On September 1, 2025, Texas raised the cap on monthly "net resources" used to calculate guideline child support from $9,200 to $11,700 — a 27% jump and the largest single increase in the state's history. If you pay or receive support and the paying parent is a higher earner, this is the most important change in years.
What actually changed
Texas calculates guideline child support as a fixed percentage of the paying parent's monthly net resources — but only up to a ceiling. Under Texas Family Code §154.125, the guideline percentages apply only to the first slice of net resources up to that cap. Income above the cap is not automatically multiplied by the percentage; instead a judge may add support based on the child's proven needs.
The cap is adjusted for inflation every six years by the Office of the Attorney General. The previous figure, $9,200, had been in place since 2019. Effective September 1, 2025, it rose to $11,700 per month.
The new maximum guideline amounts
Because the percentages didn't change — only the ceiling did — the easiest way to see the impact is the new maximum monthly support a guideline order can reach:
| Children | Percentage | Old max ($9,200) | New max ($11,700) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20% | $1,840 | $2,340 |
| 2 | 25% | $2,300 | $2,925 |
| 3 | 30% | $2,760 | $3,510 |
| 4 | 35% | $3,220 | $4,095 |
| 5 | 40% | $3,680 | $4,680 |
These maximums only apply once a parent's net resources actually reach the cap. A parent whose net resources are $5,000 a month is nowhere near it, and the increase changes nothing for them.
Who is affected — and who isn't
Affected: paying parents whose monthly net resources are above $9,200 (roughly $138,000+ a year in gross wages for a single W-2 employee). For them, guideline support can now be calculated on up to $11,700 instead of $9,200.
Not affected: the large majority of parents, whose net resources fall below $9,200. Their support is the same percentage of the same income as before.
Does it change existing orders automatically?
A higher-earning paying parent generally won't volunteer to modify, and the receiving parent must usually show a material and substantial change in circumstances (or that it has been three years and the amount would change by 20% or $100) to modify under §156.401. The cap increase by itself may support a modification request, but that's a fact-specific question for an attorney.
Income above the cap
Reaching the cap doesn't mean support is frozen at the maximum. Under §154.126, a court applies the percentage to the capped amount and may order additional support above it based on the proven needs of the child and the parties' circumstances. This is discretionary, not formula-driven, which is exactly why high-income cases benefit most from legal advice.