I live in Texas and my divorce and child support decree was final 1 year ago. I have three children and am currently getting the max child support that Texas allows. My two older children have been in competitive gymnastics and karate for at least the last five years. This summer, they have both made significant advancements in their respective sports and in turn have both become much more expensive to maintain. My ex does not and will not pay anything outside of the child support agreement. I have heard, which I am unsure of the truth, that Texas is raising the maximum child support. Is it true that the maximum is being raised in Texas and would I be able to go back to court to request the additional child support for the above mentioned expenses?

Check your divorce decree on how many months has to pass in order for a child support review. For example, my decree stated every 36 months, there was to be a review, but I had to initiate the review through the child support enforcement agency.

Since you had an attorney for your divorce, that is who I would go back and ask whether the law is changing in Texas. Who else would better know and could inform you on what to do? Good luck.

You can also ask your state representative if such a law is on the docket.

I must say, however, if your reason for the increase is to support your chldren's advancement in sports, I doubt if it would be granted.Competitive sports is not a neccessity.

In order to get an increase in child support, you've got to show an appreciable "change in circumstances" that would warrant such an increase. For example, if your ex won the lottery, inherited a large sum of money, got a new job that pays substantially more than he had been earning ; in short, became capable of providing his kids with a higher standard of living, then you'd be entitled to an increase in the child support amount. Now, on the flip side of the coin, if you can demonstrate that one of your children has extraordinary needs, such as increased medical care, that may also warrant an increase. I doubt that expensive hobbies, such as gymnastics and karate, would qualify as grounds for seeking an increase in support. It's certainly admirable that your children are participating in these activities but that's going to have to come out of the support you're currently getting, with you making up the difference out of your own income. Perhaps Texas is raising its maximum allowable amount of child support ; however, without the aforementioned change in circumstance, I doubt that it'll affect you.