Tennessee Child Support Calculator

Tennessee calculates child support under the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines, codified in the Tennessee Code Annotated and administered through the Department of Human Services. Tennessee adopted the Income Shares model, which is premised on the idea that children should receive the same proportion of their parents' combined income that would have been spent on them had the parents remained together. The guidelines were significantly revised in 2005 to align with federal requirements and have been updated since to reflect changes in economic data.

The revised Tennessee guidelines represent a major shift from an older percentage-of-income model that focused solely on the obligor's income. By incorporating both parents' adjusted gross incomes, Tennessee's current system produces more equitable outcomes across different custody arrangements and income levels. The guidelines apply to all proceedings in which child support is established, modified, or reviewed, including final divorce decrees, separate support actions, and paternity cases.

Tennessee's guidelines carry a rebuttable presumption: the amount produced by applying the guidelines to the parents' incomes is presumed to be the correct and appropriate support amount. Courts may deviate only upon making specific written findings identifying the facts and circumstances that make the guideline amount unjust or inappropriate in the particular case. This requirement ensures that deviations are principled and reviewable rather than arbitrary.

Tennessee's guidelines define income to include all income from any source, including wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, overtime, self-employment income, pension and retirement income, interest and dividends, Social Security benefits, disability benefits, rental income, and other regular sources. The guidelines explicitly state that income should be determined on a monthly basis, and that irregular or non-recurring income — such as an inheritance or insurance settlement — may be handled on a case-by-case basis at the court's discretion.

Adjusted gross income in Tennessee is calculated by subtracting from gross income any spousal support that a parent is actually paying pursuant to a court order in a different case, support for other children that the parent is actually paying pursuant to a court order, and certain other documented deductions permitted by the guidelines. These adjustments prevent a parent's existing legal obligations from being ignored and ensure that the income figure used reflects funds actually available for the current support obligation.

When a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, Tennessee courts may attribute income based on earning capacity. The determination of earning capacity considers the parent's past work history, educational background, job skills, and the availability of employment in the local market. Courts do not automatically attribute income without evidence — a party seeking income attribution must present the court with sufficient information about what the parent could realistically earn, and the burdened parent has an opportunity to rebut the attribution with evidence of legitimate impediments to employment.

Tennessee's guidelines provide an alternative residential schedule (ARS) credit that reduces the obligor's child support obligation when they have the child for more overnights than the standard 80/20 split. The standard calculation assumes that the primary residential parent has the child for 80% of overnights (approximately 292 nights per year) and the other parent has 20% (approximately 73 nights). When the alternate residential parent has significantly more overnights, a credit is applied to reflect the greater direct expenses they incur.

The ARS credit is applied using a multiplier that increases as the alternate residential parent's overnights increase. Tennessee provides a specific table correlating overnights to credit percentages. For parents who have the child for 180 or more overnights per year — a roughly equal split — a more substantial credit applies because both parents are now functioning more similarly to primary residential parents, each bearing significant housing and daily care costs. The credit is built into the official Tennessee Child Support Worksheet and is not a separate discretionary adjustment.

Courts must use the actual number of overnights exercised under the parenting plan when calculating the ARS credit. If the parenting plan provides for a specific schedule, the number of overnights in that schedule is used. If the parties dispute whether the parenting time in the order is actually occurring, courts may require the parties to keep parenting time logs or provide other evidence. Parents should maintain careful records of actual parenting time, particularly in cases where a change in the credit amount would materially affect the support obligation.

Tennessee's child support calculation includes work-related childcare expenses and health insurance premiums as add-on costs on top of the basic support obligation from the schedule. Work-related childcare is limited to costs necessary for the parent to maintain employment, seek work, or pursue education leading to employment. The net amount of qualifying childcare costs — after any applicable federal childcare tax credit — is divided between the parents proportionally based on their respective adjusted gross incomes.

Health insurance premiums for the child are added to the total support calculation and divided proportionally. The parent with the most accessible and affordable employer-provided health insurance is typically ordered to maintain coverage for the child. If that parent is already covering the child's share of the premium, this cost is credited against their total obligation. Tennessee courts strongly favor keeping children insured and will generally order coverage when it is available at a reasonable cost through either parent's employer.

Extraordinary medical expenses — defined in Tennessee as uninsured medical costs exceeding $250 per year per child — are divided between the parents in the same proportion as their incomes. These include costs for dental care, vision care, orthodontia, mental health treatment, and other significant medical needs not covered by the child's health insurance. The Tennessee Child Support Worksheet prompts both parents to disclose existing medical costs and insurance at the time the order is entered, allowing the court to anticipate and address these costs proactively.

Tennessee's guidelines include specific provisions to protect low-income obligors. When an obligor's adjusted gross income falls below a minimum threshold established in the guidelines, the standard formula is not applied directly. Instead, a minimum support amount may be ordered that takes into account the obligor's actual ability to pay. Tennessee courts retain discretion to set a lower amount when the obligor demonstrates genuine financial hardship, but courts rarely eliminate the obligation entirely since even a nominal order keeps the support structure in place for future review.

Tennessee allows deviation from the guideline amount when specific factors justify a different support level. Factors that can support an upward deviation include a child with extraordinary medical or educational needs, a parent's unusually high income that would produce a guideline amount far exceeding the child's actual needs, or other special circumstances identified in the guidelines. Factors supporting a downward deviation include severe hardship to the obligor, in-kind contributions to the child's welfare not captured by the standard formula, or the child's regular extended visits with the obligor that create significant direct expenses.

Any deviation from the guideline amount requires the court to make written findings stating: the guideline amount that would have applied, the reasons for deviation, and how the deviation serves the best interest of the child. These findings protect the parties and the child by creating a record that can be reviewed on appeal and that informs future modification proceedings. Parents who believe a deviation is warranted should consult with an attorney and gather specific documentation supporting their position before appearing in court.