TN Child Support

Tennessee Child Support can help a custodial parent locate the other parent, establish paternity of the child, collect payments and enforce the court ordered child support. Families that do not receive TANF benefits pay a $25 fee to the state of Tennessee after $500 has been collected from the non-custodial parent over one years time. If a family receives TANF/Families First benefit’s the $25 fee is waived. If a family applies for TANF/Families First of medical assistance, but has not applied for child support, they will be first referred to the child support office. In order for DHS to find the non-custodial parent, they can search records such as drivers license records, wage and unemployment records, vital, criminal and health records. DHS also goes through the following actions in order to make sure child support orders are enforced:

• Automatically withhold wages and other income
• Seizing assets identified by the Financial Institution Date Match (FIDM) program
• Interrupt tax refunds
• Deny passport applications
• Revoke drivers or professional licenses
• Report to credit reporting agencies
• Place liens on real and personal property
• File a petition with the court

The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) was put in place to assist families in which one parent lives in another state. Under this act, one state can ask that the other state help to establish, enforce and collect child support payments for the family.

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) says that all states are to set up and run a program to collect and give out any support payments that are implemented by the Social Security Act.

Child support is taken directly out of the non-custodial parents pay check by state and federal laws. It is the most reliable way to make sure the non-custodial parent receives child support in a timely manner and that there are regular payments being made. Income can be withheld from wages, salaries, commissions, vacation pay, bonuses, worker’s compensation, disability payments, pension or retirement programs and interest. Up to 50% of the non-custodial parent’s income must be withheld. Payments can then be put on a child support debit card, or they can be direct deposited into the custodial parents bank account. There is also a log in to view payments and balances on the child support case.

If a parent is incarcerated, it is suggested to write a letter to the warden of the prison to see if the incarcerated parent can possibly make some money from a job in jail or a work-release program. In some states, the courts may put a lien against any assets, such as property or the money being made by the incarcerated parent through a work-release program may be withheld.

The process by which child support payments are calculated is called Income Shares. This form takes into account both parents income, the number of children, child care and health insurance costs and also how much time is spent with each parent by the child(ren). Tennessee child support also takes into consideration special expenses paid by parents, such as music lessons, athletic activities and private school. In order to qualify, the expenses must be over 7% of the child support order.