I was laid off from my job. Do I still have to make child support payments in Tennessee?

I have recently been laid off from my job in Shelby County. Do I still have to make Tennessee child support payments?

A Shelby County parent who owes child support and loses a job still must make child support payments. Payments will come from a portion of your unemployment benefits if you receive them. Even parents earning poverty-level annual wages of $10,400 or less must pay a percentage (though reduced) of income toward child support. In any case, if drastic personal or professional issues will keep you from fulfilling your current child support obligations, ignoring the issue and hoping it will go away will not help matters. There are options to reduce your payments if you’re a parent.

Modifying Child Support Payments after Getting Laid Off

If you were laid off from your job in Shelby County, you may have the option to modify your child support payments, which could put less stress on your budget. Because Tennessee child support law is updated every few years, you either will be subject to the income shares guidelines (established January 18, 2005 or later and take into consideration the income of both parents) or the flat income guidelines (established before January 18, 2005, which take into consideration only the gross income of the alternative residential parent).

This means that if your reduction in income will equal at least a 15% change from your current support order (if you’re on the shared income guidelines) or a 15% change in income, you may be able to get your Shelby County, Tennessee child support payments modified. A lawyer can walk you through the specifics of this often-stringent area of Tennessee family law because there may be other requirements.

Here to Answer Your Questions about Tennessee Child Support Payments

For more information, see Tennessee Child Support Modification Law | How to Modify Child Support.

At Miles Mason Family Law Group, we understand that drastic changes in your professional or personal life may warrant a change in child support payments. When those times come, we’ll be here to offer our financial knowledge and understanding of Tennessee’s divorce laws. When you need a Shelby County, TN child support lawyer, our team can offer sound legal advice, so you can rest assured you’re acting in the best interests of you and your children. Contact us today at 901-683-1850.