Child Support

If I have my kids half the time, I don’t have to pay child support, right? I can just pay bills and buy groceries for my ex instead paying child support, right? I don’t have a job, so I don’t have to pay child support, right? We can agree that there won’t be any child support, right? Actually, no. These are just a few of the myths surrounding child support.

Child support is one of the more straightforward areas of Tennessee divorce and child custody law. Child support is based on a formula and a worksheet from the state of Tennessee. You can find more information and the actual worksheet here. Variables that can affect child support are: the number of days each parent has with the children, each parent’s income potential, the cost for the children’s health insurance, and the cost for work related childcare. Those variables are entered into the worksheet and the number generated is the child support award. That number is usually non-negotiable, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. The numbers that go in the worksheet are where the magic happens. Maybe your ex refuses to get a job. Maybe your ex is capable of making more money. Maybe there are other extraordinary expense for your child. An experienced Knoxville child support attorney can help you navigate the process, identify the issues that really matter, and get the best child support award for you.