Tennessee uses the Income Shares Model to calculate child support, meaning both parents' incomes are combined and each parent pays a proportional share of the child-rearing cost. The state's official child support calculator, maintained by the Tennessee Department of Human Services, applies the Child Support Schedule under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101(e) and Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04 to produce a presumptive support amount. For one child with combined parental gross income of $6,000 per month, Tennessee's schedule sets the Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO) at approximately $1,063 per month before adjustments for parenting time, health insurance, and work-related childcare.
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Calculation Model | Income Shares Model (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101(e)) |
| Filing Fee (with children) | $200 statutory + $50–$200 county fees = $250–$400 total |
| Filing Fee (no children) | $125 statutory + county fees |
| Waiting Period | 90 days (with minor children); 60 days (no children) |
| Residency Requirement | 6 months (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-104) |
| Grounds | 15 fault grounds + irreconcilable differences |
| Support Termination Age | 18 or high school graduation (whichever is later, max age 19) |
| Modification Threshold | 15% significant variance (7.5% for low-income parents) |
| Guidelines Last Updated | October 1, 2021 |
How Tennessee's Child Support Calculator Works
Tennessee's child support calculator estimates each parent's monthly obligation by combining both parents' adjusted gross incomes, applying the Child Support Schedule to determine the Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO), and then dividing that obligation proportionally based on each parent's share of combined income. For example, if Parent A earns $4,000 per month and Parent B earns $2,000 per month, Parent A is responsible for 66.7% of the BCSO and Parent B covers 33.3%. The calculator then adjusts for parenting time credits, health insurance premiums, and work-related childcare costs.
The Tennessee Department of Human Services provides the official child support calculator at tn.gov, along with a downloadable Child Support Worksheet. Tennessee courts require every child support order to include a completed worksheet, making the calculator an essential tool whether you are filing for divorce, establishing paternity, or seeking a modification. The calculator follows the guidelines codified in Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04-.04, which courts treat as a rebuttable presumption of the correct support amount.
The child support calculator Tennessee families use applies the same formula whether parents were married, separated, or never married. The worksheet produces a presumptive amount that a court will adopt unless a party demonstrates that deviation is warranted under the factors listed in Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04-.07.
Step 1: Determine Each Parent's Gross Income
Tennessee defines gross income broadly as all income from any source before taxes and deductions, including wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, overtime, self-employment earnings, dividends, pensions, interest, trust income, annuities, capital gains, Social Security benefits, workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, severance pay, prizes, and lottery winnings. Under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04-.04(3), courts examine each parent's total pre-tax income to establish the starting point for the child support worksheet.
For parents with variable income such as commissions, bonuses, or overtime pay, Tennessee courts average that income over a reasonable period consistent with the circumstances of the case. A salesperson who earned $12,000 in bonuses over the past 3 years would have $333 per month ($12,000 divided by 36 months) added to their base salary for child support calculation purposes. Self-employment income is calculated as gross receipts minus ordinary and reasonable business expenses necessary to produce that income.
Tennessee courts may also impute income to a parent found to be voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. Imputed income represents the amount a judge determines a parent could reasonably earn based on education, work history, job opportunities in the local area, and prevailing wages. The minimum imputed income is typically based on a 40-hour work week at federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour in Tennessee, totaling $1,256 per month), though courts frequently impute higher amounts when evidence supports greater earning capacity.
Step 2: Calculate Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
Tennessee's child support worksheet arrives at each parent's Adjusted Gross Income by subtracting specific credits from gross income, including pre-existing child support orders being paid for other children, court-ordered support for other children living in the home, and a self-employment tax credit equal to 50% of the self-employment tax actually paid. Under the guidelines, parents do not deduct federal or state income taxes, voluntary retirement contributions, or personal living expenses from gross income when completing the child support worksheet.
The combined Adjusted Gross Income of both parents is then used to look up the Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO) on the Child Support Schedule. Tennessee's schedule covers combined monthly incomes from $0 to $30,000+ and provides obligation amounts for 1 through 5 children. For combined AGI of $10,000 per month with 2 children, the BCSO is approximately $2,018 per month. Each parent's percentage share of combined AGI determines their proportional responsibility for the BCSO.
Step 3: Apply the Parenting Time Adjustment
Tennessee's child support calculator reduces the non-custodial parent's obligation based on the number of parenting days they exercise per year, with a "day" defined as more than 12 consecutive hours within a 24-hour period under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04-.04(7). The standard parenting schedule of every-other-weekend plus 2 weeks of summer equals approximately 80 days per year. The 2021 guidelines revision introduced a day-for-day adjustment that increases or decreases the Alternate Residential Parent's (ARP) share of the BCSO proportionally.
For parents sharing equal custody at 182.5 days each, the child support worksheet treats the arrangement as a 50/50 split and calculates a credit for in-home children for both parents. In a 50/50 scenario, the parent with the higher income typically pays the difference between each parent's proportional obligation to the lower-earning parent. For example, if the BCSO is $1,500 per month and Parent A earns 60% of combined income, Parent A's obligation is $900 while Parent B's is $600, resulting in Parent A paying $300 per month to Parent B (the $300 difference).
Parenting days must be documented in the Tennessee Parenting Plan, which is required in every custody case under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-404. The parenting plan specifies the residential schedule for each parent and directly determines the parenting time credit applied in the child support calculator.
Step 4: Add Health Insurance and Childcare Costs
Tennessee's child support worksheet requires parents to include the cost of health insurance premiums for the children and work-related childcare expenses as additions to the BCSO before splitting the obligation proportionally. Under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04-.04(8), only the incremental cost of adding the children to a parent's existing health insurance policy counts toward the calculation, not the full premium. If a parent pays $400 per month for family coverage and individual coverage would cost $250 per month, the child-related insurance cost is $150 per month.
Work-related childcare expenses include daycare, before-school and after-school care, and summer camp costs that enable a parent to work, seek employment, or attend school or training. Tennessee allows a childcare cost credit equal to the actual cost minus any federal or state childcare tax credits the parent receives or could receive. For a family paying $800 per month in daycare with a $200 monthly tax credit, the net childcare cost added to the BCSO would be $600 per month. These additional costs are divided between parents in the same proportional share as the BCSO.
Step 5: Review the Presumptive Child Support Amount
The child support calculator Tennessee courts require produces a presumptive support amount that judges must adopt unless a party proves deviation is appropriate based on the best interests of the child. Under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04-.07, Tennessee recognizes several factors that may justify upward or downward deviation from the guidelines amount, including extraordinary educational expenses, extraordinary medical expenses not covered by insurance, the needs of a child with a disability, the obligor's net worth or income significantly higher than the schedule maximum, and the standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the parents remained together.
Tennessee courts deviate from the presumptive child support amount in approximately 10-15% of cases. When a court orders a deviation, the judge must make written findings explaining why the guidelines amount is unjust or inappropriate and how the deviation serves the child's best interests. The worksheet itself has a section for documenting any deviation, the reason for the deviation, and the resulting adjusted support amount.
What Income Is Included in Tennessee Child Support Calculations
Tennessee courts include virtually all sources of income when calculating child support under the Income Shares Model, encompassing wages, salaries, tips, commissions, bonuses, overtime, self-employment income, rental income, dividends, interest, trust distributions, annuities, capital gains, pensions, Social Security benefits, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, VA benefits, severance pay, and lottery winnings. Under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04-.04(3), only a narrow set of income sources are excluded: means-tested public assistance (TANF, SSI, food stamps), child support received for other children, and adoption assistance subsidies.
Income excluded from the child support calculation includes Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), food stamps, and other needs-based public benefits. Child support received from another case for other children in the parent's household is also excluded from gross income. These exclusions ensure that safety-net benefits intended to address poverty are not redirected through child support calculations.
| Income Type | Included? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wages and Salary | Yes | Before taxes and deductions |
| Bonuses and Overtime | Yes | Averaged over reasonable period |
| Self-Employment | Yes | Gross receipts minus ordinary business expenses |
| Commissions and Tips | Yes | Averaged if variable |
| Rental Income | Yes | Net of operating expenses |
| Dividends and Interest | Yes | All investment income |
| Social Security (retirement/disability) | Yes | Included in gross income |
| Pensions and Annuities | Yes | All retirement distributions |
| Workers' Compensation | Yes | Full benefit amount |
| Unemployment Benefits | Yes | Full benefit amount |
| VA Disability Benefits | Yes | Included per federal preemption rules |
| Capital Gains | Yes | Recurring gains may be averaged |
| TANF/SSI/Food Stamps | No | Means-tested benefits excluded |
| Child Support Received | No | For other children only |
How to Modify a Tennessee Child Support Order
Tennessee allows modification of child support orders when a significant variance of at least 15% exists between the current order and the amount that would be calculated under current guidelines and circumstances, as defined in Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04-.05. For low-income parents (those at or below the poverty level), the threshold is reduced to 7.5%. The parent seeking modification must file a Petition to Modify in the court that issued the original order and demonstrate the material change in circumstances that produces the significant variance.
Common triggers for child support modification in Tennessee include a substantial increase or decrease in either parent's income (job loss, promotion, disability), a change in the parenting schedule that alters the number of overnight days, a change in the cost of health insurance or childcare, the emancipation of one child when support covers multiple children, or a change in either parent's financial obligations such as new children from another relationship. Tennessee courts will not modify support downward if the obligor is found to be voluntarily unemployed or underemployed.
When comparing the current order to the proposed amount for the significant variance test, courts exclude any previously ordered deviations from both amounts. If the original order included a $200 upward deviation and the base guidelines amount was $800 (total order $1,000), the court compares the $800 base to the new proposed amount rather than the $1,000 total. Modification petitions can be filed through the Tennessee Department of Human Services at no cost, or privately through an attorney with filing fees of approximately $50-$100.
When Tennessee Child Support Ends
Tennessee child support obligations terminate when the child turns 18 years old or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later, but support will not extend beyond the child's 19th birthday under any circumstances per Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101(a). If a child turns 18 in January of their senior year, the paying parent must continue support until the child's graduation in May or June. If a child turns 19 before graduating, support ends on the 19th birthday regardless of academic status.
Child support may terminate earlier than age 18 in three specific situations: the child is legally emancipated by court order (available to minors age 16 or older who demonstrate financial independence), the child enters active military service, or the child marries. Tennessee does not require parents to pay child support for adult children attending college, unlike some states. Parents who wish to stop payments must file a formal motion with the court to terminate the child support order. Stopping payments without a court order can result in contempt charges and accumulated arrears, even if the child has reached the termination age.
Filing for Child Support in Tennessee
The filing fee for a divorce with minor children in Tennessee is $200 as a statutory base, with additional county litigation taxes and service fees bringing the total courthouse cost to $250–$400 depending on the county. As of March 2026, verify exact fees with your local Circuit or Chancery Court clerk. Parents who cannot afford filing fees may request a fee waiver if household income falls at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. At least one spouse must have resided in Tennessee for 6 continuous months before filing under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-104.
Child support can be established outside of divorce through a paternity action or a petition filed with the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS). DHS provides free child support establishment services including genetic testing, order establishment, and enforcement. The DHS child support calculator and worksheet are available at tn.gov/humanservices and produce the same presumptive amount a court would calculate. Tennessee requires a 90-day waiting period for divorces involving minor children (60 days for divorces without children) before the court will finalize the decree.
Tennessee recognizes 15 fault-based grounds for divorce plus irreconcilable differences as the no-fault ground. For child support purposes, the grounds for divorce do not affect the calculation. Tennessee is an equitable distribution state for property division, meaning marital assets are divided fairly but not necessarily equally. Child support calculations are entirely separate from property division and alimony determinations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tennessee Child Support
How does the Tennessee child support calculator determine the monthly payment amount?
Tennessee's child support calculator uses the Income Shares Model under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101(e) to combine both parents' adjusted gross incomes, look up the Basic Child Support Obligation on the state schedule, and divide that amount proportionally based on each parent's share of combined income. Adjustments are then made for parenting time days, health insurance premiums, and work-related childcare costs.
What is the minimum child support payment in Tennessee?
Tennessee sets a minimum child support obligation of $100 per month for parents whose income falls at or below the poverty level, as specified in the Child Support Guidelines under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04-.04. Parents with no income or income below the federal poverty line ($1,255 per month for a single person in 2026) pay this $100 floor amount.
Can Tennessee courts impute income to a parent who is not working?
Tennessee courts routinely impute income to parents found to be voluntarily unemployed or underemployed under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04-.04(3)(a)(2). The imputed amount is based on the parent's education, work history, local job market conditions, and prevailing wages. The minimum imputed amount typically equals 40 hours per week at federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour), or $1,256 per month.
How many parenting days do I need for a child support credit in Tennessee?
Tennessee's child support worksheet provides a day-for-day parenting time adjustment starting from the first overnight day, with a "day" defined as more than 12 consecutive hours within a 24-hour period under the 2021 revised guidelines. The standard every-other-weekend schedule equals approximately 80 days per year. Equal custody at 182.5 days per parent results in a 50/50 credit calculation.
What percentage of income goes to child support in Tennessee?
Tennessee does not use a flat percentage of income for child support. Under the Income Shares Model, the percentage varies based on combined parental income and number of children. For combined income of $6,000 per month, the BCSO is approximately 17.7% for one child ($1,063), 24.3% for two children ($1,458), and 27.6% for three children ($1,656). These percentages decrease as combined income rises above $10,000 per month.
How often can child support be modified in Tennessee?
Tennessee allows child support modification at any time when a significant variance of at least 15% exists between the current order and the recalculated amount under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04-.05. There is no mandatory waiting period between modification petitions. For low-income parents, the variance threshold drops to 7.5%. Common triggers include job changes, income shifts, or changes in the parenting schedule.
Does Tennessee child support cover college expenses?
Tennessee does not require parents to pay child support for adult children attending college. Child support terminates when the child turns 18 or graduates high school, whichever is later, with an absolute cutoff at age 19 under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101(a). Parents may voluntarily agree to contribute to college costs in a marital dissolution agreement, but courts cannot order post-secondary education support.
Can I use the Tennessee child support calculator before filing for divorce?
The Tennessee Department of Human Services provides a free online child support calculator at tn.gov that any parent can use at any time without filing any legal action. The calculator produces an estimate based on the same Child Support Schedule courts apply. Running the calculator before filing helps parents anticipate monthly obligations, negotiate parenting plans, and prepare financially for the divorce process.
What happens if a parent does not pay court-ordered child support in Tennessee?
Tennessee enforces child support through wage garnishment (income withholding), tax refund intercepts, license suspensions (driver's, professional, and hunting/fishing licenses), passport denial for arrears exceeding $2,500, credit bureau reporting, contempt of court proceedings carrying up to 10 days in jail per violation, and liens on real and personal property. The Tennessee DHS Division of Child Support Services handles enforcement at no cost to the custodial parent.
How does overtime or bonus income affect Tennessee child support calculations?
Tennessee courts include overtime and bonus income in the child support calculation by averaging variable income over a reasonable period consistent with the case circumstances under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04-.04(3). A parent earning $5,000 in overtime over the past 12 months would have $417 per month added to their base wages. Courts examine 2-3 years of tax returns and pay stubs to establish a reliable average for fluctuating income.