For parents with substantial income, calculating child support in Texas can involve more than simply applying a percentage to a paycheck.

One important number changed recently: the maximum amount of monthly net resources to which the standard Texas child support guidelines apply.

Effective September 1, 2025, Texas increased that amount from $9,200 to $11,700 per month. That updated figure remains especially relevant for child support cases being calculated, negotiated, or reviewed in 2026. The Texas Office of the Attorney General announced the adjustment pursuant to Texas Family Code §154.125.

For higher-income parents in Dallas and throughout Texas, the increase can have a meaningful impact on the amount of guideline child support at issue.

What Is the Texas Child Support Cap?

Texas uses statutory guidelines to help courts determine an appropriate amount of child support.

The guidelines generally apply a percentage to the paying parent’s—or obligor’s—monthly net resources.

For cases involving one household, the familiar guideline percentages generally begin with:

• 20% of net resources for one child;
• 25% for two children;
• 30% for three children;
• 35% for four children; and
• 40% for five children.

Different calculations can apply when an obligor has children in more than one household, and the ultimate support order can depend on the circumstances of the particular case. Texas law treats the statutory guidelines as a framework for determining an equitable amount of support.

The important point for higher earners is that those percentages are not automatically applied to an unlimited amount of income.

Texas establishes a maximum amount of monthly net resources to which the standard guidelines apply.

The current cap is $11,700 per month.

The Texas Office of the Attorney General increased the cap from $9,200 to $11,700, effective September 1, 2025.

That makes the new limit an important consideration for divorce and child support matters being handled in 2026.

How Much Difference Can the New Cap Make?

Consider a simplified example involving one child.

Under the basic 20% guideline:

Previous $9,200 cap:
20% × $9,200 = $1,840 per month

Current $11,700 cap:
20% × $11,700 = $2,340 per month

That represents a potential difference of:

$500 per month

or

$6,000 per year

before considering other statutory factors, medical support, dental support, children in other households, or circumstances that could justify a different amount.

For two children, applying the basic 25% guideline to $11,700 would equal:

$2,925 per month

For three children, applying 30% would equal:

$3,510 per month

These examples illustrate the guideline calculation only. They should not be treated as a prediction of what a particular parent will pay or receive.

What Does Texas Mean by “Net Resources”?

The phrase net resources is important because Texas child support is not simply based on gross salary.

Texas Family Code Chapter 154 contains specific rules governing how net resources are calculated. Depending on the circumstances, resources can include various forms of income rather than only an employee’s regular paycheck.

For a traditional salaried employee, the analysis may be relatively straightforward.

For high-income parents, however, compensation can include much more.

Examples may include:

• bonuses;
• commissions;
• self-employment income;
• partnership or business distributions;
• investment income;
• deferred compensation; and
• other recurring sources of income.

That means determining a high earner’s actual resources may require considerably more financial analysis than simply reviewing one pay stub.

Why the New Cap Matters to Executives and Other High Earners

Many Dallas-area professionals receive compensation that does not fit neatly into a traditional salary structure.

An executive may receive a base salary plus annual incentives.

A physician may receive productivity compensation.

A business owner may receive wages, distributions, retained earnings, or other economic benefits.

A salesperson may earn substantial commissions that fluctuate throughout the year.

When compensation changes from month to month, determining the appropriate income figure for child support may become a significant issue.

The $11,700 cap does not eliminate the need to determine net resources accurately. Instead, it establishes the point at which a different statutory analysis may become relevant.

What If a Parent Earns More Than $11,700 in Monthly Net Resources?

This is where the phrase “child support cap” can sometimes cause confusion.

The $11,700 amount does not necessarily mean that child support can never exceed the guideline amount calculated at the cap.

Texas Family Code §154.126 specifically addresses situations in which an obligor’s net resources exceed the maximum amount to which the guidelines apply. Texas law can allow a court to consider additional support based on the proven needs of the child.

That makes the distinction between income and the child’s needs especially important in high-income cases.

Simply showing that a parent earns considerably more than $11,700 in monthly net resources does not necessarily mean that every dollar above the cap will be subjected to the ordinary guideline percentage.

Instead, the circumstances and evidence matter.

What Expenses Could Matter in a High-Income Child Support Case?

Every family is different, but higher-income households can involve expenses that are less common in a routine child support case.

Depending upon the circumstances, issues may include:

• private-school tuition;
• tutoring;
• special educational programs;
• therapy;
• significant healthcare expenses;
• extracurricular activities;
• competitive sports;
• music or arts programs;
• childcare;
• travel;
• transportation between households; or
• other demonstrated needs of the child.

The existence of these expenses does not automatically produce a particular support amount.

However, when a party asks a court to deviate from the ordinary guideline calculation, evidence regarding the child’s actual needs can become very important.

Can Texas Courts Deviate From the Child Support Guidelines?

Yes.

Texas child support guidelines create an important starting point, but they do not eliminate judicial discretion in every case.

Texas Family Code §154.123 permits a court to order an amount different from the guideline calculation when evidence rebuts the presumption that application of the guidelines is in the child’s best interest and supports a variance.

Factors in an individual case can therefore matter considerably.

For high-income parents, this means neither side should assume that a simple online child support calculator tells the entire story.

Does the $11,700 Cap Automatically Increase Existing Child Support Orders?

No.

An existing child support order generally does not automatically change simply because Texas changed the guideline cap.

That distinction is especially important for parents whose orders were entered when the maximum monthly net-resource figure was $9,200.

A parent who believes an existing order should be changed generally needs to pursue a child support modification through the appropriate legal process.

Webb Family Law has previously discussed modification when income or other circumstances change, which is a separate question from calculating support under the current cap.

When Can Child Support Be Modified in Texas?

Texas law permits modification of child support in qualifying circumstances.

Whether modification is appropriate depends on the facts of the case, the existing order, applicable statutory requirements, and what has changed since the previous order was entered.

A significant change in income may be relevant.

So may changes involving:

• the child’s needs;
• healthcare expenses;
• custody or possession arrangements;
• employment;
• financial resources; or
• other material circumstances.

Parents should not simply begin paying a different amount because they believe the new guideline cap applies.

Until an existing court order is legally changed, the existing order remains important.

High-Income Parents Should Pay Particular Attention to Financial Documentation

Complex compensation often produces complex child support disputes.

A parent whose compensation consists of salary, bonus, stock compensation, distributions, or business income may need to produce considerably more documentation than a parent earning a fixed hourly wage.

Potentially relevant records can include:

• tax returns;
• W-2s;
• 1099s;
• pay statements;
• bonus history;
• partnership statements;
• business financial statements;
• profit-and-loss statements;
• bank records;
• employment agreements;
• compensation plans; and
• documentation of recurring distributions.

Accurate documentation protects both sides.

A parent receiving support needs enough information to understand the paying parent’s actual financial resources.

A parent paying support may need evidence distinguishing normal recurring compensation from unusual, one-time, or nonrecurring financial events.

Business Owners Can Present Additional Challenges

Determining income can become particularly complicated when one parent owns or controls a closely held business.

A business owner may have some ability to influence:

• salary;
• distributions;
• retained earnings;
• timing of compensation; or
• payment of certain expenses through the company.

That does not mean every dollar connected to a business automatically becomes child support income.

It does mean the financial records may require closer review.

In a substantial-income case, attorneys may need to work with accountants, valuation professionals, or other financial experts to understand the complete financial picture.

Child Support Is Only One Part of the Financial Analysis

Parents going through divorce sometimes evaluate child support in isolation.

For higher-income families, however, child support may interact with several other issues.

Those can include:

• possession schedules;
• health insurance;
• uninsured medical expenses;
• private-school costs;
• extracurricular expenses;
• property division;
• spousal maintenance;
• contractual alimony; and
• tax considerations.

A strong divorce settlement should therefore evaluate the entire financial structure rather than focusing exclusively on one monthly support number.

What Should Higher-Income Parents Do in 2026?

If you are entering a Texas divorce or child support matter and either parent earns substantial income, consider addressing the issue early.

1. Gather complete compensation records

Do not rely solely on base salary.

Identify bonuses, commissions, distributions, investment income, business income, and other compensation that may be relevant.

2. Understand the current $11,700 cap

Make sure calculations are being made using the current Texas guideline limit rather than the former $9,200 amount. The current cap became effective September 1, 2025.

3. Document the child’s actual expenses

When support above the ordinary guideline amount may be disputed, documentation can be critical.

4. Review existing orders rather than assuming they changed

The new cap does not by itself rewrite a prior court order.

5. Consider the entire financial picture

Child support should be evaluated alongside custody, healthcare, property division, and other financial obligations associated with the divorce.

Speak With a Dallas Child Support Attorney

Texas child support cases involving executives, business owners, physicians, professionals, and other high-income parents can become significantly more complicated than a standard guideline calculation.

The increase in the Texas child support cap to $11,700 in monthly net resources makes understanding the current rules especially important for parents dealing with support issues in 2026.

The Webb Family Law Firm, PLLC represents individuals throughout Dallas and North Texas in child support, child support modification, high-asset divorce, property division, and other complex family-law matters.

If you have questions about how the current Texas child support guidelines may apply to your family, contact Webb Family Law to schedule a confidential consultation.