Texas Two-Step: Can You Shuffle Off Some Child Support with Travel Costs?
Howdy, partners! Ever feel like your child support payments are doing the Texas two-step on your wallet? Maybe you gotta travel a long way to see your little wrangler, and those plane tickets are giving you more yeehaw than you bargained for. So, can you lasso those travel expenses and subtract them from your child support in the Lone Star State? Let's mosey on over to the legalese and see what the brand says.
Hold Your Horses!
Generally speaking, partner, travel expenses to see your kids are considered a personal expense and don't get deducted from your child support in Texas. Think of it like buying those fancy boots – they might be needed for visitation, but they ain't exactly essential for your child's well-being. The idea is, child support is supposed to cover the basic needs of your little buckaroo, like food, shelter, and those darn video games they keep begging for.
But Wait, There's a Twist!
Now, hold on to your Stetson! There's always a maverick clause in Texas, right? Here's the thing: while you can't directly deduct travel costs, a judge might consider them under special circumstances. We're talking long-distance situations where, say, you gotta fly across the state for every other weekend visit. In that case, the judge might increase the child support amount slightly to account for the travel burden. But remember, this is a maybe, not a guaranteed hoedown.
So, You Wanna Wrangle a Reduction?
If you're thinkin' about waltzing into court and demanding a travel expense reduction, here's what you gotta do: Gather evidence, partner! Keep receipts for those plane tickets, gas station stops, or even wear and tear on your trusty truck. Then, you gotta mosey on down to a lawyer who specializes in family law. They can help you figure out if your situation qualifies for a child support adjustment and navigate the legalese like a seasoned trailblazer.
The Bottom Line
Look, travel expenses are probably not getting deducted from your child support. But if you gotta travel a long way to see your kiddo, there's a chance the judge might take that into account when setting the child support amount. Just remember, talking to a lawyer is your best bet to navigate the legalities and see if you can get a fair shake. Now, enough with all this fancy talk! Git out there and see your little tyke, even if it takes a wagon train full of gas money.
