Tex. Codes » Family Code · TITLE 5. THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP · SUBTITLE B. SUITS AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP · CHAPTER 154. CHILD SUPPORT
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Tex. Fam. Code § 154.131 (2026)

Retroactive Child Support

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Sec. 154.131. RETROACTIVE CHILD SUPPORT. (a) The child support guidelines are intended to guide the court in determining the amount of retroactive child support, if any, to be ordered.

(b) In ordering retroactive child support, the court shall consider the net resources of the obligor during the relevant time period and whether:

(1) the mother of the child had made any previous attempts to notify the obligor of his paternity or probable paternity;

(2) the obligor had knowledge of his paternity or probable paternity;

(3) the order of retroactive child support will impose an undue financial hardship on the obligor or the obligor's family; and

(4) the obligor has provided actual support or other necessaries before the filing of the action.

(c) It is presumed that a court order limiting the amount of retroactive child support to an amount that does not exceed the total amount of support that would have been due for the four years preceding the date the petition seeking support was filed is reasonable and in the best interest of the child.

(d) The presumption created under this section may be rebutted by evidence that the obligor:

(1) knew or should have known that the obligor was the father of the child for whom support is sought; and

(2) sought to avoid the establishment of a support obligation to the child.

(e) An order under this section limiting the amount of retroactive support does not constitute a variance from the guidelines requiring the court to make specific findings under Section 154.130.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, the court retains jurisdiction to render an order for retroactive child support in a suit if a petition requesting retroactive child support is filed not later than the fourth anniversary of the date of the child's 18th birthday.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 392, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 821, Sec. 2.14, eff. June 14, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1023, Sec. 9, eff; Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 972 (S.B. 228), Sec. 11(a), eff. September 1, 2007.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 61 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1997–2025 · leading case: Garza v. Blanton, 55 S.W.3d 708 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2001).
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Garza v. Blanton, 55 S.W.3d 708 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2001). · cites it 10× “At issue is whether the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to award retroactive child support. Appellant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by not applying the guidelines imposing retroactive support found in the Texas Family Code.”
Nordstrom v. Nordstrom, 965 S.W.2d 575 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1998). · cites it 2× “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 154.131 (Vernon 1996).”
Duran v. Garcia, 224 S.W.3d 309 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2005). · cites it 3× “tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 154.131. Duran testified he gave Garcia cash on various occasions in amounts ranging from $40 to $100 per week.”
In the Interest of Sanders, 159 S.W.3d 797 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2005). · cites it 4× “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 154.131 (b)(4) (Vernon 2002).”
In the Interest of A.B., a Child, 368 S.W.3d 850 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012). · cites it 6× “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 154.131 (c), (d); see In re B.”
In the Interest of J.H., 961 S.W.2d 550 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1997). · cites it 5× “From the statutory language emphasized above, it is clear that the trial court has discretion in deciding whether to award retroactive child support and in deciding the amount of such an award.”
In re B.R., 327 S.W.3d 208 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2010). · cites it 4× “See TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 154.131(c) (Vernon 2008).”
In re Guthrie, 45 S.W.3d 719 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2001). “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 154.131 (a) (Vernon 1996).”
In the Interest of Valadez, 980 S.W.2d 910 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1998). · cites it 2× “” Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 154.131 (a) (Vernon 1996) (emphasis added).”
Garza v. Attorney Gen., 166 S.W.3d 799 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2005). “See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 154.131. (Vernon 2002).”
In the Interest of S.E.W., 960 S.W.2d 954 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1998). · cites it 2× “Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 154.131 (Vernon 1996) provides: (a) The child support guidelines are intended to guide the court in determining the amount of retroactive child support, if any, to be ordered.”
In the Interest of J.H., 264 S.W.3d 919 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008). · cites it 3× “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 154.131(a) (Vernon Supp.”
Show all 61 citing cases →
Tex. Fam. Code § 154.131(a): 8 cases
In the Interest of Sanders, 159 S.W.3d 797 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2005). “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 154.131 (b)(4) (Vernon 2002).”
In the Interest of J.M.W., 470 S.W.3d 544 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2014).
In the Interest of J.H., 264 S.W.3d 919 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 154.131(a) (Vernon Supp.”
In the Interest of J.H., 961 S.W.2d 550 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1997). “From the statutory language emphasized above, it is clear that the trial court has discretion in deciding whether to award retroactive child support and in deciding the amount of such an award.”
In the Interest of M.W.T., 12 S.W.3d 598 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2000).
Tex. Fam. Code § 154.131(b): 16 cases
In the Interest of Sanders, 159 S.W.3d 797 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2005). “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 154.131 (b)(4) (Vernon 2002).”
in the Interest of J.C.K., a Minor Child, 143 S.W.3d 131 (Tex. App.—Waco 2004).
In the Interest of J.H., 961 S.W.2d 550 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1997). “From the statutory language emphasized above, it is clear that the trial court has discretion in deciding whether to award retroactive child support and in deciding the amount of such an award.”
In the Interest of M.W.T., 12 S.W.3d 598 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2000).
in the Interest of J.A.J., 283 S.W.3d 495 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2009).
Tex. Fam. Code § 154.131(b)(1): 1 case
Ricky Gonzales, Jr. v. Shannon Marie Gonzales, 704 S.W.3d 54 (Tex. App.—Austin 2024).
Tex. Fam. Code § 154.131(b)(2): 1 case
LaMar Carver Bunts v. Sensimone B. Williams, No. 01-17-00643-CV, 2019 WL 2220109 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] May 23, 2019).
Tex. Fam. Code § 154.131(b)(3): 4 cases
In the Interest of J.H., 961 S.W.2d 550 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1997). “From the statutory language emphasized above, it is clear that the trial court has discretion in deciding whether to award retroactive child support and in deciding the amount of such an award.”
In the Interest of S. A. L. & C. R. S. L. v. the State of Texas, No. 03-24-00609-CV (Tex. App.—Austin May 2, 2025).
LaMar Carver Bunts v. Sensimone B. Williams, No. 01-17-00643-CV, 2019 WL 2220109 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] May 23, 2019).
Ricky Gonzales, Jr. v. Shannon Marie Gonzales, 704 S.W.3d 54 (Tex. App.—Austin 2024).
Tex. Fam. Code § 154.131(b)(4): 6 cases
Garza v. Blanton, 55 S.W.3d 708 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2001). “At issue is whether the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to award retroactive child support. Appellant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by not applying the guidelines imposing retroactive support found in the Texas Family Code.”
In the Interest of Sanders, 159 S.W.3d 797 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2005). “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 154.131 (b)(4) (Vernon 2002).”
In the Interest of A.B., a Child, 368 S.W.3d 850 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012). “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 154.131 (c), (d); see In re B.”
In the Interest of J.H., 961 S.W.2d 550 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1997). “From the statutory language emphasized above, it is clear that the trial court has discretion in deciding whether to award retroactive child support and in deciding the amount of such an award.”
LaMar Carver Bunts v. Sensimone B. Williams, No. 01-17-00643-CV, 2019 WL 2220109 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] May 23, 2019).
Tex. Fam. Code § 154.131(c): 11 cases
Duran v. Garcia, 224 S.W.3d 309 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2005). “tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 154.131. Duran testified he gave Garcia cash on various occasions in amounts ranging from $40 to $100 per week.”
In re B.R., 327 S.W.3d 208 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2010). “See TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 154.131(c) (Vernon 2008).”
In the Interest of A.B., a Child, 368 S.W.3d 850 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012). “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 154.131 (c), (d); see In re B.”
in the Interest of N.T., a Child, 335 S.W.3d 660 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2011).
In the Interest of J.H., 264 S.W.3d 919 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 154.131(a) (Vernon Supp.”
Tex. Fam. Code § 154.131(c)(d): 2 cases
In re B.R., 327 S.W.3d 208 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2010). “See TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 154.131(c) (Vernon 2008).”
In the Interest of B.R., 327 S.W.3d 208 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2010).
Tex. Fam. Code § 154.131(d): 4 cases
In re B.R., 327 S.W.3d 208 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2010). “See TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 154.131(c) (Vernon 2008).”
In the Interest of A.B., a Child, 368 S.W.3d 850 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012). “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 154.131 (c), (d); see In re B.”
in the Interest of S. C. B., Jr., a Child, No. 08-18-00117-CV (Tex. App.—El Paso July 17, 2019).
In the Interest of B.R., 327 S.W.3d 208 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2010).
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