| Absent parent |
See "non-custodial parent". |
| AFDC |
Aid to Families with Dependent Children. The name formerly given to the
program that provides cash payments to families in need. Now referred to as "Families
First" in Tennessee. |
| Alleged father |
The person named by the custodial parent as the biological father of the
child. |
| Arrearage |
Unpaid child support payments for past periods. |
| Assignment of support |
When Families First recipients give rights to child support payments to the state.
This is a requirement for eligibility for Families First. |
| Blood Testing |
(See genetic testing) |
| Customer Call
Center |
Call the Child
Support Customer Call Center toll free at (800) 838-6911 or (615)
253-4394 in the Nashville area. Callers may call toll-free in
Tennessee to listen to recorded messages about child support.
Automated information about collections received and disbursed in
their case is available to custodial parents. Callers may
also speak with a Customer Service Operator about their cases. |
| Contempt |
Disobeying a court order when the person has the ability to comply. |
| Custodial parent |
Parent with physical custody of the child. (Parent with whom the child
lives.) |
| Default |
Failure of a defendant to file an answer in a court case within a certain
number of days after being served with a summons and complaint. |
| DHS |
Tennessee Department of Human Services |
| Genetic Testing |
Analysis of inherited factors of the child from mother and alleged father
which can help to prove or disprove whether a particular man fathered
a child. |
| Guidelines |
State rules used to determine
amounts of child support to be paid.
Tennessee's Child Support Guidelines are based on the income of both parents. |
| Income assignment |
A deduction of child support payments from wages, salaries, or other income
to comply with the order for support. Also called wage withholding or income withholding. |
| IV-D |
Title IV-D of the Social Security Act which requires all states to have a
child support program. The child support program is sometimes referred to as the IV-D
program. |
| Jurisdiction |
Legal authority which a court has over particular persons and certain
types of cases within a defined geographical area. |
| Legal father |
A man who is seen by the law as the male parent. |
| License Revocation |
The suspension of the non-custodial parent's drivers, professional,
business, or recreational license for failure to pay child support. |
| Lien |
A claim upon property to prevent sale or transfer until a debt is
satisfied. |
| Modification |
A court order which changes the terms of an earlier court order. |
| Natural parent |
The biological parent of the child. |
| Non-custodial parent |
Parent who does not live with or have physical custody of the
child.
|
| Obligation |
Amount of money to be paid as support by the obligor. |
| Obligee |
The person to whom the child support is due. |
| Obligor |
The person who is ordered to pay the child support. |
| Offset |
Amount of money taken from the non-custodial parent's tax refund, other
federal benefit payment, or unemployment compensation to satisfy a child support debt. |
| Paternity judgment |
Legal determination of who the father is. |
| Petition |
A formal written request made to a court. |
| Petitioner |
The person for whom the petition is filed. |
| Public Assistance |
Money given to a person or family for living expenses from the state.
Several federal programs provide this assistance. These include
TANF-Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Tennessee calls
its program "Families First." Foster Care for children
placed in homes that do not include their natural parent. Medical
support programs for people needing medical assistance. |
| Respondent |
The person who must answer the petition. |
| Service of Process |
The delivery of a notice or petition by an authorized person to
officially notify the person involved in the proceeding of action he/she must take. |
| Support Award Guidelines |
see Guidelines |
| TANF |
Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families. The federal program that provides cash assistance for
families in need. (formerly called AFDC). Tennessee calls its TANF program "Families
First." |
| TCSES |
Tennessee's Child Support Enforcement
System - Tennessee's computer system which
contains information on all cases handled by the child support program. |
| Treasury Offset |
This program intercepts tax refunds and/or other federal benefit payments
of the non-custodial parent to pay part or all of past due child support. |
| UIFSA |
The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act which permits enforcement of
support orders when the non-custodial parent lives in a different state from the custodial
parent and child. |
| Unemployment Intercept |
The intercept of the non-custodial parent's unemployment benefits to pay
the child support obligation. |
| Visitation |
The right of the non-custodial parent to visit or spend time with his or
her child(ren). |
| Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity |
A document signed by an unmarried mother and her child's father stating
the man signing is the biological father of the child. This legally establishes the man as
the child's father and allows his name to be placed on the child's birth certificate. |
| Voice response system |
See "Child Support Customer Call Center." |
