Travis County, TX · Free Consultation
Northwest Hills, TX Child Support Lawyer
A parent can sometimes owe child support for months or years before any order ever existed. SMB Law, PC helps Northwest Hills parents pursue — or respond to — a claim for retroactive support. A Northwest Hills child support lawyer knows retroactive support can reach back months or years before an order ever existed. Shane has been licensed since 2003 and personally pursues or defends these back-support claims for Central Texas parents.
When a Northwest Hills parent seeks support long after a separation or a child’s birth, the question of back support — money owed for the time before an order — often takes center stage.
Where a Northwest Hills child support case is handled
Northwest Hills is in Travis County, so a child support case is filed with the Travis County District Clerk at the Civil and Family Courthouse on Guadalupe Street in Austin. Many orders are reached by agreement.
Retroactive and back child support
Texas allows a court to order retroactive child support for periods when a parent should have been paying but no order was in place — commonly when parents separated informally or when paternity is established years after a child’s birth. This is different from arrears, which are unpaid amounts under an existing order; retroactive support reaches back to a time with no order at all. A court weighs several factors: whether the obligor knew they were the parent, whether they voluntarily provided any actual support during that time, and whether a retroactive award would cause undue hardship. There is generally a presumption limiting retroactive support to roughly the four years before the case was filed, though that limit can be overcome in some circumstances. Calculating it means reconstructing the parent’s historical income year by year. We help Northwest Hills parents pursue a fair retroactive award where one is owed, or push back on an overreaching claim, and make sure the figure is built on accurate historical numbers.
Reconstructing the past to get the number right
A retroactive support claim in a Northwest Hills case turns on history, so the work is in the records. We reconstruct the obligor’s income for the relevant years from tax returns, pay records, and other evidence, and we address the factors a court weighs — whether the parent knew of the child, what informal support they actually provided, and whether a large back award would cause real hardship. On the receiving side, that builds a fair, well-supported figure; on the paying side, it prevents an inflated demand based on guesswork. Because the presumptive four-year window and the hardship analysis leave room for argument, having the numbers and the equities organized is what produces a sensible result rather than a punitive one.
Central Texas family-law experience you can rely on
Getting a child support number right — and enforceable — takes a lawyer who works with the guidelines regularly. You work directly with attorney Shane M. Boasberg, who has represented Texans for more than two decades and has been licensed by the State of Texas since 2003. He explains the math in plain English, makes sure the income figure the order is built on is correct, and keeps you informed from your first confidential consultation through final resolution.
Working with us from Northwest Hills
Our office is in downtown Austin, an easy reach from Northwest Hills. We handle most consultations and case updates by phone and video, and your first consultation is confidential. If travel is difficult, we can also come to you.
Why parents choose SMB Law, PC
- Direct attorney access — you talk to Shane, licensed since 2003, not a call center.
- Accurate numbers — we make sure support reflects the true income and the law.
- Honest advice and transparent fees explained before you commit.
What working with us looks like
- Confidential consultation to understand your goals and the law that applies.
- Strategy and records tailored to your family’s situation.
- Negotiation or court — we settle when we can and litigate when we must.
- Resolution implemented correctly so you can move on.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get child support for the time before an order existed?
Often yes. Texas permits retroactive support for periods a parent should have paid but no order was in place, subject to several factors.
How far back can retroactive support go?
There is generally a presumption of about four years before filing, though a court can extend it in certain circumstances.
How is retroactive support different from arrears?
Arrears are unpaid amounts under an existing order; retroactive support covers time when there was no order at all.
Do I have to travel to your office from Northwest Hills?
No. Our downtown Austin office is about 9 miles south via Loop 360 and Mopac, and we handle Northwest Hills support matters by phone and video.