Tennessee Child Support Statute 36-5-101

Tennessee Child Support Statute Section 36-5-101

Updated as of Nov. 9, 2015.  The Tennessee Legislature amends and enacts new family laws every year.  Always check for the most updated law.

36-5-101.  Decree for support of children — Modification — Delinquencies — Standing to petition — Court costs and attorneys fees — Means of collection — Scientific parentage tests.


  (a)  (1) Upon dissolution of a marriage, whether dissolved absolutely or by a perpetual or temporary decree of separation, the court may make an order and decree for the suitable support and maintenance of the children by either spouse or out of such spouse’s property, according to the nature of the case and the circumstances of the parties, the order or decree to remain in the court’s control.

   (2) Courts having jurisdiction of the subject matter and of the parties are hereby expressly authorized to provide for the future support of the children, in proper cases, by fixing some definite amount or amounts to be paid in monthly, semimonthly, or weekly installments, or otherwise, as circumstances may warrant, and such awards, if not paid, may be enforced by any appropriate process of the court having jurisdiction, including levy of execution.

   (3) In interstate cases, jurisdiction to modify, alter or enforce orders or decrees for the support of children shall be determined in accordance with parts 20-29 of this chapter. In intrastate cases, jurisdiction to modify, alter or enforce orders or decrees for the support of children shall be determined in accordance with parts 30 and 31 of this chapter.

   (4) As used in this chapter, “order,” where the context requires, includes an order concerning child or medical support issued pursuant to an administrative proceeding in any other state.

   (5) In establishing or enforcing any duty of support under this chapter, the court shall give full faith and credit to all paternity determinations of any other state or territory, made pursuant to a voluntary acknowledgment or pursuant to any administrative or judicial process.

   (6) A voluntary acknowledgment of paternity that is completed under § 68-3-203(g), § 68-3-302, or § 68-3-305(b), or under similar provisions of another state or government, when certified by the state registrar or other governmental or institutional entity maintaining the record of the acknowledgment, shall be a basis for establishing a support order without requiring any further proceedings to establish paternity.

   (7) The state of Tennessee, its officers, employees, agents or contractors, any counties, county officials, the clerks of any court, or any Title IV-D child support enforcement agency shall not be liable, in any case, to compensate any person for repayment of child support paid or for any other costs, as a result of the rescission pursuant to § 24-7-113 of any voluntary acknowledgment, or the rescission of any orders of legitimation, paternity, or support.

   (8) When a court having jurisdiction determines child support pursuant to the Tennessee child support guidelines, based on either the actual income or the court’s findings of an obligor’s ability to earn income, the final child support order shall create an inference in any subsequent proceeding that the obligor has the ability to pay the ordered amount until such time as the obligor files an application with the court to modify the ordered amount.

   (9) Where the lump sum amount of retirement or pension benefits or of balances in an individual retirement account, §§ 401(k), 403(b), 457, codified in 26 U.S.C. §§ 401(k), 403(b) and 457, respectively, or any other tax qualified account has been considered by the trial court, and determined to be marital property to be divided, the distributions of such lump sum amounts necessary to complete the division of property, whether distributed in a single payment or by periodic payments, shall not be considered income for the purpose of determining a spouse or ex-spouse’s right to receive alimony or child support, but the income generated by the investment of such lump sum awards shall be considered income for such purpose.

(b)  (1) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, neither the department of human services, nor any Title IV-D child support contractor of the department, nor any recipient of public assistance in this or any other state or territory, nor any applicant for either public assistance in this or any other state or territory or for Title IV-D child support services from the department or any other Title IV-D agency in this or any other state or territory, shall be required to demonstrate to a court or administrative tribunal that the caretaker of the child for whom child support is sought is vested with any more than physical custody of the subject child or children, in order to have standing to petition for child support from the legal parent of the child or children for whom support is sought, or to seek enforcement or modification of any existing orders involving such child or children.

   (2) Legal custody of a child to whom a child support obligation is owed shall not be a prerequisite to the initiation of any support action or to the enforcement or modification of any support obligation in such cases, whether or not the obligation has been assigned to this state or any other state or territory by operation of law.

(c)  (1) The court shall set a specific amount that is due each month, to be paid in one (1) or more payments as the court directs. In making any decree or order pursuant to this section, the court shall consider § 34-1-102(b). Unless the court finds otherwise, each order made under this section shall contain the current address of the parties.

   (2)  (A) The order or decree of the court may provide that the payments for the support of such child or children shall be paid either to the clerk of the court or directly to the spouse, or other person awarded the custody of the child or children; provided, however, that:

         (i) The court shall order that all child support payments based upon an income assignment issued by the clerk be paid to the clerk of the court, except as set forth in subdivision (c)(2)(A)(ii), for child support cases that are subject to the provisions for central collection and disbursement pursuant to § 36-5-116; and

         (ii) In all Title IV-D child support cases in which payment of child support is to be made by income assignment, or otherwise, and in all cases where payments made by income assignment based upon support orders entered on or after January 1, 1994, that are not Title IV-D support cases, but must be made to the central collection and disbursement unit as provided by § 36-5-116, and, except as may otherwise be allowed by § 36-5-501(a)(2)(B), the court shall only order that the support payments be made to the central collection and disbursement unit pursuant to § 36-5-116. No agreement by the parties in a parenting plan, either temporary or permanent, entered pursuant to chapter 6, part 4 of this title, or any other agreement of the parties or order of the court, except as may otherwise be allowed by § 36-5-501(a)(2)(B), shall alter the requirements for payment to the central collection and disbursement unit as required by § 36-5-116, and any provision of any parenting plan, agreement or court order providing for any other payment procedure contrary to the requirements of § 36-5-116, except as may otherwise be allowed by § 36-5-501(a)(2)(B), whether or not approved by the court, shall be void and of no effect. No credit shall be given by the court, the court clerk or the department of human services, for child support payments required by the support order that are made in contravention of such requirements; provided, however, that the department may make any necessary adjustments to the balances owed to account for changes in the Title IV-D or central collection and disbursement status of the support case.

      (B)  (i)  (a) When the court enters an order in which the paternity of a child is determined or support is ordered, enforced or modified for a child, each individual who is a party to any action pursuant to this part shall be immediately required to file with the court and, if the case is a Title IV-D child support case, shall immediately file with the local Title IV-D child support office, for entry into the state registry of support cases, and shall update, as appropriate, the parties’ and, for subdivisions (c)(2)(B)(i)(a)(1)-(B)(i)(a)(3), the child’s or children’s:

               (1) Full name and any change in name;

               (2) Date and place of birth. This information shall be filed with the court as a separate document containing the parties’ and the child’s or children’s names, dates of birth and social security numbers. The document shall be placed in an eight and one-half inch by eleven inch (81/2” x 11”) envelope containing the style of the case and docket number of the case and the document and envelope shall be file stamped by the clerk, and filed under seal in the case file. The document shall also be provided by the parties to the Title IV-D child support office together with the other information required in subdivisions (c)(2)(B)(i)(a)(1)-(8). The social security numbers and other information filed with the clerk shall be available to the clerk of court for processing of documents and legal actions such as, but not limited to, divorce certificates, garnishments, and income assignments. On request, the sealed information shall be made available to the department of human services and any other agency required by law to have access to the information and to other persons or agencies as ordered by the court.

               (3) Residential and mailing addresses;

               (4) Home telephone numbers;

               (5) Driver license number;

               (6) The name, address, and telephone number of the person’s employer;

               (7) The availability and cost of health insurance for the child; and

               (8) Gross annual income.

            (b) The requirements of subdivision (c)(2)(B)(i)(a) may be included in the court’s order.

         (ii) Each individual who is a party must update changes in circumstances of the individual for the information required by subdivision (c)(2)(B)(i)(a) within ten (10) days of the date of such change. At the time of the entry of the first order pertaining to child support after July 1, 1997, clear written notice shall be given to each party of the requirements of this subsection (c), procedures for complying with this subsection (c), and a description of the effect or failure to comply. Such requirement may be noted in the order of the court.

         (iii) In any subsequent child support enforcement action, the delivery of written notice as required by Rule 5 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, to the most recent residential or employer address shown in the court’s records or the Title IV-D agency’s records, as required in subdivision (c)(2)(B)(i)(a) shall be deemed to satisfy the due process requirements for notice and service of process with respect to that party, if there is a sufficient showing and the court is satisfied that a diligent effort has been made to ascertain the location and whereabouts of the party.

         (iv) Upon motion of either party, upon a showing of domestic violence or the threat of such violence, the court may enter an order to withhold from public access the address, telephone number, and location of the alleged victim or victims or threatened victims of such circumstances. The clerk of the court shall withhold such information based upon the court’s specific order, but may not be held liable for release of such information.

         (v) In any subsequent proceeding to modify or enforce support, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the information provided by the parties, as required by this part, has not changed, unless a party has complied with this section by updating the information with the court and, if the case is a Title IV-D child support case, with the local Title IV-D child support office.

(d)  (1) All support payments that have been paid to the clerk of the court shall be distributed by the clerk, as provided in the order of the court, within ten (10) days; provided, that the payments made to the clerk of the court in Title IV-D child support cases shall be distributed and deposited pursuant to the operating agreements under subdivision (d)(3) and subdivision (d)(6), after implementation of the statewide Title IV-D child support computer system in the clerk’s county, and after the appropriate notice to the clerk by the department under subdivisions (d)(3) and (6).

   (2) In every child support case being processed through the state’s central collection and disbursement unit, if unable to provide the information concerning an order through a computer information transfer, the clerk shall send a copy of any new order or modification of such order, prior to or along with the first payment received pursuant to such order, to the department, or its designee, within ten (10) working days.

   (3) Clerks participating in the operation of the statewide Title IV-D child support computer system shall be bound by the terms of the agreement and the laws, regulations, and policies and procedures of the Title IV-D child support program for the term of the agreement, unless the agreement is canceled by the department after notice to the clerk and an opportunity to correct any deficiencies caused by failure of the clerk to comply with federal or state regulations or procedures for operation of the system within thirty (30) days of such notice. While participating in the system, the clerks shall be entitled to receive the statutory fee for the collection and handling of child support obligations under the Title IV-D program. Any child support payment subject to distribution through the state’s central collection and disbursement unit that has been received by a clerk shall be sent immediately by the clerk to the department or its designee, without the necessity of a court order.

   (4) The clerks of all courts involved in the collection of any child support shall cooperate with and provide any reasonable and necessary assistance to the department or its contractors in the transfer of data concerning child support to the statewide Title IV-D child support computer system.

   (5) Whenever the clerk has ceased handling Title IV-D child support payments under subdivision (d)(3), and only where the context requires, all provisions in this chapter relating to the duties or actions involving the clerk shall be interpreted to substitute the department or its contractor.

   (6) In all cases in which child support payments are subject to processing through the state’s central collection and disbursement unit, the clerks shall, upon notice by the department, deposit all receipts of such child support payments on a daily basis to a bank account from which the state of Tennessee shall electronically debit those payments for the purpose of obtaining funds to distribute the child support obligations to the obligee.

   (7) In all Title IV-D child support cases, child support payments shall be made by the obligor to the department. No credit shall be given to an obligor for any payments made by the obligor or by another person on behalf of the obligor, directly to an obligee or the obligor’s child or children, unless the obligee remits the payment to the department. In the event that a Title IV-D case is instituted subsequent to the establishment of an order of child support, the department shall notify the obligor and obligee and the appropriate clerk of this fact, and all payments of child support in Title IV-D cases shall be made by the obligor to the department, without further order of the court.

   (8) When an order provides for the support of two (2) or more children in a case that is subject to enforcement under Title IV-D, and at least one (1) child is a public charge, based upon receipt of temporary assistance pursuant to title 71, chapter 3, part 1, TennCare-medicaid, or foster care or other custodial services from the state of Tennessee, the child support order shall be prorated by the department for purposes of distribution of the child support to the appropriate person or agency providing care or support for the child, without the need for modification of the child support order by the court.

(e)  (1)  (A) In making the court’s determination concerning the amount of support of any minor child or children of the parties, the court shall apply, as a rebuttable presumption, the child support guidelines, as provided in this subsection (e). If the court finds that evidence is sufficient to rebut this presumption, the court shall make a written finding that the application of the child support guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate in that particular case, in order to provide for the best interest of the child or children, or the equity between the parties. Findings that the application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate shall state the amount of support that would have been ordered under the child support guidelines and a justification for the variance from the guidelines.

      (B) Notwithstanding this section or any other law or rule to the contrary, if the net income of the obligor exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per month, then the custodial parent must prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that child support in excess of the amount provided for in the child support guidelines is reasonably necessary to provide for the needs of the minor child or children of the parties. In making the court’s determination, the court shall consider all available income of the obligor, as required by this chapter, and shall make a written finding that child support in excess of the amount so calculated is or is not reasonably necessary to provide for the needs of the minor child or children of the parties. In determining each party’s income for the purpose of applying the child support guidelines, the court shall deduct each party’s capital losses from that party’s capital gains in each year.

      (C) When making retroactive support awards, pursuant to the child support guidelines established pursuant to this subsection (e), in cases where the parents of the minor child are separated or divorced, but where the court has not entered an order of child support, the court shall consider the following factors as a basis for deviation from the presumption in the child support guidelines that child and medical support for the benefit of the child shall be awarded retroactively to the date of the parents’ separation or divorce:

         (i) Whether the remaining spouse knew or could have known of the location of the child or children who had been removed from the marital home by the abandoning spouse; or

         (ii) Whether the abandoning spouse, or other caretaker of the child, intentionally, and without good cause, failed or refused to notify the remaining spouse of the location of the child following removal of the child from the marital home by the abandoning spouse; and

         (iii) The attempts, if any, by the abandoning spouse, or other caretaker of the child, to notify the remaining spouse of the location of the child following removal of the child from the marital home by the abandoning spouse.

      (D) In cases in which the presumption of the application of the guidelines is rebutted by clear and convincing evidence, the court shall deviate from the child support guidelines to reduce, in whole or in part, any retroactive support. The court must make a written finding that application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate, in order to provide for the best interests of the child or children or the equity between the parties.

      (E) Deviations shall not be granted in circumstances where, based upon clear and convincing evidence:

         (i) The remaining spouse has a demonstrated history of violence or domestic violence toward the abandoning spouse, the child’s caretaker or the child;

         (ii) The child is the product of rape or incest of the mother by the father of the child;

         (iii) The abandoning spouse has a reasonable apprehension of harm from the remaining spouse, or those acting on the remaining spouse’s behalf, toward the abandoning spouse or the child; or

         (iv) The remaining spouse, or those acting on the remaining spouse’s behalf, has abused or neglected the child.

      (F) In making any deviations from awarding child and medical support retroactively to the date of separation or divorce of the parties, the court shall make written findings of fact and conclusions of law to support the basis for the deviation, and shall include in the order the total amount of retroactive child and medical support that would have been paid retroactively to the date of separation or divorce of the parties, had a deviation not been made by the court.

      (G) Nothing in this subdivision (e)(1) shall limit the right of the state of Tennessee to recover from the father or the remaining spouse expenditures made by the state for the benefit of the child, or the right, or obligation, of the Title IV-D child support agency to pursue retroactive support for the custodial parent or caretaker of the child, where appropriate.

      (H) Any amounts of retroactive support ordered that have been assigned to the state of Tennessee, pursuant to § 71-3-124, shall be subject to the child support distribution requirements of 42 U.S.C. § 657. In such cases, the court order shall contain any language necessary to allow the state to recover the assigned support amounts.

   (2) Beginning October 13, 1989, the child support guidelines promulgated by the department, pursuant to the rulemaking provisions of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, shall be the guidelines that courts shall apply as a rebuttable presumption in child support cases.

   (3) Child support guidelines shall be reviewed by the department of human services every three (3) years from the date of promulgation. The department shall make recommendations to the supreme court of any revisions needed in order to maintain compliance with the Family Support Act of 1988, and to ensure that application of the guidelines results in determinations of appropriate child support awards. A copy of the recommendations shall also be sent to the civil justice committee of the house of representatives and the health and welfare committee of the senate.

   (4)  (A) In addition to any other subtractions, calculations of net income under the guidelines shall take into consideration the support of any other children the obligor is legally responsible to provide. The court shall consider children of the obligor who are not included in a decree of child support, but for whom the obligor is legally responsible to provide support and is supporting, for the purposes of reducing the obligor’s net income, in calculating the guideline amount, or as a reason for deviation from the guidelines.

      (B) In calculating amounts of support for children under the guidelines, the court shall allocate an obligor’s financial child support responsibility from the obligor’s income among all children of the obligor for whom the obligor is legally responsible to provide support and is supporting, in a manner that gives equitable consideration as defined by the department’s child support guidelines, to the children for whom support is being set in the case before the court and to any other children for whom the obligor is legally responsible and is supporting. The court shall require that payments, made out of that allocation for all children of the obligor for whom the obligor is legally responsible and is supporting, be made upon such consideration. Guidelines promulgated by the department shall be consistent with this subdivision (e)(4)(B).

(f)  (1) Any order for child support shall be a judgment entitled to be enforced as any other judgment of a court of this state, and shall be entitled to full faith and credit in this state and in any other state. Except as provided in subdivision (f)(6), such judgment shall not be subject to modification as to any time period or any amounts due prior to the date that an action for modification is filed and notice of the action has been mailed to the last known address of the opposing parties. If the full amount of child support is not paid by the date when the ordered support is due, the unpaid amount is in arrears, shall become a judgment for the unpaid amounts, and shall accrue interest from the date of the arrearage at the rate of twelve percent (12%) per year. All interest that accumulates on arrearages shall be considered child support. Computation of interest shall not be the responsibility of the clerk.

   (2) In addition to the remedies provided in part 5 of this chapter, but not as an alternative to those provisions, if a parent is more than thirty (30) days in arrears, the clerk of the court may, upon written application of the obligee parent, a guardian or custodian of the children, or the department of human services or its contractors in Title IV-D support cases, issue a summons or, in the discretion of the court, an attachment for such parent, setting a bond of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or, in the discretion of the court, up to the amount of the arrears, for such other proceedings as may be held in the matter. In addition, the court may, at any time, require an obligor parent to give security by bond, with sufficient sureties approved by the court, or, alternatively, in the absence of the judge from the court, approved by the clerk of the court, for payment of past, present, and future support due under the order of support. If the obligor parent thereafter fails to appear or fails without good cause to comply with the order of support, such bonds may be forfeited and the proceeds from the bonds paid to the court clerk and applied to the order of support.

   (3) Absent a court order to the contrary, if an arrearage for child support or fees due as court costs exists at the time an order for child support would otherwise terminate, the order of support, or any then existing income withholding arrangement, and all amounts ordered for payment of current support or arrears, including any arrears due for court costs, shall continue in effect in an amount equal to the then existing support order or income withholding arrangement, until the arrearage and costs due are satisfied, and the court may enforce all orders for such arrearages by contempt.

   (4) The order of any court or administrative tribunal directing that an obligor pay a sum certain to reduce any support arrearage shall not preclude the use, by the department of human services or its contractors in the Title IV-D child support program, of any other administrative means of collecting the remaining balance of the outstanding arrearage, including, but not limited to, income tax refund intercepts, financial institution collections, enforcement of liens, or any other method authorized by law. The use of any additional administrative means of collection by the department or its contractors in the Title IV-D child support program is expressly authorized to reduce any portion, or all, of the outstanding balance of support as shown by the department’s records, and any order of the court or administrative tribunal to the contrary is without any effect whatsoever, except for such appeal as may lie from the implementation of the administrative procedure that is used to reduce the arrearage.

   (5)  (A) In enforcing any provision of child support, if an obligee, or the department or its contractor in Title IV-D cases, specifically prays for revocation of a license because an obligor is alleged to be in noncompliance with an order of support, or if the court determines on its own motion, or on motion of a party, that any individual party has failed to comply with a subpoena or a warrant in connection with the establishment or enforcement of an order of support, the court may find, specifically, in its order that the obligor is not in compliance with an order of support as defined by part 7 of this chapter, or it may find that an individual party has failed to comply with a subpoena or warrant in connection with the establishment or enforcement of an order of support, and may direct that any or all of the obligor’s or individual party’s licenses be subject to revocation, denial or suspension by the appropriate licensing authority, pursuant to part 7 of this chapter. The court shall direct the clerk to send a copy of that order to the department of human services to be sent by the department to each licensing authority specified in the order for processing and suspension, denial or revocation pursuant to § 36-5-706 and any other applicable provisions of part 7 of this chapter. Costs related to such order shall be taxed to the obligor or individual party.

      (B) If the obligor whose license has been subject to subdivision (f)(5)(A) complies with the order of support, or if the individual party complies with the subpoena or warrant, the court shall enter an order making such a finding, and the clerk shall send an order immediately to the department of human services to be transmitted to each licensing authority specified in the order, which shall then immediately issue, renew or reinstate the obligor’s or individual party’s license, in accordance with § 36-5-707. Costs related to such order shall be taxed to the obligor or individual party, as the case may be, and shall be paid by the obligor or the individual party prior to sending the order to the department for transmission to the licensing authority.

      (C) The department shall provide available information to the obligee, party or the court in actions under this subdivision (f)(5), concerning the name and address of the licensing authority or authorities of the obligor or individual party, in order to enable the enforcement of this subdivision (f)(5). The obligee or individual party, as the case may be, seeking such information shall pay a fee, as established by the department for the provision of such service. These fees may be taxed as costs to the obligor whose license has been revoked pursuant to this subdivision (f)(5), or to the individual party who has failed to comply with the warrant or subpoena.

      (D) If the licensing authority fails to take appropriate action pursuant to the orders of the court under this subdivision (f)(5), the party may seek a further order from the court to direct the licensing authority to take such action, and the party may seek any appropriate court sanctions against the licensing authority.

      (E) For purposes of this subdivision (f)(5), “individual party” means a party to the support action who is a person, but does not include a governmental agency, or the contractor or agent of such governmental agency, that is enforcing an order of support. “Party” may include, where the context requires, an individual person, or it may include a governmental agency or contractor or agent of such governmental agency.

   (6)  (A) With the approval of the court, the obligor and obligee shall have the right to compromise and settle a child support arrearage balance owed directly to the obligee. The authority is given to forgive accrued principal and interest on delinquent child support with the approval of the obligee and shall not include any monies owed to this or any other state. In all Title IV-D cases, the department of human services or its contractors must be a party to the action. Both the obligee and obligor must consent to the compromise and settlement in writing in accordance with the procedures established by the child support agency or court.

      (B) Prior to giving consent, the obligee shall be provided with a written explanation of the compromise and settlement and of the obligee’s rights with respect to child support arrears owed to the obligee. In no event may an offer of compromise and settlement of any child support arrears owed directly to the obligee be accepted unless the obligee consents to the offer of compromise and settlement in writing.

      (C) To be eligible for a compromise and settlement of the child support arrearage balance, the obligor must pay the child support obligation in full as ordered for a minimum of twelve (12) consecutive months immediately preceding the compromise and settlement between the obligor and obligee in order to compromise and settle the remaining balance. If additional child support arrears accrue after a compromise and settlement, such subsequent arrears shall be paid in full and not subject to further compromise and settlement.

      (D) A compromise and settlement of a lesser amount than the total principal and interest that is owed shall not be considered against public policy if the compromise and settlement is in the best interest of the child or children.

      (E) The program shall operate uniformly across this state and shall take into consideration the needs of the child or children subject to the child support order and the obligor’s ability to pay.

(g)  (1) Upon application of either party, the court shall decree an increase or decrease of support when there is found to be a significant variance, as defined in the child support guidelines established by subsection (e), between the guidelines and the amount of support currently ordered, unless the variance has resulted from a previously court-ordered deviation from the guidelines and the circumstances that caused the deviation have not changed. Any support order subject to enforcement under Title IV-D may be modified in accordance with § 36-5-103(f).

   (2) The necessity to provide for the child’s health care needs shall also be a basis for modification of the amount of the order, regardless of whether a modification in the amount of child support is necessary.

   (3) The court shall not refuse to consider a modification of a prior order and decree as it relates to future payments of child support because the party is in arrears under that order and decree, unless the arrearage is a result of intentional action by the party.

   (4)  (A) Notwithstanding subdivision (g)(4)(B) and § 36-5-103(f), for the purposes of this chapter, the birth or adoption of another child for whom an obligor is legally responsible to support and is supporting shall constitute a substantial and material change of circumstances for seeking a review of the existing order to determine if the addition of such child, and any credits applicable for the addition of such child under the department’s child support guidelines, would result in a significant variance under such guidelines. If the significant variance is demonstrated by the review, the amount of an existing child support order may be modified by the court.

      (B) For purposes of this chapter, the significant variance established by the department of human services pursuant to the child support guidelines shall provide a lower threshold for modification of child support orders for persons whose adjusted gross incomes are within low income categories established by the department’s child support guidelines. The significant variance involving low income persons shall be established by rule of the department at no more than seven and one half percent (7 1/2 %) of the difference between the current child support order and the amount of the proposed child support order.

   (5)  (A) In Title IV-D child support cases that the department of human services is enforcing, the department shall provide a child support obligor notice ninety (90) days prior to the eighteenth birthday of a child or children for whom the obligor is paying child support, as such birthday is indicated by the department’s records.

      (B) If the following conditions are met, then the obligor may seek termination of the order of support and may also request that the department, as required by federal law, assist in seeking termination of the order:

         (i) The department’s records demonstrate that the child for whom an order of support in a Title IV-D child support case has been entered has reached eighteen (18) years of age and has graduated from high school, or that the class of which the child is a member when the child reached eighteen (18) years of age has graduated from high school, the obligor has otherwise provided the department with written documentation of such facts, or the obligor has provided the department with written documentation that a child for whom the obligor is required to pay support has died or has married;

         (ii) No other special circumstances exist, including, but not limited to, the circumstances provided for in subsection (k) regarding disabled children, that require the obligation to continue;

         (iii) The obligor does not owe arrearages to the obligee parent, any guardian or custodian of the child, the department of human services, any other agency of the state of Tennessee, or any other Title IV-D agency of any state;

         (iv) The costs of court have been paid; and

         (v) There are no other children for whom the obligor is required to pay child support.

      (C)  (i) If the conditions of subdivisions (g)(5)(B)(i)-(v) exist in the Title IV-D case, as shown by the department’s records, or such conditions exist based upon the written documentation provided by the obligor and verified by the department, then the department shall immediately temporarily suspend the order of support for the child who has reached majority. If the existing court order was the result of a deviation from the child support guidelines, the department shall immediately seek from the court termination of the support order for such child, and shall provide the obligee with notice of the filing of the petition to terminate such order.

         (ii) If the existing order was not the result of a deviation from the child support guidelines, the department shall give notice to the obligee, and to the other obligor, of the temporary suspension of the order, based upon verification of the status of the case pursuant to subdivision (g)(5)(B), of its intent to permanently terminate the support order by an administrative order, which the department may issue for such purpose, and of the opportunity for a hearing upon the issue of permanent termination of the order.

         (iii) If the obligee contests the temporary suspension of the order of support under the circumstances of subdivisions (g)(5)(B)(i)-(v) and prevails following entry of the court or administrative order, the obligor shall pay the support amounts and any other arrearages or court costs not paid as a result of the temporary suspension of the order. The administrative order shall be filed with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction of the case.

      (D)  (i) If the conditions of subdivisions (g)(5)(B)(i)-(iv) are met in the Title IV-D case, but there are other children for whom the obligor is still obligated to support, the department shall immediately conduct a review of the support order and shall seek the support order’s adjustment, if appropriate under the child support guidelines for such children. The obligor shall continue to make child support payments, in accordance with the existing order, until the court or department modifies the order pursuant to this subdivision (g)(5)(D).

         (ii) If the existing court order was the result of a deviation from the child support guidelines, the department shall seek modification of the support order from the court, and shall provide the obligee and the obligor with notice of the filing of the petition to modify such order.

         (iii) If the existing order was not the result of a deviation from the child support guidelines, and the department reviews the order and determines that the order should be modified pursuant to such guidelines, then the department shall notify the parties of the department’s intent to modify the support order by an administrative order, which the department may issue for such purpose, and shall notify the parties of the opportunity for a hearing on the issue of modification of the order.

         (iv) The support order shall be modified as established by order of the court or the department, as required pursuant to the child support guidelines. If the modified payment amount is lower than the payment amount required prior to the modification, then the obligor shall be given credit for such amount against future payments of support for the remaining children under the order. If the modified payment amount is higher than the payment amount required prior to the modification, then the obligor shall pay the higher ordered amount from the date of entry of the order. The administrative order shall be filed with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction of the case.

      (E) The department’s review and adjustment process, and the administrative hearing process outlined in this subdivision (g)(5), shall comply with any other due process requirements for notice to the obligor and obligee as may otherwise be required by this chapter.

(h)  (1) The court may direct the acquisition or maintenance of health insurance covering each child of the marriage and may order either party to pay all, or each party to pay a pro rata share of, the health care costs not paid by insurance proceeds. In no event shall eligibility for or receipt of medicaid or TennCare-Medicaid by the custodial parent be considered to meet the need to provide for the child’s health care needs in the order, if reasonable and affordable health insurance is available.

   (2) In any case in which the court enters an order of support enforced under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, compiled in 42 U.S.C. § 651 et seq., the court shall enter an order providing for health care coverage to be provided for the child or children.

   (3) Section 36-5-501(a)(3) shall apply with respect to enrollment of a child in the noncustodial parent’s employer-based health care plan.

(i) The court may direct either or both parties to designate the children as beneficiaries under any existing policies insuring the life of either party, and maintenance of existing policies insuring the life of either party, or the purchase and maintenance of life insurance and designation of beneficiaries.

(j) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the affirmation, ratification and incorporation in a decree of an agreement between the parties as to child support. In any such agreement, the parties must affirmatively acknowledge that no action by the parties shall be effective to reduce child support after the due date of each payment, and that they understand that court approval must be obtained before child support may be reduced, unless such payments are automatically reduced or terminated under the terms of the agreement.

(k)  (1) Except as provided in subdivision (k)(2), the court may continue child support beyond a child’s minority for the benefit of a child who is handicapped or disabled, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, compiled in 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., until such child reaches twenty-one (21) years of age.

   (2) Provided, that such age limitation shall not apply if such child is severely disabled and living under the care and supervision of a parent, and the court determines that it is in the child’s best interest to remain under such care and supervision and that the obligor is financially able to continue to pay child support. In such cases, the court may require the obligor to continue to pay child support for such period as it deems in the best interest of the child; provided, however, that, if the severely disabled child living with a parent was disabled prior to this child attaining eighteen (18) years of age and if the child remains severely disabled at the time of entry of a final decree of divorce or legal separation, then the court may order child support regardless of the age of the child at the time of entry of the decree.

   (3) In so doing, the court may use the child support guidelines.

(l)  (1) The court may, in its discretion, at any time pending the suit, upon motion and after notice and hearing, make any order that may be proper to compel a spouse to pay any sums necessary to enable the other spouse to prosecute or defend the suit and to provide for the custody and support of the minor children of the parties during the pendency of the suit, and to make other orders as it deems appropriate. In making any order under this subsection (l), the court shall consider the financial needs of each spouse and the children, and the financial ability of each spouse to meet those needs and to prosecute or defend the suit.

   (2) In any Title IV-D case, if the court grants relief, whether in whole or in part, to the department of human services or the department’s Title IV-D contractor, or to any applicant for Title IV-D child support services, the court shall not tax any court costs against the department, the Title IV-D contractor or any applicant for child support services. The court shall not award attorney fees against the department, the Title IV-D contractor or any applicant for child support services, unless there is a clearly established violation of Rule 11 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure or for other contemptuous or other sanctionable conduct. This subdivision (l)(2) is not intended to limit the discretion of the courts to tax costs to the individual parties on non-Title IV-D issues, such as custody or visitation.

(m) No provision, finding of fact or conclusion of law in a final decree of divorce or annulment or other declaration of invalidity of a marriage that provides that the husband is not the father of a child born to the wife during the marriage or within three hundred (300) days of the entry of the final decree, or that names another person as the father of such child, shall be given preclusive effect, unless scientific tests to determine parentage are first performed and the results of the test that exclude the husband from parentage of the child or children, or that establish paternity in another person, are admitted into evidence. The results of such parentage testing shall only be admitted into evidence in accordance with the procedures established in § 24-7-112.

 

References, Resources and More:

 

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