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What factors determine child support payments in Tennessee?

| Jan 15, 2016 | Child Support

As a newly single parent you may be wondering what lies ahead as far as child support and child custody arrangements. The answer is that it depends. Assuming that both parents are involved in the child’s life, one parent will be court ordered to pay child support while the other spouse will receive primary custody. How much child support is owed will vary depending on a variety of factors. To learn more about the key factors, keep reading.

There are three main factors that influence how a child support payment is calculated in Tennessee. First is the income of the parent. Second is the custody arrangement and how often the custodial parent is with the child. And third is the number of children being supported. Obviously there can be extraneous circumstances that may affect how a child support payment is determined, including medical expenses or school expenses specific to a child.

Whether you are the custodial parent who is expecting a child support payment or the non-custodial parent who will be making the payment, it is great to understand what could be expected from either side of the situation. At a minimum, parents must legally support the child until the child reaches 18 years of age with the least that can be expected to be paid in child support by the non-custodial parent is $100 per month.

Because child support is based on guidelines rather than a black-and-white formula, speaking with an experienced child-support attorney can be an important step towards reaching an equitable result. One conversation can be the first step towards a better future.

Source: statelaws.findlaw.com, “Tennessee Child Support Guidelines,” Accessed Jan. 11, 2016

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