Hagar and Phillips - How Is Child Support Calculated in Tennessee? What Parents Should Know

How Is Child Support Calculated in Tennessee? What Parents Should Know

Child support is one of the most important financial considerations for parents going through a divorce or separation in Tennessee. Understanding how child support is calculated can help parents prepare for negotiations, plan their budgets, and ensure their children's needs are met.

Tennessee uses an Income Shares model to calculate child support. This approach estimates how much it would cost to raise a child if the parents were still living together and then divides that obligation between the parents based on their incomes. Both parents' gross incomes are combined to determine a basic child support obligation, which is then prorated based on each parent's share of the combined income.

Several factors can affect the final child support amount. These include both parents' gross incomes, the number of children, parenting time arrangements, health insurance costs, work-related childcare expenses, and uninsured medical expenses. Tennessee guidelines include adjustments based on how many parenting days each parent has with the child, with credits or penalties applied depending on the amount of time spent with the child.

Parenting time adjustments begin when the alternative residential parent exercises 92 or more parenting days annually. A "day" is defined as more than twelve consecutive hours within a twenty-four hour period under one parent's care, control, or direct supervision.

If you have questions about child support in Lebanon or Wilson County, Hagar & Phillips is the law firm to contact. Our family law team understands Tennessee's child support guidelines and can help you understand what to expect in your case.

With over 40 years of combined experience, Hagar & Phillips has established itself as one of the most trusted family law firms in Wilson County. Our attorneys bring diverse backgrounds and strong knowledge of Tennessee family law to every case.

To schedule a confidential consultation, contact Hagar & Phillips at 615-784-4588.

This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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