Child Support
Child support is used to pay for education expenses, food, shelter, clothing, and other needs. Regardless of whether you were married to your child’s other parent you, or they, are required to make financial contributions to your child’s needs. Child support is owed until your child turns 18 years old or graduates high school and it determined by the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines. Generally, the factors that are used to calculate child support are:
- The gross income of each parent
- Health insurance and certain healthcare costs for your child
- The amount of time each year the child spends with each parent
- Daycare Costs
- Other children for who each parent is financially responsible.
Even after a support order is entered, some parents either refuse or have difficulty contributing to the financial support of their children. If your ex-spouse or partner is failing to pay child support, you may need help enforcing the child support order. Your attorney, through a petition to the court, can assist you and your child or children in getting the support they need.
Modification
Major changes in your income or other circumstances surrounding your parenting time with your children may mean that you need a modification in the amount of child support you owe. To make a modification of child support, Tennessee law sets specific guidelines to determine if you are eligible for a child support modification.
Suppose you lose your job or are injured at work and have to go on disability resulting in a loss of income. Maybe you’ve retired and just don’t have the same amount of money each month. These scenarios do not mean you that you no longer have to pay the amount of child support ordered in your case. Instead, you will need to request that the court reduce the amount of child support you are required to pay each month.
Failure to pay your child support obligation can have serious consequences like garnishment of wages, revocation of your driver’s license, contempt of court, seizure of assets, and jail time. If you are having trouble paying child support, it is important to speak with an attorney about modification so that you avoid these consequences and make sure that you are taking care of your child to the best of your ability. Don’t wait to ask for advice; call our office at (615) 475-7041 for help today.