Military families face unique challenges when it comes to child support and parenting. The HEROES program is here to help. 

If you are a service member, you know the nature of your job can complicate your child support case. 

To provide assistance, the Child Support Division developed the Help Establishing Responsive Orders and Ensuring Support (HEROES) for Children in Military Families program. The HEROES program partners military families with specialized staff to work through their child support needs. 

How Can the HEROES Program Help Me?

Through the HEROES program, you will be partnered with a dedicated HEROES child support staff. You will receive:

  • Specialized case review and management
  • Personalized assistance with paternity establishment and child support
  • Help in cases where military-related injuries have made you unable to follow a court order
  • Resources to learn how to best parent together in unique circumstance                                                 

Need to speak with a HEROES team member?

HEROES project coordination is based in Austin serving the San Antonio, Temple/Killeen and El Paso/Fort Bliss areas. HEROES Assistant Attorneys General represent the State of Texas. They cannot and do not represent child support customers. If you are a service member and need an attorney to represent you, contact a private attorney or Legal Assistance through the JAG.

To speak with a HEROES team member: 

Establishing Paternity

For unmarried parents, the biological father does not have legal rights to his child until paternity is legally established. Learn more about paternity-related topics like completing an Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP), obtaining a court-ordered paternity test, and establishing a paternity order here.  

Custody and Parenting Time (Visitation Rights)

Each family's situation is different, and, in Texas, a court order defines each parent's rights and responsibilities. To learn more about what goes into a Texas court order, please visit the Access and Visitation website. 

Child, Medical, and Dental Support

In Texas, a court order includes child, medical and dental support for children. To establish a court order for support, you may: 

The Texas Monthly Child Support Calculator can help estimate support for a single source of income. The actual amount set or approved by the court may differ.

Modification of Support Order

Parents may experience a change in income, which could warrant modifying the court order. If you decide to request child support services to review for modification, please provide as much information as possible about any existing orders. If you already have an active case and you need it reviewed for a modification, contact us at the HEROES program to see if we can expedite the process.

Need to speak with a HEROES team member?

The HEROES Program works with active military families who have an active child support case in Texas. Texas Assistant Attorneys General represent the State of Texas. They cannot and do not represent child support customers. If you are a service member and need an attorney to represent you, contact a private attorney or Legal Assistance through the Judge Advocate General group. 

 

To speak with a HEROES team member: