Travis County, TX · Free Consultation
Lost Creek, TX Child Support Lawyer
What Our Clients Say
When a parent quits or takes a low-paying job to shrink support, Texas lets a court base the number on what they could earn. SMB Law, PC helps Lost Creek parents address intentional underemployment. A Lost Creek child support lawyer knows Texas lets a court base support on earning capacity when a parent is intentionally underemployed. Shane M. Boasberg has handled Central Texas support cases for more than twenty years and personally proves what a parent could earn.
A recurring dispute for Lost Creek parents is a paying parent who suddenly earns far less — and whether a court will accept that lower figure.
Where a Lost Creek child support case is handled
Lost Creek 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.
Imputed income and intentional underemployment
Child support is built on a parent’s income, so a parent who is intentionally unemployed or underemployed cannot automatically pay less simply by earning less. Texas courts may impute income — calculating support on the parent’s earning potential rather than their reduced actual earnings — when the drop is voluntary and not justified. The court looks at the parent’s work history, education, skills, qualifications, and the local job market, and at whether the change was made in good faith, such as a genuine layoff or disability, or to avoid support. The same principle can, in some situations, apply to a receiving parent. Proving intentional underemployment takes evidence: prior pay, job postings, and sometimes a vocational expert who can testify to what the parent could reasonably earn. We help Lost Creek parents show a court what an underemployed parent could earn — or, on the other side, demonstrate that a real, involuntary income loss should be reflected in a lower amount.
Proving what a parent could earn
An intentional-underemployment dispute in a Lost Creek case is won with evidence of earning potential, not accusations. We assemble the paying parent’s work history, education, and prior income, gather local job postings in their field, and, where the stakes justify it, retain a vocational expert to testify to a realistic earning capacity. That lets a court set support on what the parent can earn rather than a figure engineered to look small. On the other side, when a client’s income really did fall through no fault of their own, we document the layoff, health issue, or market change so the reduction is recognized as good faith. Either way, the goal is a support number anchored to genuine earning ability rather than a convenient paper income.
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 Lost Creek
Our office is in downtown Austin, an easy reach from Lost Creek. 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 a parent lower support just by quitting a job?
Not automatically. If the unemployment or underemployment is intentional, a court can base support on what the parent could earn.
What does it mean for a court to ‘impute’ income?
It means calculating support on the parent’s earning potential — based on skills, history, and the job market — rather than a voluntarily reduced income.
What if my income dropped for reasons outside my control?
A genuine, involuntary loss such as a layoff or disability is treated differently and can support a lower amount.
Do I have to travel to your office from Lost Creek?
No. Our downtown Austin office is about 9 miles east via Loop 360 and Bee Cave Road, and we handle Lost Creek support matters by phone and video.