Nashville Child Support Lawyers

Helping Parents Navigate the Child Support Process

When parents separate, child support becomes a central question. Because each case turns on its own facts, a Nashville family law attorney can explain the applicable guidelines and your legal options.

We help parents address child support during divorce, separation, parentage proceedings, and after an order has been entered. Our clients have direct attorney access throughout their legal matters, and we tailor our representation to each family’s circumstances. We have served Tennessee clients for decades.

Call us at (615) 392-4916 to schedule a free consultation with a Nashville child support lawyer.

Understanding How Courts Determine Child Support Obligations

Courts consider several factors when determining each parent’s financial obligation:

• Taxes
• Medical insurance
• Daycare
• The income of each parent
• The amount of time the children spend with each parent
• The total number of children

Tennessee calculates support under the Income Shares Model established in Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04. This model presumes that both parents contribute to their children’s support in proportion to the income available to each parent. To allocate the Basic Child Support Obligation, the guidelines compare each parent’s adjusted income with the parents’ combined adjusted gross income.

The final calculation also accounts for parenting time and documented child-related expenses. Adjustments include health insurance premiums, uninsured medical expenses, and work-related childcare costs.

Depending on your relationship with your co-parent and how many children you have together, you may be able to reach an agreement that addresses the applicable guidelines and your children’s needs. Our child support attorneys at Lackey | McDonald, PLLC can help you evaluate a proposed arrangement and understand how it affects your legal options.

What Is Not Considered Income Under the Child Support Guidelines?

Several sources are excluded from a parent’s income:

• Other Child Support Payments: Child support payments to a parent for another child from another relationship are excluded from income, as well as child support for a previous spouse
• Public Assistance: Food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Social Security (SSI or SSDI), and Low Income Heating & Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) are excluded
• Adoption Assistance: Most financial assistance for adoption is excluded
• Child’s Income: The child’s income from any source isn’t included in a parent’s income

Parents should keep the guidelines handy when completing child support worksheets. If you have questions or need further explanation, you can reach out to our Nashville child support attorneys at Lackey | McDonald, PLLC for guidance based on your circumstances.

Modifying a Tennessee Child Support Order

A change in income, legal responsibility for another child, or a child’s needs can support a request for child support modification. Tennessee courts compare the current order with the amount produced under the applicable guidelines to determine whether a significant variance exists.

A significant variance generally includes a 15% difference between the current and proposed support amounts. Tennessee standards also address:

• Qualifying incarceration
• Certain changes in legal responsibility for children

The alternate residential parent is generally the parent with whom the child resides for less time. For qualifying low-income cases, the significant-variance threshold is no more than 7.5%.

A child’s health care needs can also support modification regardless of whether the usual variance standard is otherwise met. The court decides whether the evidence and guideline calculations justify changing the existing order.

Enforcing an Existing Child Support Order

An existing child support order establishes the amount due and the payment schedule addressed in an enforcement matter. The order and payment records help identify due dates, amounts paid, and any missed support.

Enforcement addresses unpaid obligations under the current order. It isn’t the same as asking the court to change future payments. We can review the order and available payment history with you and explain the legal options that apply to your circumstances.

Child Support Cases in Davidson County Courts

Davidson County Circuit Court hears cases involving divorce, custody, child support, paternity, and termination of parental rights. The Davidson County Circuit Court Clerk processes filings for those cases.

Davidson County Juvenile Court Parentage Courts establish paternity and child support. They also hear child support modification and enforcement matters. The appropriate venue depends on the type of proceeding and the order involved.