What is order establishment?

After paternity is established, a petition will be filed with the court requesting that child support be established. The non-custodial parent will be served with the appropriate petition prior to the court date. Typically, the amount of the child support order will be set according to Tennessee's Child Support Guidelines.  In some cases, the judge finds that it is appropriate to vary the order from the guideline amount.

What are child support guidelines?

Guidelines use a formula to help determine the amount of child support to be paid. These guidelines were developed using economic research on the costs of supporting children. The guidelines make sure that child support order amounts are established fairly.

Click here to estimate your order using an online guidelines calculator developed by the Tennessee Department of Human Services.

What about medical coverage?

The non-custodial parent can be required to cover the child under his or her group health insurance plan if the judge orders it. Our office will petition the court to order health insurance coverage if it is currently available to the non-custodial parent or when it becomes available to the non-custodial parent.  If the NCP does not have insurance through his or her employer, the court can order the non-custodial parent to pay all or a portion of the child's premium.

Click here to send new information about the non-custodial parent's medical coverage to your caseworker.

How do I pay my child support order?

Federal law requires that money from your paycheck be deducted to pay your child support, just like taxes. Child support is collected and disbursed by a central collection unit. Money will be withheld from your wages unless you are self-employed.

It is the non-custodial parent's responsibility to pay the full amount of the child support order on time, every time. If the non-custodial parent fails to make a full payment, a record of the missed payment will be kept. The obligation to pay child support does not go away when you do not make a payment. By law, child support obligations take priority over mortgage payments, car loans, credit card debt, household bills, and discretionary items such as cigarettes and alcohol.

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