Texas parents who are planning to get married should have a conversation about finances as soon as possible. Doing so could make it easier to determine who will work and who will stay at home with the kids. It may also be a good time to discuss whether a parent will transition out of the workforce or back into the workforce in the future.

Proper planning might prevent a situation where one parent feels stressed out about their career but feels as if there is no option but to continue working. Stress about work and money can have a negative impact on a marriage and even lead to a divorce. Ideally, individuals who are raising children together will take time to empathize with what the other is going through.

If a divorce occurs, keeping the lines of communication open can help individuals weather temporary financial crises. Instead of going to court or getting the authorities involved, ex-spouses can work together to resolve the issue. This can have benefits for both the adults and children. In some cases, getting the authorities involved to enforce a child support order could leave a noncustodial parent without a home or other assets.

Parents who are owed child support may have many options to obtain missed payments. Ideally, a custodial parent will work with the noncustodial parent to resolve temporary issues related to child support. This could be done privately or through mediation. However, if those efforts don’t work, it may be possible to talk with child support enforcement agencies at the state level. A judge may also be able to compel a person to make child support payments as ordered.

Related Posts: When disabled parents pay child support, What child support is used for, Why parents may seek a DNA test, Overdue child support and homeownership