Child custody and child support can be matters of extreme importance for parents going through a divorce or the end of a relationship in Texas. In many cases, parents are seeking the highest levels of custody possible in order to maintain their closeness with their children; unfortunately, some parents attempt to avoid their obligation to their kids altogether. In general, a non-custodial parent or one with a smaller amount of custodial time will be ordered by the court to pay a monthly child support amount to the primary custodial parent. Several factors are used to calculate the payment amount, including the parent's income, ongoing expenses and their time with the child.