Child Support

As a parent, you have a legal obligation to support your child. This includes providing financial support to your child, no matter what you and your former partner may be going through. Failure to pay can result in arrest and imprisonment, which will only hurt your child. When you need assistance with child support, you need MHPS. Our Nashville child support lawyers can help you pursue a fair amount and seek modification or enforcement of the award.

Child support refers to the obligation one parent has to provide financial support to another parent for the support and maintenance of the child. In Tennessee, courts calculate payments through state guidelines which are dependent on:

• The income of both parents
• How much time each parent spends with the child
• How many children will receive the support
• The cost of health insurance for the child or children

According to Tennessee law, the court makes final decisions on child support. A judge will determine how much the custodial parent needs to cover basic expenses, such as food, housing, and health insurance, the child needs. There are times when the judge may order the non-custodial parent to pay for additional needs such as extra-curricular activities or medical insurance, depending on the financial situation.

In Tennessee, parents must pay for child support until the child either graduates from high school or turns 18, whichever occurs last. If the child is emancipated, then the obligation will come to an end.

When a financial situation changes, such as a loss of a job, it can be difficult to make monthly payments. You can easily fall behind, which can lead to legal problems. Is it possible to have the court order modified?

The answer is yes, but only in limited circumstances. You will need to show that the order is either inadequate, excessive, or the child’s situation has changed such as he/she is in need of extra medical care. If you have that evidence, you can ask the court to modify the amount. This is why it’s essential to get an experienced child support attorney to help you through the process.

It’s important to note that you cannot modify previous orders; you can only modify future payments.

Let’s say you did fall behind your payments. What can happen to you?

In Tennessee, if the parent fails to pay, the Child Support Services Enforcement will then go after the parent. Several punishments could occur, including:

• Your driver’s license will be revoked
• A lien can be placed on your property
• Your bank account will be seized
• Your passport will be denied
• If you receive a tax refund, it will be taken
• Your credit report will suffer