Tennessee’s child support system is governed by strict statutory guidelines and administered through the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS), ensuring that every child receives fair and consistent financial support from both parents. Whether you are establishing paternity, requesting a new support order, modifying an existing obligation, or facing enforcement actions, understanding how Tennessee child support laws work is essential to protecting your legal and financial future.
Child support services are administered by the Department of Human Services through local child support offices located across all 32 judicial districts, assisting with establishing paternity, obtaining support orders, enforcing payment obligations, and distributing collected funds to custodial parents.
Tennessee Child Support Services
The Department of Human Services administers Tennessee's child support program, offering comprehensive services to help families obtain financial support for children.
In Tennessee, the Department of Human Services administers the Child Support Program with offices located across the state in all 32 Judicial Districts. The services are provided through local district attorneys, DHS staff, and private agencies under contract with the state. The agency's goal is to make sure that all children have the financial support of both parents.
If you are having difficulty obtaining child support for your child or children, or wish to establish paternity of your child or children, the Department of Human Services can help. The Child Support Program provides services that promote parental responsibility to meet the financial needs of children and their families.
Services Available Through Tennessee Child Support
Tennessee child support offices provide multiple services addressing different aspects of establishing and enforcing support obligations.
The following services are available through the Child Support Program: location of a child's parent or parents for the purpose of obtaining support or establishing paternity, establishment of paternity, establishment and enforcement of child support orders, establishment and enforcement of medical support, collection and distribution of payments, modification of child support orders, and enforcement of spousal support orders if child support is involved.
The Child Support Services Program of the Tennessee Department of Human Services offers numerous services to parents or legal guardians trying to obtain financial and medical support for their child or children. The agency's child support staff can help you locate a missing parent, establish paternity, obtain or modify court orders, and enforce those orders.
Applying for Child Support Services
Parents seeking child support assistance can apply through online portals or by contacting local child support offices directly.
If you feel the Child Support Program would be beneficial to you and you would like to apply online, visit the One DHS Customer Portal. To speak with a child support professional, visit the child support office's web page to find the office that serves the county in which you live. Staff will be glad to answer any questions you may have regarding the program.
For more information on the Child Support Program or for help with payment questions or other enforcement issues, contact the child support office nearest you. Child support offices are located throughout Tennessee to serve families in every county.
What Tennessee Child Support Cannot Help With
The child support program has specific limitations regarding which family law matters it can address.
The Child Support Program cannot help with civil matters such as divorce petitions, custody, or parenting time and visitation, nor can it provide legal advice on these issues. Contact the court clerk in your judicial district, local bar association, or legal aid office to discuss how these matters can be addressed by the court.
Tennessee child support services focus specifically on financial support obligations rather than broader family law issues like custody arrangements or divorce proceedings, which require separate legal action through the court system.
Tennessee Child Support Payment System
The state provides online tools allowing both custodial and non-custodial parents to track and manage child support payments.
One of the ways DHS helps both parents and children is through its online Child Support Payment System. From this page, you'll be able to log in and review monthly statements and payments. To pay child support, view the SMART Tennessee Child Support web page, which provides access to the state's online payment portal.
Both non-custodial and custodial parents will need the case number or member ID and their own Social Security number to access the system. Custodial parents can review remittance advice and monthly statements, while both non-custodial and custodial parents can view processed payments through the secure online portal.
Child Support Enforcement Actions
Tennessee employs multiple enforcement mechanisms to ensure non-custodial parents meet their support obligations.
Some of the actions the agency can take to enforce child support orders are: automatically withhold wages and other income, seize assets identified by the Financial Institution Data Match (FIDM) program or by other means, intercept federal tax refunds and deny passport applications using the IRS Treasury Offset Program, revoke driver's licenses, professional licenses and various other licenses, report child support debt to credit reporting agencies, place liens against real or personal property, and file contempt petitions with the court.
The Child Support Division of the Juvenile Court hears petitions which deal with issues involving the establishment of parentage, setting of child support, and contempt proceedings. The Court works along with the local child support office, county sheriff's departments, and other local agencies to set, collect, enforce, and distribute child support to thousands of families.
Interstate Child Support Cases
Tennessee participates in interstate child support enforcement for cases where parents live in different states.
If the non-custodial parent resides out of state, child support can be pursued across state lines under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA). Using standardized forms, one state can request another state for assistance with the activities necessary to establish, enforce, and collect child support.
This interstate cooperation ensures that parents cannot avoid support obligations simply by moving to another state, providing continuity of support for children regardless of where either parent resides.
Child Support Guidelines and Calculations
The Department of Human Services (DHS) is responsible for administering Tennessee's Child Support guidelines. You can find more information about child support on the Department of Services' child support webpage. DHS also provides information and resources about income shares, which form the basis of Tennessee's child support calculation methodology.
Tennessee uses an income shares model that considers both parents' incomes, the number of children, and the amount of parenting time each parent has when calculating support obligations. These guidelines ensure consistency and fairness in child support determinations across the state.
Modifying Child Support Orders
Changes in circumstances may warrant modification of existing child support orders through the child support program.
Modification of child support orders is one of the services available through Tennessee's Child Support Program. Parents experiencing significant changes in income, employment, parenting time, or children's needs can request review and modification of support obligations to reflect current circumstances.
Modifications ensure that child support amounts remain appropriate and fair as family situations evolve, whether through increased or decreased support based on the specific changes that have occurred since the original order was established.
Contacting Tennessee Child Support Offices
Local child support offices throughout Tennessee provide personalized assistance and case management services.
To speak with a child support professional, visit the child support office's web page to find the office that serves the county in which you live. Staff will be glad to answer any questions you may have regarding the program and can provide guidance specific to your situation.
For more information on the Child Support Program or for help with payment questions or other enforcement issues, check out available fact sheets or contact the child support office nearest you. These local offices serve as the primary point of contact for Tennessee families navigating the child support system.
Tennessee child support services, administered by the Department of Human Services through child support offices in all 32 judicial districts, provide comprehensive assistance, including paternity establishment, support order creation and enforcement, payment collection and distribution, and order modifications when circumstances change.
From applying for services through the One DHS Customer Portal to tracking payments via the SMART Tennessee Child Support online system, parents have access to tools and resources, including frequently asked questions addressing common concerns about establishing, paying, receiving, and enforcing child support obligations, ensuring Tennessee children receive financial support from both parents, regardless of family circumstances or where parents reside.