Brentwood Child Support Lawyer
Helping parents ensure that their children have the financial support they need
Generally, both parents need to financially support their children’s needs for a home, clothing, food, and the fundamental necessities of life. The starting point for determining the amount of child support one parent must pay the other parent, in Brentwood, is the income of each parent. The court will consider other factors, such as how many children each parent must support.
At The Law Offices of Adrian H. Altshuler & Associates, we understand the Tennessee guidelines that determine the amount of support for each child. Our Brentwood child support lawyer has 35 years of experience showing how much income parents actually earn and what special needs your child may have. We also seek changes to child support orders when there is a significant variance under Tennessee’s child support guidelines. Our Brentwood family lawyers seek enforcement of child support orders if a parent is in arrears.
How can we help?
- Why is child support necessary?
- What are the Tennessee child support guidelines?
- What is adjusted gross income?
- What if my child has special needs or extra expenses?
- When can a child support order be modified in Brentwood?
- How do you enforce a child support order if a parent doesn’t make timely payments?
- FAQs about child support in Brentwood
- Do you have a Brentwood child support attorney near me?
Why is child support necessary?
Parents need to ensure that their children have the basics of life – a roof over their heads, food, clothing, school books, and medical care. In communities like Brentwood, where many families can afford the luxuries of life, those luxuries shouldn’t stop when parents divorce or separate.
Child support payments are generally processed through Tennessee’s State Disbursement Unit. Most parents pay through income withholding, in which the employer deducts the ordered amount and sends it to the State Disbursement Unit.
You can seek temporary child support orders the moment parents separate or the moment that one parent files for divorce. Subsequently, the court will enter a final child support order if the parents reach an agreement or there is a contested court decision. The court must review any agreement to ensure that the best interests of your children are being met.
What are the Tennessee child support guidelines?
As of October 1, 2021, Tennessee has specific child support guidelines. You can view the guidelines here. Our Brentwood child support lawyer will explain the specific guidelines for your family situation. When necessary, a family court judge can deviate from the guidelines to serve the best interests of a child, provided the judge provides the reasons.
If the net income of the obligor is more than $10,000 per month, the Primary Residential Parent can seek support above the guideline amount by showing that the additional support is reasonably necessary for the child’s needs.
The Tennessee child support guidelines review the following factors:
- The adjusted gross income of each parent (after applicable guideline adjustments)
- The number of children (biological and adoptive) each parent supports. In addition to children from a current marriage or relationship, a parent may have a duty to support children from a prior marriage or relationship.
- The residential schedule – the amount of time each parent provides a home for a child
Generally, the expenses of the parents are not considered.
The child support order may include the requirement that an obligor parent include their child on their health insurance policy.
What is adjusted gross income?
Our Brentwood child support attorney methodically reviews all of the income sources and tax obligations of the parents.
Income generally includes:
- Wages
- Business income
- Commissions
- Unemployment compensation benefits
- Workers’ compensation benefits
- Social Security retirement benefits
- Income from investments, such as dividends
- Spousal support from a prior spouse
- Capital gains
- Other sources of income
Income doesn’t include means-tested public assistance or child support received for a child of another relationship.
At The Law Offices of Adrian H. Altshuler & Associates, we’ll review and inform the family court whether a parent is deliberately reducing their income to reduce the amount of the child support order.
Generally, the adjusted income of the two parents is combined. Based on the combined income, the Tennessee child support guidelines determine the total amount of child support your child deserves. The amount of child support is then adjusted based on parenting time, including the number of days the child spends with the alternate residential parent.
What if my child has special needs or extra expenses?
Our Brentwood child support lawyer will work with you to determine the medical, educational, transportation, and other costs for your child’s special needs. Additional child support may then be required, with allocation depending on the type of expense and the applicable guidelines.
Child support amounts may also be adjusted if any of the following apply:
- A parent has unusual medical expenses
- A child has extra expenses for school, cultural, or athletic activities
- A child has extraordinary medical or special-needs expenses
When can a child support order be modified in Brentwood?
Either parent can request a change in the amount of the child support order. Generally, modification requires a significant variance of at least 15% between the current and proposed support obligations.
A child support order may also be reviewed if a parent has a prison sentence of 180 days or more.
How do you enforce a child support order if a parent doesn’t make timely payments?
If the parent who has a duty to pay child support fails to make one or more payments, our Brentwood child support lawyer will formally request a hearing to order that the arrears be paid promptly and that future payments be made when they become due.
A judge could order a wage attachment, and arrears may also be collected through an income-tax refund intercept.
A judge could also order incarceration for contempt in appropriate cases, subject to ability-to-pay and other legal requirements.
FAQs about child support in Brentwood
How long must an obligor parent pay child support in Brentwood, Tennessee?
Generally, an obligor parent must pay child support until the child becomes 18 or becomes emancipated; if the child is still in high school at 18, support continues until the child graduates or the child’s class graduates, whichever occurs first, but not beyond age 19 unless the child is handicapped or disabled.
The child’s parents can agree that payments will be made beyond age 18 to pay for a child’s education beyond high school, such as attending a trade school or a college (such as the University of Tennessee).
Does the duty to pay child support affect child custody in Brentwood?
Yes. If you fail to pay child support, your co-parent could seek a modification of the parenting plan.
You cannot stop paying child support if your co-parent isn’t honoring the parenting plan. Your child must come first.
Do you have a Brentwood child support attorney near me?
Yes. Our Brentwood law firm has an office at 1616 Westgate Cir #363. We also have offices in Franklin and Columbia.
We also speak with parents by phone and through Zoom, FaceTime, and other online video platforms.
We can answer your questions and fight for the support your child deserves.
Get help from our Brentwood child support lawyer today
The Law Offices of Adrian H. Altshuler & Associates is ready to fight for your child’s needs today. Please call us or fill out our contact form to arrange a consultation. Take the steps to ensure your child has the funds necessary for living their best life possible.