Tennessee Child Support Enforcement Resource Center

• Tennessee Support Enforcement Measures
• Who Can Enforce Court Ordered Child Support in Tennessee
• Tennessee Child Support Services Caseload Statistics
• Interest on Missed Child Support Payments
• Statute of Limitations on Back Child Support
• Statute of Limitations for Determination of Paternity
• Age of Emancipation / Age of Majority
• How Are Child Support Payment Amounts Determined in Tennessee?
• Custody and Visitation Issues

Even if the non-custodial parent lives outside the state of Tennessee, the law requires cooperation between states. The non-custodial parent is legally required to make regular child support payments, regardless of where they live.

Tennessee Child Support Enforcement Measures

If a non-custodial parent does not pay child support, he or she is subject to enforcement measures in accordance with Federal and Tennessee child support law to collect regular and past-due payments.

• Automatically withholding of wages and other income
• Seizure of assets identified by the Financial Institution Data Match (FIDM) program
• Intercepts of federal tax refunds
• Denial of passport applications using the IRS Treasury/Administrative Offset program
• Revocation driver's licenses, professional licenses, and various other licenses
• Reporting of child support debt to the credit reporting agencies
• Placement of liens against real or personal property

Who Can Enforce Court Ordered Child Support in Tennessee?

Tennessee Child Support Services is the state-run child support enforcement office for Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Human Services is required by federal law to provide services through Child Support Services (CSS) and is funded by the federal government and the state of Tennessee.

TENNESSEE CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES CASELOAD STATISTICS1
Full Time Equiv. Staff	1,059
Total Caseload	358,156

^{1 U.S. Office of Child Support Enforcement, Boxscores for FY 2005}

Interest on Missed Child Support Payments

Tennessee makes no provisions to access interest on late child support payments, retroactive support or adjudicated arrears.

Tennessee Statute of Limitations on Back Child Support Payments (Arrears)

There is no statute of limitations on enforcement of past due child support in Tennessee (TCA § 36-2-321).

Tennessee Statute of Limitations for Determination of Paternity

Determination of paternity in Tennessee must begin within 3 years after the child turns 18.

Age of Emancipation / Age of Majority in Tennessee

The age of emancipation in Tennessee is 18 unless the child is still in high school. Emancipation occurs when child graduates from high school or when the class the child is in when he/she reaches 18 or graduates. (T.C.A. § 34-11-102)

How Are Child Support Payment Amounts Determined in Tennessee?

The State of Tennessee uses an "Income Shares" model for determining child support obligation. Income Shares requires the courts to review the income of both parents before setting a child support amount.

Custody and Visitation Issues

Child support and visitation rights are separate issues. The court determines both and will usually order the non-custodial parent to pay support and the custodial parent to make the child available for visits.

The custodial parent must obey the court order for visitation, even if the non-custodial parent cannot or will not pay child support. The court can enforce any of its orders against either parent.

Call Us Toll Free: 1-888-78-CHILD (782-4453)

Success Stories

ANOTHER SATISFIED CLIENT

Tina B.

Ohio

“I would just like to begin by stating that without you my children and I would be no further with our child support collection than we were before I had found your team of wonderful people.

As you know my ex-husband lives out of state and is constantly moving from job to job and now state to state. You and your team have been able to do what I consider the impossible. Even though it's tough at times to get him located you do your best and that's all I've ever asked for or expected.

For all you're doing and have done my children and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts with sincere gratitude and forever trust in you.”

ANOTHER SATISFIED CLIENT

David B.

Oregon

“I am a single dad and the father of two children. Many times you hear stories of deadbeat dads, but rarely do you hear the same term used against mothers who have become deadbeat moms and are not sharing in the responsibility of raising their children.

Several years ago, I got fed up with the State and County officials at the Division of Child Support. After many years of trying to work with my local child support officials I realized that they were overwhelmed, understaffed and ultimately a waste of my time. DCS was unable to obtain child support arrears from my ex wife who had abandoned the children when they were just 2 and 3 years old. The very first month after Support Collectors took over the collections aspect of obtaining child support I received a payment. I was floored.

If you've gone years without receiving a child support payment, Support Collectors can and will get the job done. I more than likely would have never received a thing had it not been for Support Collectors.”