When income includes irregular bonuses, RSUs, or carried interest, how is “net resources” calculated above the guideline cap?

Child support starts with net resources under Family Code § 154.062. That includes wages, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, and other income actually received—including capital gains and, in practice, the ordinary-income spread when options or RSUs are exercised. It is not simply W-2 salary.

Guideline percentages apply only to the first $11,700 of monthly net resources, the cap in effect since September 1, 2025. For one child that is 20 percent, or $2,340 at the cap. Above the cap, additional support is not automatic. The requesting party must prove the child’s actual needs beyond guideline support and that you have the ability to pay.

Irregular compensation is the battleground. Courts may average several years, exclude a one-time liquidity event, or include a recurring bonus pattern. A single extraordinary year should not become a permanent floor. We document each component—base, discretionary bonus, and equity that may never vest—and argue for a realistic average, sometimes with a true-up rather than an inflated monthly number.

Health insurance and proven extraordinary expenses are often handled separately. That is usually cleaner than stuffing every lifestyle item into one figure. I handle these cases throughout Collin, Denton, and Grayson Counties. Call 469-296-8200.