Many parents in New Braunfels first encounter child support through a letter from the Texas Office of the Attorney General. Sometimes a parent asked for help. Sometimes the state opened a case automatically because a child receives Medicaid or other public benefits. Either way, it can be confusing to receive official notices, appointment dates and paperwork without knowing who is on your side. This page explains how Attorney General cases work for Comal County families and where a private family law attorney fits in.
What the Attorney General’s Child Support Division Does
The Office of the Attorney General (often called “the OAG” or “the AG”) is the Texas agency responsible for the federal child support program. Its Child Support Division can:
- Locate a parent who cannot be found
- Establish paternity, including arranging genetic testing
- Set child support and medical support
- Review an existing order for possible changes
- Enforce orders through withholding, liens, license suspension, tax refund intercepts and court action
- Process interstate cases with other states
Services are available to any parent, whether they receive or pay support, and for families receiving certain public assistance the case may open automatically.
The AG Represents the State, Not You
The most important thing to understand is this: the Attorney General’s attorneys represent the State of Texas. They do not represent the mother, the father or the child. Their focus is on establishing and collecting support.
That means the AG’s office generally will not:
- Ask for custody or conservatorship on your behalf
- Argue for a particular visitation schedule beyond standard terms
- Address a parent’s request to move with the child
- Advise you on property, divorce or protective order issues
- Raise every defense or argument that might help one parent
Parents are often surprised that an AG order can include standard possession terms, which may or may not fit the family. If you need more than support, our pages on conservatorship and the standard possession order explain the issues a private lawyer can address.
Two Ways an AG Case Becomes an Order
The Child Support Review Process
The Child Support Review Process (CSRP) is an administrative path. The AG’s office schedules a negotiation conference where parents can agree on paternity, support amounts and medical support. If both parents sign the resulting order, it is filed with the court for a judge’s approval. CSRP is designed to be faster and less formal than a contested hearing.
Before signing anything at a negotiation conference, make sure you understand:
- The income figure being used for each parent
- Whether the support amount follows the guidelines
- How medical and dental support will be paid
- What possession and access terms are included
- Whether any retroactive support is being added
You do not have to sign on the spot. If you disagree, the case can proceed to court instead.
Court Hearings
If parents do not agree, or if the case involves contested issues, the AG files a case in court. Many child support hearings involving the AG are heard by an associate judge assigned to these cases. Hearings can move quickly, with several cases on the same docket. Bring documents, not just your memory: pay stubs, tax returns, insurance costs, and proof of other children you support.
AG Cases in New Braunfels and Comal County
Comal County families are served by the Attorney General’s regional child support offices. For a New Braunfels family, the court that hears the case depends on where the child lives and where any earlier order was made. Because New Braunfels straddles the Comal and Guadalupe county line, two neighbors on the same side of town may find their cases in different courthouses. Check your notices for the county and cause number.
Payments in AG cases, and in most Texas cases with income withholding, are processed through the Texas State Disbursement Unit. The AG’s online portal lets parents see their case status, payment history and upcoming appointments. If you receive a notice, read it fully and calendar every date. Missing a hearing can result in an order based only on the other side’s information.
When to Bring In a Private Lawyer
Many parents handle simple AG cases on their own. A private lawyer is worth considering when:
- Custody or visitation is in dispute. The AG will not argue those issues for you.
- Income is complicated. Self-employment, commissions or hidden income can change the result substantially. See our net resources page.
- Paternity is uncertain. Signing an acknowledgment or agreeing to an order has lasting effects. Our paternity page explains why.
- A large arrears balance is at stake. Credits, defenses and payment plans call for careful review.
- There is a history of family violence. Safety provisions and protective orders call for individual advocacy.
- You want to move or the other parent has moved. Relocation issues need more than a support order.
A private attorney can work alongside the AG’s case. For example, a parent can file a separate request to address custody while the AG handles support, or can intervene with their own lawyer in a case the AG filed.
Preparing for an AG Appointment
Before a negotiation conference or hearing, write down your questions and gather recent pay stubs, your last tax return, proof of the child’s insurance cost, child care receipts and any existing orders. If you have concerns about safety, tell the AG’s office in advance so it can take precautions, such as separate rooms or remote appearances. Family violence can also affect what personal information appears in the order.
Asking the AG to Review Your Order
The AG offers a review and adjustment process for existing orders. Parents can request a review if the order is at least three years old or circumstances have changed. The review compares current income to the existing order using the standards in our modification guide. If the AG finds a change is warranted, it may offer a new agreed order or file for a hearing. If you need a faster result, or the review is denied, a private modification case is another option.
Talk With a New Braunfels Family Lawyer About Your AG Case
An Attorney General case can be simple, or it can be the first sign of a larger dispute. Our family law team helps parents in New Braunfels, Comal County and the surrounding counties prepare for negotiation conferences, respond to AG filings, and handle the custody and visitation issues the AG does not cover. Call (830) 302-4071 for a free consultation. We speak Spanish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Attorney General's lawyer represent me?
No. In a Texas child support case, the Attorney General’s attorneys represent the State of Texas, not the mother or the father. They can explain the process but cannot give either parent personal legal advice or argue for one parent’s interests on other issues.
Can I hire my own lawyer if my case is with the Attorney General?
Yes. Either parent can hire a private attorney at any stage. Your lawyer can negotiate with the AG’s office, appear at hearings with you, and raise issues the AG does not handle, such as custody, visitation or a geographic restriction.
How do I close my Attorney General case?
It depends on whether public assistance was involved and whether arrears are owed to the state. A parent who applied for services can often ask to close the case, but the court order itself stays in effect. Payments generally still go through the State Disbursement Unit unless a court changes that.
What is a Child Support Review Process negotiation conference?
It is a meeting run by the Attorney General’s office, often by phone or video, where parents try to agree on paternity, support and medical support without a contested court hearing. If both parents sign, the agreement goes to a judge for approval and becomes a court order.
Last reviewed November 13, 2026. General information only, not legal advice.