The Tennessee Department of Human Services is responsible for administrating the child support enforcement program and responsible for creating the rules, or the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines, which govern child support. Child support is calculated using Tennessee’s “Income Shares Model” which determines child support between the parents by considering, among many other factors, the number of days per year the child spends with each parent, each parent’s total gross income from any source, the costs of work-related childcare, the costs of medical insurance premiums and regular uncovered medical expenses, and many other variables. The actual amount of the child support obligation will be calculated by using the Tennessee Child Support Worksheet as promulgated by the Department of Human Services.

Child support is a critical component to ensuring a child’s safety, wellbeing, and proper development. If you are not receiving your state-warranted child support, you should schedule a consultation with a lawyer. 

Factors Considered during Child Support hearings

• the needs of the child — including health insurance, education, day care, and special needs
• the income and needs of the custodial parent
• the paying parent’s ability to pay, and
• the child’s standard of living before divorce or separation.

When a court sets child support during a divorce proceeding, it often considers the family’s pre-divorce standard of living and attempts to continue this standard for the children, if feasible. However, courts are aware of the difficulty of maintaining two households on the income that formerly supported one home. Maintenance of the same standard of living is therefore more of a goal than a guarantee.