How is child support calculated in Tennessee?

Using the Income Shares model under T.C.A. § 36-5-101 and Tennessee Rules and Regulations 1240-2-4: both parents' incomes are combined, the basic obligation is found on the state's guideline schedule for the combined adjusted gross income and number of children, and the obligation is prorated between the parents based on their percentage of that combined income.

What's an example of the guideline amounts?

Under the 2026 guidelines, 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.

How is child support enforced in Tennessee?

For any support order issued, modified, or enforced since July 1, 1994, the court orders an immediate assignment of the obligor's income, wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, workers' compensation, disability, pension or retirement payments, profit sharing, interest, annuities, and more.

Tennessee, United States

Tennessee Child Support: A Parent's Guide

Q: Is there a limit on how much can be withheld from wages?

Yes. Tennessee caps wage withholding at 50% of the employee's disposable income after subtracting FICA taxes, federal withholding, and health insurance premiums covering the child.

Q: How do I request a modification, and does timing matter?

You must file a modification petition, and timing matters significantly: any reduction only applies to support coming due after the filing date. Support that accumulated before you filed remains fully owed at the original amount, plus interest, even if your circumstances changed earlier.

How child support works in Tennessee, in plain English: the income shares guidelines, modification, and withholding enforcement.

Legal sources reviewed: August 10, 2026

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In short: Tennessee uses the Income Shares model, combining both parents' incomes against a statutory schedule and prorating the obligation by income share. Wage withholding is capped at 50% of disposable income, and critically, a modification only reduces support owed after the filing date, past arrears stay fully due at the original amount plus interest.

This is an educational overview written for parents, not lawyers. It isn't legal advice. For anything beyond general understanding, talk to a licensed Tennessee family law attorney.

What Tennessee generally provides

Under T.C.A. § 36-5-101 and Tennessee Rules and Regulations 1240-2-4, Tennessee calculates child support using the Income Shares model: the court determines each parent's income, combines those figures, and consults the guidelines schedule to find the basic obligation for the combined adjusted gross income and number of children.

Important terminology

Combined adjusted gross income: the base figure for the guideline schedule lookup, combining both parents' incomes.
Proration: dividing the basic obligation between the parents based on their respective percentage share of the combined income.
Immediate income assignment: the automatic wage withholding required for support orders issued, modified, or enforced since July 1, 1994.

How the calculation works

Combining income against the guideline schedule

The court determines each parent's income, combines those figures, and looks up the basic obligation on the state's guideline schedule for the number of children. Under the 2026 guidelines, parents with $10,000/month combined income owe $1,450/month for one child, $2,190 for two, and $2,680 for three, illustrative of how the schedule scales with both income and family size.

Prorating between the parents

Once the basic obligation is found on the schedule, it's prorated between the parents according to each one's percentage share of the combined adjusted gross income, the same underlying logic used across most income-shares states.

Requesting or defending a modification

Filing a modification petition promptly matters in Tennessee: any reduction in support only applies to amounts coming due after the filing date. Support that accumulated before filing remains fully owed at the original amount, plus interest, even if the underlying circumstances (job loss, disability) changed earlier. See the child support calculator and guideline finder for jurisdiction-specific calculation sources and guidance.

How enforcement works

For any support order issued, modified, or enforced on or after July 1, 1994, Tennessee courts order an immediate assignment of the obligor's income, covering wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, workers' compensation, disability, pension or retirement payments, profit sharing, interest, annuities, and other income due to the obligor. Wage withholding is capped at 50% of the employee's disposable income after subtracting FICA taxes, federal withholding, and health insurance premiums covering the child. Beyond withholding, Tennessee's Department of Human Services uses an aggressive set of Title IV-D enforcement tools, from automatic wage withholding to license suspension and, in willful cases, jail.

Common questions

If I lose my job, does my support amount automatically drop? No, and this is one of the more important practical points: you must file a modification petition immediately, because arrears that build up before you file remain fully owed at the original rate plus interest.

Can I contest a modified withholding notice? Yes, an obligor can contest a Notice of Income Assignment modification by filing a written request for an administrative hearing with the local child support office within 15 days of the notice being mailed.

What if my co-parent isn't paying? Contact the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Child Support Division, which administers Title IV-D enforcement including wage withholding and license suspension.

Practical considerations

Because Tennessee doesn't retroactively forgive support that accrued before a modification filing, if your circumstances change, file the petition as soon as possible rather than waiting, even a short delay can mean owing weeks or months of support at the old, higher rate plus interest. For the custody and parenting-plan rules that intersect with support in Tennessee, see the Tennessee custody guide.

Official Tennessee resources

FAQ

Questions, answered

This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Family law varies by individual circumstances and may change over time. Consult a qualified attorney or appropriate official resource for advice about your situation.