Child Support Guildelines calculator

I receive a fair amount of questions regarding child support. Frequently, the question has to do with a proposed modification based upon the non-custodial parents losing a job or have a financial setback. Generally speaking, a significant change in income is required to revisit a prior child support order and modify and more often than not, a non-custodial parent losing a job would meet this standard.

Tennessee law authorizes the Department of Human Services to create and issue the "Child Support Guidelines." The parent who pays child support is usually called the "Alternative Residential Parent," and the parent who receives child support is usually called the "Primary Residential Parent." When the "Guidelines" are discussed, this usually refers to the Rules as issued by the DHS. These Rules have the authority of law and most, if not all, states have similar provisions in their law. "The Charts" refers to the charts published with the Guidelines which cross reference both parent's gross income with both parent's actual support obligation. The “Income Shares Model” is a phrase describing that under our new child support law (effective January 2005), both parents’ income are considered in determining child support.

Tennessee provides a helpful website to calculate how much could be owed.