If you are going through a divorce and have minor children or a custody case in Tennessee, you need to calculate child support. Tennessee courts use a standardized formula to calculate how much one parent must pay to the other to support their children when the parents do not live together or share finances.
How is child support calculated in Tennessee? In short, child support is based on each parent’s income, the number of children, the amount of time each parent spends with the children, and certain other expenses such as healthcare or daycare.
The team at The Law Firm, PC, helps parents across Coffee, Bedford, Rutherford, and surrounding counties understand their rights and responsibilities regarding child support. With decades of combined experience, we offer clear, practical guidance and, when necessary, tough courtroom advocacy. We offer free consultations to help you get started.
How Does Child Support Work in TN?
In Tennessee, parents have a legal obligation to support their children. Unless the child has special needs or disabilities that prevent them from becoming self-supporting, the parents’ support obligation generally lasts until the child turns 18 or, if the child is in high school when they turn 18, until they graduate.
When parents do not share a household, Tennessee law determines how much one parent should pay the other to ensure that children receive the resources they need, regardless of where they live. The parent who spends fewer overnights with the child typically pays support to the other parent.
How Tennessee Calculates Child Support
Tennessee law calculates child support based on:
- Each parent’s gross income and ability to pay;
- The number of children the parents support;
- How many parenting days each parent has per year;
- The child’s health insurance costs;
- Work-related childcare expenses, such as daycare; and
- Support obligations for other children, including children from other relationships.
In short, to calculate child support, you combine parental income, then allocate payment based on what expenses each parent covers. This calculation assumes parents pay to support children directly while they have custody.
Adjustments to Child Support Amounts
Courts may modify the presumptive support obligation in special situations, like when:
- A child has special medical needs,
- A child has special educational needs, or
- A parent lives on public benefits, like Supplemental Security Income.
These adjustments are called deviations because they deviate from the Tennessee child support guidelines.
How Much Is Child Support in Tennessee? Example Calculations
Below are two scenarios to illustrate how child support is calculated in Tennessee. Example one:
- Parent A earns $4,000/month;
- Parent B earns $2,000/month;
- They share one child, who lives primarily with Parent B;
- Parent A has fewer than 92 parenting days per year;
- Parent A pays for health insurance ($100/month); and
- The parents have no other children or extraordinary expenses.
The parents’ combined monthly income is $6,000. Parent A earns two-thirds of the parents’ combined income and should pay for approximately two-thirds of the child’s expenses, accounting for the health insurance payment. In example two:
- Parent A and Parent B each earn $3,000/month;
- They share one child and have approximately equal parenting time;
- Both contribute to childcare and insurance equally; and
- The parents have no other children or extraordinary expenses
Since incomes and parenting time are equal, neither parent may owe significant support to the other. However, the court may still require a small exchange of funds to reimburse expenses if each parent contributes unequally to shared expenses.
Using the Tennessee Child Support Calculator
The Tennessee Department of Human Services provides a free Tennessee child support calculator, which is available in the Apple store or its program for Windows systems. You can also estimate your support obligation using worksheets on the same website.
To estimate your payment, you will need:
- Recent pay stubs or income documentation,
- Details about your parenting schedule,
- Childcare and insurance cost receipts, and
- Information about other children you support.
Once you enter the data, the calculator produces a standardized worksheet showing each parent’s share of the obligation. You can also enter the data yourself on one of the downloadable worksheets. A divorce and child support attorney can help you understand and complete the worksheets or calculator.
That calculation is only an estimate. The court has final authority to set the amount and may consider additional facts before setting the final payment amount. However, the calculation can help you know what to expect.
What If My Situation Changes?
Child support orders are not set in stone. Tennessee allows parents to seek a modification if circumstances change, resulting in a “significant variance” between what the parent is paying (based on the original order) and what they would pay if the court recalculated child support (based on the circumstances as they are when the parent requests modification).
Typically, a significant variance is a difference of at least 15% between the current order and the new amount under the guidelines. Common reasons to request a modification include:
- A change in income for either parent,
- A change in parenting time,
- A child aging out or requiring additional care, or
- A parent taking on support for another child.
To modify your order, you must file a motion asking the court to change the support amount. Even if you and the other parent agree to adjustments, you need a court order to make those adjustments legally enforceable. When you request the modification, you must provide updated financial documentation and explain the reason for the change.
Need Help Understanding Child Support? We Are Here to Help
If you are wondering how to calculate child support in TN or are trying to figure out how much child support should be for your specific situation, we can help. At The Law Firm, PC, we walk you through every step of the process.
Whether establishing an initial support order or requesting a modification, our team ensures that your voice is heard and your child’s needs are met. We treat your concerns like our own by taking the time to explain your options, preparing strong legal arguments, and standing by your side at every hearing.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Additional Reading
- 8 Ways to Choose the Right Family Law Attorney in Tennessee
- How Long Does a Divorce Take in Tennessee?
Alan has spent his career standing up for those the system tries to push aside. With over a decade of experience in criminal and corporate law, he pairs sharp trial skills with a deep sense of empathy—earned through his own personal walk through the justice system.
At The Law Firm, PC, Alan personally handles each case, giving clients direct access, honest advice, and fierce representation every step of the way. He knows their stories matter—and he fights to make sure they’re heard.
Loading...