Tennessee calculates child support using the Income Shares model under T.C.A. § 36-5-101, which bases payment amounts on both parents' combined adjusted gross income and the number of children requiring support. Parents with combined monthly income of $10,000 owe $1,450 per month for one child, $2,190 for two children, and $2,680 for three children under the 2026 guidelines. The non-custodial parent typically pays their proportionate share of this obligation based on their percentage of combined income, with adjustments for parenting time exceeding 92 days annually.
Key Facts: Tennessee Child Support
| Factor | Tennessee Requirement |
|---|---|
| Calculation Model | Income Shares under T.C.A. § 36-5-101 |
| Filing Fee (with children) | $259.50-$381.50 depending on county |
| Residency Requirement | 6 months under T.C.A. § 36-4-104 |
| Waiting Period (with children) | 90 days |
| Support Termination Age | 18 or high school graduation (max age 19) |
| Modification Threshold | 15% significant variance |
| Maximum Income Cap | $28,250 combined monthly income |
| Parenting Time Credit | Begins at 92 days annually |
How Tennessee Calculates Child Support Amounts
Tennessee determines child support by combining both parents' adjusted gross incomes, applying the Child Support Schedule to find the base obligation, and prorating that amount between parents based on each parent's percentage of combined income. Under T.C.A. § 36-5-101(e) and Tennessee Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04, the Income Shares model ensures children receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if their parents lived together. This guideline amount carries a rebuttable presumption, meaning courts apply this formula as the starting point unless a party proves deviation is warranted.
The calculation process follows these steps: First, each parent's gross monthly income is determined before taxes and deductions. Second, both incomes are combined to establish the total adjusted gross income. Third, this combined figure is applied to Tennessee's Child Support Schedule to find the basic child support obligation. Fourth, each parent's percentage of combined income determines their proportionate share of the obligation. Fifth, the non-custodial parent's share becomes the monthly child support payment, subject to credits for health insurance, childcare costs, and parenting time.
Income Definition Under Tennessee Guidelines
Tennessee bases child support calculations on gross income, meaning all income before taxes and deductions. Gross income includes wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, overtime pay, tips, self-employment income, rental income, dividends, interest, pension and retirement benefits, annuities, social security benefits, workers' compensation benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, disability insurance benefits, alimony received from a prior marriage, and any other income sources. When a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, Tennessee courts can impute income based on that parent's earning capacity, education, and work history.
Tennessee Child Support Schedule: 2026 Payment Amounts
Tennessee's Child Support Schedule establishes the base child support obligation based on combined parental income and number of children. Parents with combined adjusted gross income of $4,000 per month owe approximately $747 for one child, while parents earning $6,000 combined owe about $1,001 monthly for one child. At $10,000 combined monthly income, the base obligation reaches $1,450 for one child, $2,190 for two children, and $2,680 for three children. These amounts represent the total obligation before proration between parents.
Sample Child Support Obligations by Combined Income
| Combined Monthly Income | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children | 4 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $4,000 | $747 | $1,128 | $1,381 | $1,553 |
| $6,000 | $1,001 | $1,512 | $1,851 | $2,082 |
| $8,000 | $1,227 | $1,853 | $2,269 | $2,551 |
| $10,000 | $1,450 | $2,190 | $2,680 | $3,014 |
| $15,000 | $1,812 | $2,737 | $3,350 | $3,768 |
| $20,000 | $2,078 | $3,139 | $3,843 | $4,322 |
| $28,250+ | $2,231 + 6.81% | $2,400 + 7.37% | $2,528 + 7.76% | $2,653 + 8.14% |
High-Income Provisions
When combined monthly parental income exceeds $28,250, Tennessee applies a formula rather than the standard schedule. Parents pay the highest basic child support obligation amount ($2,231 for one child) plus a percentage of income exceeding $28,250: 6.81% for one child, 7.37% for two children, 7.76% for three children, 8.14% for four children, and 8.66% for five or more children. This ensures high-income parents contribute proportionally to their children's needs while maintaining guideline consistency.
Low-Income Protections
Tennessee's guidelines include protections for low-income parents. When a parent's income falls within the shaded area on the Child Support Schedule (indicating poverty-level income), the court performs a secondary calculation using only that parent's income. If this alternative calculation produces a lower obligation than the standard combined-income formula, the lower amount becomes the guideline payment. This self-support reserve ensures parents retain sufficient income to meet their own basic needs while still contributing to child support.
Parenting Time Adjustments and Credits
Tennessee provides meaningful credits to parents who exercise substantial parenting time, reducing their child support obligation to reflect shared costs of raising children. The parenting time adjustment begins when the alternative residential parent (non-primary parent) exercises 92 or more parenting days annually. Tennessee uniquely counts both overnight visits and daytime visits, with each daytime visit counting as 0.5 days. This makes the 92-day threshold accessible to more parents than overnight-only counting systems used in other states.
The credit percentage increases with additional parenting time, using a variable adjustment formula. A parent with exactly 92 parenting days receives a smaller credit than a parent exercising 150 or 182 days annually. The adjustment recognizes that parents who spend more time with children incur more direct expenses for food, activities, transportation, and housing during those parenting periods. Courts apply this adjustment automatically when calculating support using the Tennessee Child Support Calculator or worksheet.
Additional Expenses Beyond Basic Child Support
Tennessee separates certain child-related expenses from the basic child support obligation, requiring parents to share these costs proportionally based on their income percentages. Health insurance premiums for the child must be added to the basic support obligation, with the parent carrying the insurance receiving credit and the other parent contributing their proportionate share. Work-related childcare costs necessary for either parent to work, seek employment, or attend school are similarly divided between parents based on income percentages.
Recurring uninsured medical expenses exceeding $250 annually per child are allocated proportionally between parents. These additional expenses can significantly increase total child support obligations beyond the base guideline amount. For example, if the base obligation is $1,000 monthly and health insurance costs $200 monthly while childcare costs $800 monthly, the total child support calculation would incorporate shares of these additional $1,000 in monthly expenses, potentially nearly doubling the effective support amount for the paying parent.
When Child Support Ends in Tennessee
Tennessee child support terminates when the child turns 18 years old or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later, but support obligations will not extend past the child's 19th birthday regardless of high school completion status. Under T.C.A. § 34-1-102(b), parents remain responsible for support after a child reaches 18 if the child is still enrolled in high school. This obligation continues until graduation or until the child's high school class graduates, whichever occurs first.
Termination does not occur automatically. The paying parent must file a petition to terminate child support with the court that issued the original order. Stopping payments without a court order results in automatic arrearages that accrue at the full monthly ordered amount, even if the child has reached 18 or graduated. Courts can order support to continue beyond age 18 for children with severe physical or mental disabilities who cannot achieve self-sufficiency, though this exception requires a specific court order and is not automatic.
Emancipation Before Age 18
Tennessee recognizes several circumstances that emancipate minors before age 18, terminating child support obligations. Marriage constitutes full legal emancipation in Tennessee, immediately ending the obligor's support duty when a child under 18 marries. Minors may also petition for emancipation through the courts by demonstrating they are at least 16 years old, financially independent, and capable of managing their own affairs. Military enlistment similarly results in emancipation and support termination.
College Education and Child Support
Tennessee courts cannot order parents to pay for college education as part of a child support order. Unlike some states that mandate post-secondary education contributions, Tennessee law does not authorize courts to extend child support for college attendance. Parents may voluntarily agree to contribute to college expenses in their divorce settlement or parenting plan, but such agreements represent private contracts rather than court-ordered support obligations enforceable through standard child support mechanisms.
Modifying Tennessee Child Support Orders
Tennessee permits child support modifications when parents demonstrate both a material change in circumstances and a significant variance between the current order and what the guidelines would require based on present circumstances. Under T.C.A. § 36-5-101, a significant variance generally means at least a 15% difference between the current ordered amount and the calculated guideline amount using current income figures. Courts will not modify support unless this threshold is met, even if circumstances have changed.
Qualifying Changes for Modification
Common circumstances justifying child support modification include substantial increases or decreases in either parent's income, involuntary job loss, disability affecting earning capacity, changes in the parenting time arrangement, additional children born to either parent, emancipation of a child included in the current order, and significant changes in the child's financial needs such as medical conditions or educational requirements. Temporary financial difficulties or minor income fluctuations generally do not warrant modification. The necessity to provide for a child's health care needs serves as an independent basis for modification regardless of whether the 15% variance threshold is met.
Modification Process
Either parent may request a child support review at any time through the court or administratively through the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Administrative reviews can be conducted through local child support offices, while judicial modifications require filing a petition with the court that issued the original order. Parents must provide current financial information including income documentation, tax returns, and expense records. If the significant variance standard is met and a material change in circumstances exists, the court will recalculate support using current figures and issue a modified order.
Child Support Enforcement in Tennessee
Tennessee enforces child support obligations through multiple mechanisms designed to ensure consistent payment and collect arrearages. Wage withholding is the primary enforcement tool, with Tennessee law directing that all child support should be paid through wage assignment unless good cause exists for alternative arrangements. Income Withholding Orders require employers to deduct child support from paychecks before the obligor receives payment, sending funds to the State of Tennessee for distribution to the custodial parent. Withholding applies to wages, bonuses, commissions, and pension benefits.
Enforcement Actions for Non-Payment
Tennessee employs aggressive enforcement actions against parents who fall behind on child support. State and federal tax refund intercepts capture refunds to satisfy past-due support. State lottery winnings are subject to intercept for arrearages. Property liens can be placed on real estate, vehicles, and other assets, preventing sale until child support debts are satisfied. Professional, occupational, and driver's licenses can be suspended for non-payment. Passport denial applies to parents owing more than $2,500 in arrearages, preventing international travel until debts are addressed.
Contempt of Court Penalties
Failing to pay court-ordered child support constitutes contempt of court under T.C.A. § 29-9-102, carrying serious penalties. Courts can impose fines, order payment of the custodial parent's attorney fees, and sentence the non-paying parent to jail. Under T.C.A. § 29-9-103, willful non-payment can result in incarceration until payment is made or as punishment. Arrearages are reduced to judgment and carry 12% simple interest annually. Chronic non-payment can lead to criminal prosecution for nonsupport, charged as either a misdemeanor or felony depending on circumstances, with penalties including jail time and fines.
Filing for Child Support in Tennessee
Tennessee requires at least one spouse to reside in the state for six months immediately preceding the filing of a divorce complaint under T.C.A. § 36-4-104. Filing fees for divorces involving minor children range from $259.50 to $381.50 depending on county, with Davidson County (Nashville) charging $259.50-$301.50 and Shelby County (Memphis) charging $381.50. These fees include the statutory base filing fee of $200 for cases with minor children plus county-specific litigation taxes and service fees. As of May 2026, verify current fees with your local circuit or chancery court clerk before filing.
Tennessee imposes a 90-day waiting period for divorces involving minor children, compared to 60 days for childless divorces. During this period, parents typically complete required parenting education classes ($25-$75 fee) and may engage in mediation to resolve custody and support disputes. The court will not finalize the divorce until child support, custody, and parenting time issues are resolved, either through agreement documented in a Marital Dissolution Agreement or through contested hearing and judicial determination.
Fee Waiver Eligibility
Parents whose household income falls at or below 125% of the federal poverty level ($19,506 annually for a single person in 2026) are presumed eligible for filing fee waivers. To request a waiver, file the Uniform Civil Affidavit of Indigency with your divorce complaint or child support petition. The court will review your financial circumstances and grant the waiver if you demonstrate inability to pay filing costs without substantial hardship.
Tennessee Child Support Guidelines Resources
The Tennessee Department of Human Services provides an official Child Support Calculator accessible at tn.gov/humanservices. This calculator applies the Income Shares formula under Tennessee Rules and Regulations 1240-02-04, allowing parents to estimate support obligations by entering income information, number of children, parenting time arrangements, and additional expenses. The calculator generates results that can be sent via text message or email for reference during negotiations or court proceedings.
The most recent changes to Tennessee's Child Support Guidelines became effective October 1, 2021. These guidelines carry the force of law and apply to all child support orders established or modified in Tennessee. Courts must follow guideline calculations unless specific written findings explain why the guideline amount is unjust or inappropriate in a particular case, making deviations relatively uncommon absent exceptional circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tennessee Child Support
How much is child support in Tennessee for one child?
Tennessee child support for one child depends on combined parental income under the Income Shares model. At $6,000 combined monthly income, the base obligation is approximately $1,001; at $10,000 combined, it reaches $1,450 monthly. The non-custodial parent pays their proportionate share based on their percentage of combined income, so a parent earning 60% of combined income would pay 60% of the base obligation.
Does Tennessee use gross or net income for child support?
Tennessee calculates child support based on gross income, meaning total monthly income before taxes, FICA, and other deductions. Gross income includes wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, rental income, dividends, retirement benefits, and most other income sources. Certain expenses like existing child support for other children may reduce adjusted gross income.
Can Tennessee courts order child support for college?
Tennessee courts cannot order parents to pay college expenses as part of child support. Support typically ends at 18 or high school graduation (maximum age 19). Parents may voluntarily agree to college contributions in divorce settlements, but courts lack authority to mandate post-secondary education support. Such voluntary agreements constitute private contracts enforceable separately from child support mechanisms.
What happens if I don't pay child support in Tennessee?
Non-payment triggers aggressive enforcement including wage garnishment, tax refund intercepts, property liens, license suspension, passport denial, and contempt of court proceedings under T.C.A. § 29-9-103. Willful non-payment can result in jail time, fines, and criminal prosecution. Arrearages accrue 12% annual interest and remain collectible indefinitely.
How do I modify child support in Tennessee?
Modification requires demonstrating a material change in circumstances and at least 15% significant variance between current order and guideline calculations using present income. File a petition with the court that issued the original order or request administrative review through the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Common qualifying changes include substantial income changes, job loss, additional children, or altered parenting arrangements.
When does child support end in Tennessee?
Tennessee child support ends when the child turns 18 or graduates high school, whichever is later, but never extends past age 19. Emancipation through marriage or court order terminates support earlier. The paying parent must file a petition to formally terminate support; stopping payments without a court order creates arrearages even after the child reaches termination age.
Do overnight visits reduce child support in Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee provides parenting time credits starting at 92 parenting days annually, including both overnight visits (1 day each) and daytime visits (0.5 days each). The credit percentage increases with additional parenting time, reducing the support obligation to reflect the alternative residential parent's direct costs during parenting periods.
How is self-employment income calculated for Tennessee child support?
Self-employed parents must report gross self-employment income before business deductions that courts deem personal rather than business expenses. Courts examine tax returns, financial statements, and business records to determine actual income. Excessive or personal business deductions may be added back to income. If income appears artificially suppressed, courts can impute higher income based on earning capacity.
Can child support be waived in Tennessee?
Parents cannot completely waive child support in Tennessee as support rights belong to the child, not the parents. Courts will not approve agreements eliminating child support obligations. However, parents can agree to deviate from guideline amounts with written justification explaining why the deviation serves the child's best interests. Courts retain authority to modify inadequate support arrangements.
What is the maximum child support payment in Tennessee?
There is no absolute maximum, but Tennessee's schedule caps at $28,250 combined monthly income. Above this threshold, support equals the maximum schedule amount ($2,231 for one child) plus a percentage of excess income (6.81% for one child). Practical maximums depend on income levels, but even high-income parents rarely pay more than $5,000 monthly for five or more children under standard calculations.