Registration of an Out of State Child Support Order FOR ENFORCEMENT

In Texas, this process is outlined in section 159.601-608 of the Texas Family Code. The registration is needed to modify that prior child support order. Warning: this is a complex process and technical, so if you are trying to do this, seek the advice of an attorney.
Registration requires sending the Texas Court:

1. a letter requesting the foreign order be registered and enforced;
2. two copies, including one certified copy, of the order to be registered;
   1. (If the original order has been modified, send the original plus all orders modifying to be on the safe side)
3. a sworn statement by the person requesting registration or a certified statement by the custodian of records showing the amount of any arrears;
4. the name of the obligor;
5. the obligor’s address and social security number, and any other source of income (if known);
6. a description and location of the property of the obligor not exempt from execution; and
7. the name of the obligee.

TEX. FAM. CODE 159.602(a)

The Texas Court should take and register the order at that point as a foreign order. Then, the registering party typically must send the notice outlined in 159.605, even though the court supposedly should send the notice. The reason is that without the notice, it can be easy to stall the process until proper notice is sent and the opportunity to contest passes.

TEX. FAM. CODE 159.602(b)

Notice means:

1. Informing the nonregistering party that the order has been registered, the date of registration, and that it may be enforced as any other order issued by Texas;
2. that a hearing to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order must be requested within 20 days of the notice;
3. that failure to timely contest the validity or enforcement results in confirmation of the order and enforcement as well as precludes later contesting it; and
4. the amount of the arrears.

TEX. FAM. CODE 159.605

Note:

This is a brief overview. If you are planning on doing this, first, always consult with an attorney. Second, read the sections very carefully as this is just a brief overview.

What Would My Texas Child Support Be?

Ever wonder how much you would pay in child support in Texas?  The Texas Office of the Attorney General has on online child support calculator that gets pretty close to figuring out what your child support obligation would be in Texas.  The actual number may vary, but this will give you a good idea -

LINK TO TEXAS CHILD SUPPORT CALCULATOR

How to Change Contractual Alimony

First, make sure the clause you are looking to change is contractual alimony and not spousal support. You can get an idea by looking at my post here.

If it is contractual, read on!

Changing contractual alimony in Texas is not easy. It follows contract law, so typically you need the written agreement of both parties.  You need to look carefully at the terms and conditions of the payments first, and see if there is a built in way to modify or terminate the payments.  If not or the terms do not apply, you are going to need to talk to the ex-spouse.

Why would an ex-spouse agree to change the spousal payments?  Sometimes out of the goodness of their hearts… or perhaps you offer them something of value – some ideas:

1. More money over a longer period of time so that the payments are smaller;
2. Less money but in a lump sum payment;
3. Other property can be used as well; or
4. An offer to pay off debts incurred jointly or by the other party during the marriage.

We have also seen other consideration given, like the addition/modification of a geographic residency requirement or exchange points.  In the end, the deal is up to the parties, with very few exceptions.

Another method would be to attack it as you would a contract.  This is much more involved, and more difficult.

If you have a question or want advise about a particular situation, email or call – we can help!

Discovery Pleadings – An Overview

Too often, the first time someone learns about a discovery tool is when they have to respond.  I thought I would list some of the more common tools and a brief explanation.  This is by no means exhaustive, but I hope it helps!

Requests for Disclosures
This is the one discovery request that cannot be objected to and provides basic information like potential witnesses, any experts, general legal theories and factual basis for them.  Texas Rule of Civil Procedure (TRCP) 194.

Requests for Admissions
These are a lists of questions that can only be answered as admitted, denied, or in limited circumstances, explaining the reason that the responding party cannot admit or deny the question. Some attorneys use these to set the evidentiary foundations of documents or see what facts are really at issue. TRCP 198.

Requests for Production and Inspection
This pleading is used to get documents, videos, recordings or other pieces of tangible evidence.  TRCP 196.

Written Interrogatories
These are a very limited number of questions a party must respond to. Be careful with these. One you reach the limit (25 normally) the other party does not have to answer any more.  TRCP 197.

Depositions
Formal question and answer sessions where your attorney asks questions of the other party or the other party’s attorney asks questions of you. Very useful, but expensive, and you get a limited number of hours.  Most attorneys like other discovery to be done first so they can ask questions to fill in the gaps and solidify their side of the case.  TRCP 199.

Standard Possession Order for 2013

Since we started a new year, I thought the most useful thing to do was post a link to a standard visitation calendar for 2013.

Click OAG’s 2013 SPO Calendar

Of course, the above calendar won’t take into account all of the summer visitation or school holidays – you will have to spend some time doing that.  Here is a good website to help.

Last, click here for a more in-depth discussion of the Texas Standard Possession Order.

Want to Change Child Support? Know the A, B, C’s…

Changing a child support payment (whether your’s or your ex’s) is certainly possible, just make sure that all the bases are covered.  Let’s look at the first group of steps needed, which can be found in Texas Family Code section 156.401(a).

1. A “material and substantial change in circumstances” is needed.  Here, we need it to be a financial change (either earning power or monetary need).
2. Those circumstances must relate to the child or a person affected by the order.
3. The change in circumstance must have occurred after the signing of the order.

With the above set of facts, changing that child support payment becomes possible.  At the hearing, the above must be shown.  Simple testimony is not always enough.  The best way would be to show tax returns or pay stubs showing income at the time of the signing of the order, then current tax returns or pay stubs.

For an interesting case showing this process, look at In the Interest of C.H.C. by clicking the name of the case.

Child Support and Bankruptcy…

Unfortunately, many people ordered to pay child support have had to file for bankruptcy.  We see this occasionally, and while sometimes that person is attempting to avoid their child support obligation, many times the person truly is experiencing hard times.  Even more unfortunately, that person may believe bankruptcy will stay, halt or eliminate their child support obligation – that is simply not the case.  In fact, bankruptcy can make it easier for a person receiving child support to get paid.

To lay the argument out simply:

1) Child Support is seen as a domestic support obligation under the bankruptcy code – 11 U.S.C. 101(14A).

2) Domestic Support Obligations are not dischargeable through bankruptcy - 11 U.S.C. 523(a)(5).

3) In fact, the automatic stay associated with bankruptcy filings will not apply to collection of a domestic support obligation from property that is not part of the bankruptcy estate or with regard to a wage withholding order for future income- 11 U.S.C. 362(b)(2).

4) Finally, exempt property can be taken to satisfy domestic support obligations notwithstanding any State or Federal law to the contrary - 11 U.S.C. 522(c)(1).

What does this mean?

When a person (“debtor”) files for bankruptcy, they fill out certain schedules.  Those schedules include all of their property, their income and where that income comes from.  Because of (3) and (4), the person owed child support could look at those schedules, determine what the debtor is claiming is exempt, then file their Motion to Enforce Child Support.  Texas is allows for a debtor to claim quite a bit of property as exempt, but the debtor must list it in the schedule, which the person owed child support can then show the Judge and simply request that property or that income to satisfy the child support obligation.  While not a sure-fire way of getting that child support paid, looking through a debtor’s bankruptcy filing is a good start.

Challenging Child Support by Challenging Paternity

When parents divorce, it is only proper that the parents still support their children.  In the case of women, there are very few circumstances where there is a question as to whether she is the biological Mother.  However, men don’t have it that easy, and some men accept children, and the obligation to support them, only to find out later that the child is not their offspring.

How to challenge a child support order when the child is not yours?

Thanks to a new law, men can challenge their child support order by challenging the biological relationship with the child (think DNA testing).  There are some restrictions.

For all orders prior September 1, 2011, the man must have believed at the time of the order or signing of the acknowledgment of paternity that he was the father due to misrepresentations made to him.  If the order was prior September 1, 2011, he has until September 1, 2012, to challenge the order in a court of law.

For orders after September 1, 2011, the man must have believed at the time of the order that his was the father due to misrepresentations made to him and must file to terminate the relationship within one year of finding facts that indicate he is not the biological father.

Under either route, timing is important.  If you wait too long to challenge the order, you waive the objection.