Middle Tennessee Child Support Issues

Our Experienced Attorneys Can Help You with Your Child Support Case in Cheatham County, Davidson County, Montgomery County, Sumner County, Robertson County, Rutherford County, Williamson County, Wilson County, and Throughout Middle Tennessee

Parents have a legal obligation to support their children. In Tennessee, the way child support is determined involves a calculation of both parents’ income and the amount of parenting time each parent enjoys. This is done on a worksheet that is used by every court in Tennessee that handles matters involving children. To learn more about what a child support attorney can do for you and why you should speak with our Nashville child support lawyer, contact the legal team at Brighter Day^SM Law to schedule a case evaluation today.

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Oftentimes the biggest issue in child support cases is the actual income of each parent. Parents who are able and choose not to work or are earning less than they are capable, may have income imputed to them for purposes of calculating child support. Sometimes it is difficult to determine the income of a parent who is self-employed or who receives cash payments “under the table”. Brighter Day lawyers are experienced in assisting clients with these types of issues. 

Anytime parents are living apart, the court will ensure that the child(ren) are adequately supported by both parents. This can happen even if you are married and not seeking a divorce. If you are not married, it is important to have the parentage of your child(ren) determined by the court so that the child(ren) can receive the financial support of both parents.

An Attorney Can Help You Navigate Tennessee’s Child Support Laws

In Tennessee, child support payments are calculated using the income share method. This calculation is designed to make sure that both parents contribute fairly toward meeting their child’s financial needs. The share paid by each parent is based on how much of each parent’s income the child would have received had both parents lived together and shared custody of the child. In addition to basic child support obligations, additional costs may be tagged on to an alternative residential parent’s child support costs, such as a portion of the out of pocket medical, dental, orthodontic, vision, and psychological expenses. Further, expenses for extracurricular activities and private school may also be added to basic child support in some situations. 

How the incomes of each parent are calculated, how parenting time is determined, and what constitutes a fair breakdown of payments are all subject to the determination of the court and the evidence provided by both parties. This is why you should speak with an experienced Nashville attorney before moving forward with proceedings related to establishing paternity or maternity, divorce, or proceedings involving custody, visitation,  and support matters. The experienced team at Brighter Day^SM Law can help with these processes to ensure that a fair and equitable support plan is reached.

Terminating Child Support Payments with a Nashville Lawyer

Unless a child is severely handicapped or unless you have agreed otherwise, child support payments generally terminate when a child has reached the age of 18 years AND has graduated highschool with their class. Their class is determined by the class they are in when they turn 18. For example, if your child was held back in the 4th grade and turned 18 while a junior in highschool, child support would continue until that junior class graduates – so long as your child remained in school. 

If at the time a child turns 18 and graduates highschool with their class, there is an arrearage owed, child support payments will continue until all the arrearages are satisfied.

Avoid Common Pitfalls and Errors with the Assistance of a Child Support Attorney

The income share method is fairly straightforward to use when determining child support payments. However, many other factors can come into play when determining a fair amount for a non-custodial parent to pay for the upkeep of their children living with another parent.

For example, what happens if the custodial parent loses his or her job or starts making more or less money? What about work related childcare? What constitutes a fair split of support payments in the context of how long each parent has with the child?

These are important considerations that should not be overlooked. The Nashville lawyer with Brighter Day^SM Law can help you find answers to these questions so that you can confidently calculate a fair support figure for your child. Contact us today to schedule a case evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Child Support and Child Support Attorney Services