Alan Swayze at his Round Rock Law Office please give him a call at 512-335-5245.

CliffordAlan Swayze represents parties for child support matters in Williamson County including Cedar Park, Round Rock, Leander, Georgetown, Liberty Hill, Hutto, Taylor and Austin.  The following zip codes are served: 75409, 78608, 78611, 78613, 78615, 75032, 78621, 78620, 97116, 78665, 78626, 78633, 78628, 78627, 78634, 78642, 78641, 78646, 78645, 79836, 78653, 78660, 76511, 78664, 78663, 78669, 76526, 78674, 76527, 78673, 76530, 64093, 77327, 76537, 78681, 78947, 78704, 76543, 78266, 76857, 76549, 78717, 76567, 89801, 78726, 76573, 76577, 78728, 78727, 76574, 78730, 77853, 78729, 76578, 78732, 78734,l 78737, 47122, 78745, 78748, 78750, 77388, 78759, 78605.