Child Support Payments After Divorce

Sec. 154.003.  MANNER OF PAYMENT.  The court may order that child support be paid by:

(1)  periodic payments;

(2)  a lump-sum payment;

(3)  an annuity purchase;

(4)  the setting aside of property to be administered for the support of the child as specified in the order;  or

(5)  any combination of periodic payments, lump-sum payments, annuity purchases, or setting aside of property.

Sec. 154.004.  PLACE OF PAYMENT.  (a)  The court shall order the payment of child support to the state disbursement unit as provided by Chapter 234.

(b)  In a Title IV-D case, the court or the Title IV-D agency shall order that income withheld for child support be paid to the state disbursement unit of this state or, if appropriate, to the state disbursement unit of another state.

(c)  This section does not apply to a child support order that:

(1)  was initially rendered by a court before January 1, 1994;  and

(2)  is not being enforced by the Title IV-D agency.

Sec. 154.005.  PAYMENTS OF SUPPORT OBLIGATION BY TRUST.  (a)  The court may order the trustees of a spendthrift or other trust to make disbursements for the support of a child to the extent the trustees are required to make payments to a beneficiary who is required to make child support payments as provided by this chapter.

(b)  If disbursement of the assets of the trust is discretionary, the court may order child support payments from the income of the trust but not from the principal.

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