Support in Tennessee (2026)

Tennessee’s Income Shares Model and Flat Percentage Guidelines

Tennessee calculates child support using an income shares model that combines elements of the traditional income shares approach with specific flat percentage benchmarks built into the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04). The guidelines are designed to ensure that children receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the family had remained intact.

The calculation begins with each parent’s adjusted gross income — gross income from all sources minus credits for health insurance premiums for the child, work-related child care costs, and support obligations for other children. The parents’ adjusted gross incomes are combined, and the guidelines schedule identifies the basic child support obligation (BCSO) based on the combined income and the number of children. The BCSO is then divided between the parents in proportion to each parent’s share of the combined income.

What distinguishes Tennessee’s approach is how the guidelines integrate parenting time credits directly into the calculation. Under the standard formula, the calculation assumes the alternate residential parent (ARP) has fewer than 92 days of parenting time per year. When the ARP’s parenting time reaches or exceeds 92 days, an adjustment reduces the obligation to account for the ARP’s direct spending on the child during that time. For equal parenting arrangements (approximately 182.5 days each), the guidelines apply a separate calculation that produces a reduced transfer payment from the higher-income parent to the lower-income parent. The guidelines also include a self-support reserve — a floor below which the obligor’s income is protected to ensure they can meet basic living expenses, set at the federal poverty level for a single individual.

How Tennessee Calculates Child Support

Tennessee uses an income shares model established under T.C.A. Section 36-5-101 and the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines. The underlying principle is that children are entitled to share in the financial resources of both parents in the same proportion they would have if the family had remained together.

The calculation begins with each parent’s gross income, defined broadly to include all income from any source: wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, overtime, tips, pensions, retirement benefits, Social Security, workers’ compensation, unemployment benefits, disability benefits, rental income, dividends, interest, and self-employment income (after reasonable business expenses). Courts may impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed.

From gross income, certain credits are subtracted — including the cost of health insurance for the child, work-related child care costs, and support obligations for other children. The parents’ adjusted gross incomes are combined, and the guidelines schedule identifies the basic child support obligation. Each parent’s share is proportional to their percentage of the combined adjusted gross income.

For more detail on how this model works nationally, see our guide on how child support is calculated. You can estimate your potential obligation using our child support calculator.

Parenting Time Adjustments

Tennessee’s guidelines include a parenting time adjustment that reflects the number of days each parent has custody. The standard calculation assumes the non-custodial parent (the “alternate residential parent”) has fewer than 92 days of parenting time per year. When parenting time exceeds that threshold, the guidelines apply adjustments that can reduce the support obligation.

For equal parenting arrangements (each parent has the child approximately 182.5 days per year), the guidelines use a different calculation that accounts for each parent’s direct spending on the child and produces a reduced transfer payment from the higher-income parent to the lower-income parent.

Tennessee’s Income Shares Guidelines

Tennessee’s Child Support Guidelines, codified at Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04, provide a detailed framework that goes beyond the basic income shares calculation. Several features of the Tennessee guidelines are worth understanding in detail.

Income definition. The guidelines define gross income broadly under Rule 1240-02-04-.04 to include all income from any source, whether earned or unearned. This includes wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, overtime, tips, retirement and pension benefits, Social Security benefits, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, disability payments, veterans’ benefits, alimony received, rental income, royalties, dividends, interest, trust income, annuities, capital gains, self-employment income (after reasonable business deductions), and any other form of income. Courts may impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, based on the parent’s earning capacity, education, work history, and available job opportunities.

Deviation factors. Under Rule 1240-02-04-.07, courts may deviate from the guidelines amount when strict application would be unjust or inappropriate. Specific deviation factors include extraordinary educational expenses, extraordinary medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance, special needs of the child, significant travel costs associated with parenting time, assets available to either parent for child support purposes, and a significant disparity in income between the parents that makes the guidelines amount inequitable. Any deviation must be accompanied by written findings explaining why the guidelines amount is unjust and how the deviation serves the child’s best interest.

Low-income and self-support provisions. The guidelines include a self-support reserve to ensure the obligor parent can meet basic living needs. When the obligor’s adjusted gross income falls below the federal poverty guidelines for a single individual, the court applies a reduced minimum order. This provision recognizes that an order that prevents the obligor from meeting basic subsistence needs is counterproductive and may lead to noncompliance.

Modifying or Terminating Child Support

Either parent may petition for modification by demonstrating a significant variance — typically defined as a 15% or greater difference between the current order and the amount that would result from applying the guidelines to the parties’ current circumstances.

Child support in Tennessee continues until the child turns 18, or until the child graduates from high school if still enrolled at age 18, but not beyond age 19. Support also terminates upon the child’s marriage, emancipation, or entry into military service. Tennessee does not generally require parents to pay for post-secondary education.

Enforcement of Child Support Orders

Tennessee has robust enforcement mechanisms administered through the Department of Human Services and the courts:

• Income assignment (wage withholding)
• Interception of state and federal tax refunds
• Suspension of driver’s licenses and professional licenses
• Liens on real and personal property
• Reporting delinquencies to credit bureaus
• Contempt of court, which can lead to fines or incarceration

Arrearages cannot be retroactively forgiven, and modifications take effect only from the date the petition is filed.

Alimony in Tennessee

Tennessee recognizes four distinct types of alimony under T.C.A. Section 36-5-121:

• Alimony in futuro (long-term support). Awarded when the disadvantaged spouse cannot achieve an economic status comparable to the standard of living during the marriage and rehabilitation is not feasible. This is periodic support that continues until modified or terminated.
• Alimony in solido (lump-sum alimony). A fixed, total amount paid either as a lump sum or in installments. It is non-modifiable once ordered and is often used to address specific financial needs or to equalize the property division.
• Rehabilitative alimony. Designed to support a spouse while they obtain education, training, or experience necessary to become self-sufficient. Requires a specific rehabilitation plan. The court prefers this type over long-term alimony when rehabilitation is feasible.
• Transitional alimony. Awarded to help a spouse adjust to the economic consequences of the divorce. It is for a fixed period and addresses the transition from married to single life.

Tennessee courts have stated a preference for rehabilitative alimony over alimony in futuro whenever practical. The goal is to encourage self-sufficiency rather than indefinite dependence.

Factors in Alimony Determinations

Under T.C.A. Section 36-5-121(i), the court considers the following factors:

• The relative earning capacity, obligations, needs, and financial resources of each party
• The relative education and training of each party and the opportunity to secure education and training
• The duration of the marriage
• The age and physical and mental condition of each party
• The extent to which one party has diminished earning capacity due to devoting time to homemaking, child rearing, or supporting the other party’s career
• The separate assets of each party
• The provisions made for property division
• The standard of living established during the marriage
• The contributions of each party to the marriage, including tangible and intangible contributions
• The relative fault of the parties, if grounds for divorce include fault

Fault is relevant in Tennessee alimony proceedings. A party whose conduct caused the divorce may receive less favorable treatment, though fault alone does not determine the outcome.

Modification and Termination of Alimony

Alimony in futuro, rehabilitative alimony, and transitional alimony may be modified upon a showing of a substantial and material change of circumstances. Alimony in solido, however, is not modifiable.

All forms of alimony terminate upon the death of either party. Alimony in futuro also terminates upon the remarriage of the recipient. Cohabitation is not an automatic ground for termination but may constitute a change of circumstances warranting modification.

When to Seek Legal Guidance

Tennessee’s four-part alimony framework and the court’s emphasis on rehabilitation over long-term support make early legal strategy important. If you are navigating a child support or alimony issue, consider scheduling a free consultation with an experienced family law professional.

Statutes referenced: T.C.A. Section 36-5-101 (child support), Tennessee Child Support Guidelines, T.C.A. Section 36-5-121 (alimony).

Frequently Asked Questions

What child support model does Tennessee use?

Tennessee uses an income shares model under T.C.A. Section 36-5-101 and the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines. Both parents’ adjusted gross incomes are combined, and the guidelines identify the basic support obligation. Each parent’s share is proportional to their percentage of the combined income.

Until what age does child support last in Tennessee?

Child support continues until the child turns 18, or until the child graduates from high school if still enrolled at age 18, but not beyond age 19. Tennessee does not generally require parents to pay for post-secondary education.

What triggers a modification of child support in Tennessee?

A modification may be sought when there is a significant variance — typically defined as a 15% or greater difference between the current order and the amount that would result from applying the guidelines to current circumstances.

What types of alimony does Tennessee recognize?

Tennessee recognizes four types under T.C.A. Section 36-5-121: alimony in futuro (long-term support), alimony in solido (lump sum, non-modifiable), rehabilitative alimony (with a specific plan), and transitional alimony (for adjustment to single life). Courts prefer rehabilitative alimony over alimony in futuro whenever practical.

How does parenting time affect child support in Tennessee?

The Tennessee Child Support Guidelines include a parenting time adjustment based on the number of days each parent has custody. The standard formula assumes the alternate residential parent has fewer than 92 days per year. When parenting time exceeds 92 days, the guidelines reduce the support obligation. For equal parenting arrangements (approximately 182.5 days each), a separate calculation applies that produces a reduced transfer payment from the higher-income parent.

Can the court order more or less child support than the guidelines amount in Tennessee?

Yes. Under Rule 1240-02-04-.07 of the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines, the court may deviate from the guidelines amount when strict application would be unjust or inappropriate. Deviation factors include extraordinary educational or medical expenses, special needs of the child, significant travel costs for parenting time, and a significant income disparity between the parents. Any deviation must be supported by written findings explaining why the guidelines amount is unjust.

How This Guide Was Researched

This guide was developed by reviewing T.C.A. Section 36-5-101 (child support obligations and enforcement), the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines at Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04 (including income definitions under Rule 1240-02-04-.04, the basic child support schedule, parenting time adjustments, and deviation factors under Rule 1240-02-04-.07), and T.C.A. Section 36-5-121 (alimony types, statutory factors under subsection (i), modification standards, and termination provisions). Enforcement mechanisms were verified against T.C.A. Section 36-5-101(f) and Tennessee Department of Human Services child support enforcement resources.

Sources and Legal References

This guide draws on the following Tennessee statutes, regulations, and official resources:

• T.C.A. Section 36-5-101 — Child support obligations, enforcement authority, and income withholding
• Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04 — Tennessee Child Support Guidelines (income shares model, income definitions, basic support schedule, parenting time adjustments)
• Rule 1240-02-04-.04 — Definition of gross income for child support purposes
• Rule 1240-02-04-.07 — Deviation factors and standards for departing from the guidelines amount
• T.C.A. Section 36-5-121 — Types of alimony (alimony in futuro, alimony in solido, rehabilitative, transitional), statutory factors, modification, and termination
• T.C.A. Section 36-5-121(i) — Factors in alimony determinations, including relative fault

Official Tennessee Resources

• Tennessee Courts — Court-Approved Divorce Forms
• Tennessee Courts — Parenting Plan
• Tennessee Department of Human Services — Child Support Services

For more about how we research our guides, see our editorial policy and sources methodology.

Related Guides

Tennessee Support Guides

• Child Support in Tennessee

Tennessee Family Law

• Divorce in Tennessee
• Child Custody in Tennessee
• Divorce Grounds and Process in Tennessee
• Custody in Tennessee
• Custody Best Interest Factors in Tennessee

National Support Guides

• How child support is calculated
• How to file for child support
• Child support enforcement
• Modifying child support
• Child support guidelines by state
• Complete guide to divorce