how to file for child support in tn without an attorney

by Gerardo Mueller 3 min read

If you're not married, file your case with the juvenile court in the county where your child lives. After filing, the other parent must receive a summons and copies of the paperwork you gave to the court through a process called service. A sheriff or process server must deliver the documents.

Full Answer

How do I put someone on child support in Tennessee?

You may apply for child support services by completing an online application and navigating to the Child Support application, or by downloading and printing an Application for Child Support Services.

What is the minimum amount of child support in Tennessee?

The new Guidelines significantly increased the minimum child support order in some circumstances, raising the minimum order to at least $100.00 per month.

How do I file for child support online in Tennessee?

Child Support Process Other parents who wish to apply for child support can complete an online application for services at https://csonlineapp.dhs.tn.gov/Home/Login. Alternatively, parents can download and fill an application form from https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/human-services/hs/HS-2912.pdf.

What is the new child support law in Tennessee?

The newly announced guidelines include: Granting noncustodial parents the right to request a modification of their child support if they are sentenced to or currently serving more than 180 days of incarceration. Allowing credit for health, vision and dental care paid by stepparents in the child support calculations.

What is the average child support for one child in Tennessee?

6.81 percentOne child: 6.81 percent. Two children: 7.22 percent. Three children: 7.77 percent. Four children: 8.05 percent.

What is Max child support in TN?

What hasn't changed is the cap on support awards that apply to high-income parents. The maximum support award for one child is still $2100. While the median wages have increased along with inflation, it appears the laws of economics don't apply to the cost of raising children in Tennessee.

What's the most child support can take?

Is there a limit to the amount of money that can be taken from my paycheck for child support?50 percent of disposable income if an obligated parent has a second family.60 percent if there is no second family.

How do I calculate child support arrears in Tennessee?

You may also contact the Child Support Disbursement Unit at (615) 253-4394 (local) or 1-800-838-6911 (toll free) to obtain your case number.

What should child support be used for?

In general, child support is designed to maintain a child's living standard and ensure all their basic needs are covered. The money can be used to pay for necessities like: Shelter, including the rent or mortgage and utilities of the child's primary home to ensure they're living in a safe environment.

Does Tennessee require child support?

In Tennessee, both parents must financially support their children. The amount of support depends primarily on the number of children, the combined income of both parents, and parenting time.

Can you go to jail for not paying child support in Tennessee?

A person who is held in contempt of court may face either civil or criminal liability for their failure to pay child support under the court's valid orders. Under Tennessee Code § 29-9-103, a person who is held in contempt of court may face: Up to a fine of $50. Imprisonment for up to 10 days in jail.

What age can a child decide which parent to live with in Tennessee?

12In Tennessee, according to Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-106, there are several factors which a family court judge must take into consideration when they are deciding child custody. Section 13 of the General Custody Provisions allows for “The reasonable preference of the child if twelve (12) years of age or older.

How does child support work in Tennessee?

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) promulgates the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines which are a set of administrative rules. These...

What child support terms are used in a Tennessee divorce?

The parent who pays child support is usually called the “Alternative Residential Parent” (ARP) and the parent who receives child support is usually...

How else are Tennessee child support laws described?

The “Income Shares Model” means that, under our new child support law (effective January 2005), both parents’ income is considered in determining c...

What is the purpose of child support payments?

Several goals are listed in Tennessee’s Child Support Guidelines including: decreasing the number of impoverished children living in single parent...

What are the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines?

“Guidelines” (also informally called the “Rules”) mean the Guidelines issued by the State of Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. For more...

How is child support determined in Tennessee?

Begin by downloading a blank Child Support Worksheet and inputting information. More information about the Worksheet is on our Resources page. Begi...

In a Tennessee, how do I calculate the Basic Child Support Obligation?

In Tennessee, basic expenses include an average amount to cover child-rearing expenses: housing, food, and transportation. The share of total expen...

What is the child support percentage in Tennessee?

It depends. The fourth and final step is to take the monthly Basic Child Support Obligation and divide it by each parent’s AGI. Each parent’s share...

What is the Parenting Time Adjustment in Tennessee?

The Parenting Time Adjustment is an adjustment to the Basic Child Support Obligation based upon parenting time. In equal parenting situations, the...

What is Split Parenting?

In a Tennessee child support case, split parenting can only occur when there are two or more children of the same parents, where one parent is the...

What Is Tennessee Child Support?

Child support is one parent’s obligation to pay the other parent for the support and maintenance of their child, pursuant to a court order. “What i...

What Are Tennessee Child Support Guidelines?

Whenever child custody is at issue in the family law case, so is child support. The first question a client is likely to ask a family lawyer is “Ho...

Tennessee Child Support Worksheets

In Tennessee, parents and their family attorneys use the Child Support Worksheets to calculate all child support obligations. Every family’s circum...

Understanding Tennessee’S Child Support Statute

Tennessee’s child support statute is somewhat lengthy. We have broken it down into a few digestible segments to better explain key aspects of this...

What Is Income Under The Tennessee Child Support Guidelines?

If money is coming in, then it is probably considered gross income under the Tennessee child support guidelines. Tax law does not matter. For Tenne...

What Is Not Income Under The Tennessee Child Support Guidelines?

With so many items included as income, you may be wondering if there is anything that is not considered income under the guidelines. Indeed, there...

Hand-In-Hand: Tennessee Parenting Plans and Child Support

You should also consider how parenting plans can affect child support obligations. For most couples, preparing a parenting plan that works for them...

Tennessee Paternity Establishment – Un Wed Parents

Establishing paternity in Tennessee is establishing fatherhood. With paternity established between un wed parents, the father has parental rights (...

Modification of Tennessee Child Support Orders

Child support orders may be modified under Tennessee law, but only in limited circumstances. When a Tennessee parent relocates the child to another...

Non Payment – Enforcing Tennessee Child Support Orders

Sometimes an obligor-parent will deliberately attempt to avoid paying child support, hiding-out somewhere in Tennessee or leaving the state altoget...