What Happens at a Texas Child Support Negotiation Conference?

A child support negotiation conference in Texas is an in-office meeting where you, the other parent, and a Child Support Officer from the Office of the Attorney General work out the terms of a support order without going to court. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) runs these meetings through what it calls the Child Support Review Process, or CSRP, and a session usually runs 60 to 90 minutes.¹ If both parents agree on the terms, the proposed order goes straight to a judge for a signature. No trial, no witnesses.

What Happens in the Room

The CSRP is an administrative process, not a hearing. It typically takes place at a local Child Support Division office, in person or virtually depending on the office, with both parents seated with a Child Support Officer (CSO) who guides the discussion.¹ The officer walks you through the Texas guidelines, reviews income records, and helps both sides negotiate payment amounts, medical coverage, and other terms. The CSO keeps things fair and makes sure any agreement follows state law. The officer does not act as a lawyer for either parent and will not give legal advice to anyone in the room.

If your case is tied to a divorce or custody matter handled by a private attorney, you may negotiate support through the court system instead. Judges sometimes require parents to attempt negotiation before scheduling a full hearing. The underlying guidelines are the same either way.

Who Needs to Be There

Both parents are expected to attend. In an OAG-managed case, a Child Support Officer runs the meeting. If the case is already in court, you may meet with an Assistant Attorney General instead.¹

Neither parent is required to bring a lawyer, but you can. If only one parent shows up with an attorney, the CSO still manages the discussion so one side doesn’t steamroll the other. Having your own attorney is worth serious consideration if you have complicated finances, own a business, or suspect the other parent is hiding income.

If you cannot make the scheduled date, contact the OAG immediately rather than skipping the appointment.¹ Failing to appear after being properly served can result in a default order, meaning the judge grants whatever the other parent requested and the absent parent gets no say.² The court can also issue an arrest warrant for a parent who ignores a notice to appear.

What to Bring

The officer needs solid financial proof from both parents to calculate support. This is where most people underperform. Showing up without paperwork slows the process and may lead to an income estimate higher than what you actually earn. Bring at least:

Pay stubs from the last two to three months, from every job you hold.
Your most recent W-2s, 1099s, and federal tax return.
Profit and loss statements and business tax returns if you work for yourself.
Documentation of any other regular income: rental income, investment dividends, Social Security benefits.

Also bring records tied to the child’s ongoing costs:

Your health and dental insurance card, premium statement, and a summary of what’s covered.
Daycare, after-school care, or summer camp invoices.
Itemized medical bills and proof of payment for anything not covered by insurance.
Tuition, fees, or costs tied to any special educational needs.

If you have recently lost a job, taken a pay cut, or developed a disability, bring documentation of the change: a termination letter, unemployment statement, or medical records. Without proof, the officer may base calculations on your previous, higher earning level. If you believe the other parent is hiding income or assets, bring any financial records you can gather, such as bank statements, property records, or business filings. Courts consider all available resources when setting support.

How Texas Calculates Child Support

Understanding the calculation before you walk in is the single most useful thing you can do to prepare. Texas uses a percentage-of-income model tied to the paying parent’s monthly net resources. The standard guideline percentages are:³

1 child: 20% of net resources
2 children: 25%
3 children: 30%
4 children: 35%
5 children: 40%
6 or more: not less than the amount for five children

“Net resources” is not your take-home pay. It starts with gross income from all sources (wages, commissions, self-employment profits, rental income, dividends, and similar receipts) and then subtracts federal income taxes, Social Security and Medicare taxes, state income taxes (not applicable in Texas, but relevant if you earn income in another state), union dues, and health insurance premiums for the child.

These percentages are presumptive. The officer or court applies them automatically unless someone presents a good reason to deviate. Presumptive is the starting point, not a guarantee.

The Net Resources Cap

The guideline percentages only apply to the first $11,700 per month in net resources, a cap that took effect on September 1, 2025.³ If the paying parent earns more than that, the percentage applies to $11,700, and the court then decides whether additional support above that amount is warranted based on the child’s proven needs. For one child, the guideline amount caps at $2,340 per month (20% of $11,700). Earning $20,000 a month does not automatically mean the court orders 20% of the full amount. You would need to prove the child’s actual expenses justify more.

Reduced Percentages for Low-Income Parents

If the paying parent’s monthly net resources fall below $1,000, Texas applies a lower schedule:³

1 child: 15%
2 children: 20%
3 children: 25%
4 children: 30%
5 children: 35%
6 or more: not less than the amount for five children

The reduced schedule reflects the reality that a parent earning very little still needs to cover basic living expenses.

Reasons the Number Can Shift

Either parent can argue that the guideline figure doesn’t fit their situation. Texas law spells out 17 factors a court may weigh when deciding to go above or below the standard percentage, including:⁴

The child’s age and specific needs.
Custody time, especially where one parent has significantly more overnights.
Childcare and educational costs, including daycare, private school, or tutoring.
Extraordinary medical expenses not fully covered by insurance.
Travel costs for visitation when parents live far apart.
Other children the paying parent is obligated to support.
Major debts assumed by either parent.
Spousal maintenance already being paid by either parent.

If you plan to argue for an amount above or below guidelines, bring documentation. Vague claims about expenses won’t move the needle. Receipts, bills, and written estimates will.

Medical and Dental Support

Every Texas child support order must include provisions for both medical and dental coverage. This catches some parents off guard because they expect the negotiation to focus only on a monthly payment.⁵⁶

The law caps what counts as a “reasonable cost” for these coverages. Health insurance premiums for the child cannot exceed 9% of the paying parent’s annual gross resources, and dental insurance premiums cannot exceed 1.5%.⁵⁶ If employer-sponsored coverage is available at a reasonable cost, the court will typically order the parent to enroll the child. If coverage isn’t available through employment at those thresholds, the order will address alternatives.

Both parents must disclose whether the child currently has medical or dental insurance, which parent pays the premiums, and whether either parent’s employer offers coverage. Bring your insurance card, a benefits summary, and premium statements so the officer can evaluate options quickly. The order will also address how uninsured medical and dental expenses are split between parents.

If You Reach an Agreement

If both parents agree on terms, the CSO drafts a proposed order spelling out the monthly payment amount, how and when payments are made, who provides medical and dental insurance, and how uninsured expenses are divided. Both parents sign the document, and the officer submits it to a judge.¹

The judge reviews the proposed order to confirm it follows Texas guidelines and serves the child’s interests. Judges typically approve agreements that land within the standard percentages. If the agreed amount is significantly above or below guidelines, the judge may ask for an explanation before signing. Once the judge signs, the order is legally binding and enforceable.

If You Don’t

If the conference doesn’t produce an agreement, the case moves to a formal court hearing. Both parents present financial evidence to a judge, who reviews the documentation and determines the support amount.¹ The court may also hear testimony about the child’s needs or a parent’s ability to pay.

Court hearings take longer, cost more, and strip both parents of control over the outcome. In a negotiation, you have a voice in shaping the terms. In a hearing, the judge decides. The resulting order is still based on the same guidelines, but the judge has full discretion to weigh the evidence and apply deviation factors without either parent’s agreement. If you have an attorney, legal fees will climb substantially once the case goes to trial.

Active-Duty Military Parents

The federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) allows active-duty military members to request a stay, or postponement, of civil proceedings when their service prevents them from attending. This protection extends to child support hearings and administrative proceedings like the CSRP. A service member does not have to be deployed overseas to qualify; being on federal active duty is enough. The SCRA does not shield anyone from the underlying child support obligation. It only provides procedural breathing room so the service member can participate when available. If you or the other parent is active-duty military and cannot attend, raise this with the OAG before the scheduled date.

1
Office of the Attorney General of Texas. Understanding the Legal Process
2
State of Texas. Texas Family Code 157.115 – Default Judgment
3
State of Texas. Texas Family Code 154.125 – Application of Guidelines to Net Resources
4
State of Texas. Texas Family Code 154.123 – Additional Factors for Court to Consider
5
State of Texas. Texas Family Code 154.181 – Medical Support Order
6
State of Texas. Texas Family Code 154.1815 – Dental Support Order