- Can I count the Christmas presents that I buy as child support?
No.
Generally speaking, court-ordered child support can only be discharged according to the terms dictated in the order. In fact, most orders contain a warning that says:
No Credit for Informal Payments
IT IS ORDERED that the child support as prescribed in this decree shall be exclusively discharged in the manner ordered and that any direct payments made by ______________ to ______________ or any expenditures incurred by ________________ during his/her periods of possession of or access to the child, as prescribed in this decree, for food, clothing, gifts, travel, shelter, or entertainment are deemed in addition to and not in lieu of the support ordered in this decree.
- If my ex agrees that I don’t have to pay all of my child support this month because I will be buying Christmas presents, is that true?
No.
In 1991, the Texas Supreme Court determined that the Family Code prohibited parents from making agreements to “modify court-ordered child support without court approval.”
Meaning that any agreements with your ex regarding child support, even if in writing, are unenforceable.
- If my ex does not let me have the children like he/she is supposed to for Christmas, can I withhold child support?
No.
A standard warning that is to be included in all support orders is as follows:
REFUSAL BY A PARTY TO ALLOW POSSESSION OF OR ACCESS TO A CHILD DOES NOT JUSTIFY FAILURE TO PAY COURT-ORDERED CHILD SUPPORT TO THAT PARTY.
So, regardless of whether the denial of access is a few minutes or the entirety of Christmas vacation, court ordered child support is still due. Whether the court will later put your ex in jail and give you make-up time is another matter for another day.
- If my ex is behind on child support, do I still have to give him/her the children for the Christmas possession?
Yes.
Another standard warning that should be in all orders is:
FAILURE OF A PARTY TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT DOES NOT JUSTIFY DENYING THAT PARTY COURT-ORDERED POSSESSION OF OR ACCESS TO A CHILD.
So, regardless of whether your ex is ten payments behind in child support, one payment behind, or just late with this month’s payment, the court ordered possession is to be allowed. Note, however, that unlike child support, possession can be informally modified by the parties.
- If my court order does not contain all of the warnings discussed in this blog, is the answer different for me?
No.
These warnings simply state the law. And the law is the same, whether you have been warned or not.
To discuss any of this with the attorneys at the Beal Law Firm, call us at 214.414.0418 or 817.261.4333, or write us at lawyers@dfwdivorce.com. We are on the web at www.dfwdivorce.com.
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