Last updated: June 17, 2026
Bottom line
In Tennessee, child support services are handled by the Tennessee Department of Human Services Child Support Program. Start with TDHS Child Support if you need to locate a parent, establish parentage, set a support order, collect payments, enforce an order, or ask for a review.
Child support is a legal issue. This guide can help you get organized, but it is not legal advice. If custody, parenting time, domestic violence, divorce, or a court hearing is involved, also contact legal aid, a court clerk, or a licensed family law attorney.
For a broader state starting point, keep the ASMOM Tennessee help guide open while you work through child support, food, health coverage, child care, and rent help.
If you need help today
If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911. If asking for support could make an abusive partner more dangerous, read the state safety concern page and talk with an advocate before you apply.
- For food, shelter, rent, utilities, and local crisis referrals, dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 through TN 211 help.
- For domestic violence support, the Tennessee Domestic Violence Helpline is 1-800-356-6767. You can also use the Tennessee coalition to find local programs.
- To report suspected child abuse or neglect in Tennessee, use the official child abuse hotline page or call 877-237-0004.
- If bills are due now while support is pending, use our emergency help page for Tennessee crisis steps.
Where to start
Start with the safest and most urgent issue. Some parents need to open a case. Some need to check missing payments. Some need legal help because custody, court papers, or safety concerns are tied to support.
You do not have an order
Use the state application page or contact the child support office for your county. Do not rely on a private text agreement if you need an enforceable order.
You already have an order
Use the state payment lookup to check processed payments. If something looks wrong, contact the office that serves your county.
You have court or safety issues
Child support does not decide custody or parenting time. Use our Tennessee legal help guide if you need a lawyer, court forms, or family safety help.
For a plain national overview before you use Tennessee forms, our child support hub explains the basic steps and words you may hear.
Quick reference for Tennessee parents
| Situation | Best first step | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| You need to open a case | Create a One DHS account and start a child support application. | The state says you can apply online, by paper form, or through a local office. |
| You need the local office | Use the office locator and choose your county. | The correct office may depend on county or court area, not the nearest building. |
| You receive Families First | Ask DHS how your case was referred to child support. | Ask about good cause if child support cooperation could put you or your child at risk. |
| You want an estimate | Use the official calculator with real income, child care, and health insurance numbers. | A calculator is only an estimate. A court or proper tribunal sets the order. |
| Payments stopped | Check payment history, then call your local child support office. | Write down dates, amounts, employer details, and who you spoke with. |
What Tennessee child support can and cannot do
The Tennessee Child Support Program helps children receive financial and medical support. It can help with parent location, parentage, orders, payments, enforcement, and review of orders. It is not a divorce lawyer, custody lawyer, or judge.
| Need | Can child support help? | Where to go |
|---|---|---|
| Find the other parent | Yes, if you give enough identifying information. | Give names, last address, employer, relatives, and any safe contact details. |
| Establish parentage | Yes, when legal parentage must be set first. | The state parentage page explains testing and court steps. |
| Create a support order | Yes, through the child support and court process. | Apply online or contact your local office. |
| Collect payments | Yes, through the state payment system. | Use official payment routes when possible. |
| Custody or visitation | No. TDHS says the program cannot handle divorce, custody, parenting time, visitation, or legal advice. | Call legal aid, a court clerk, a local bar group, or a family law attorney. |
Keep custody questions separate
Support, custody, and parenting time can affect the same family, but they are not the same case. If papers mention parenting time, safety, relocation, or divorce, ask a legal help office before you sign or ignore anything.
How to apply for child support in Tennessee
A custodial parent, noncustodial parent, or caretaker can apply for Tennessee child support services. Tennessee says child support applications are not based on income. Families First/TANF cases may be referred to the local child support office by DHS.
- Create or log in through the One DHS portal.
- Choose the Child Support application.
- Use the safest mailing address, phone, and email you can use.
- Add information about the child, yourself, and the other parent.
- Upload or send copies of documents if the office asks for them.
- Save letters, confirmation pages, case numbers, and payment records.
Tennessee lists a $35 annual child support services fee for families that have never received Families First/TANF. The state says the fee is collected after $550 in child support payments has been received in the case. Families that have received Families First/TANF are not required to pay that annual fee.
Tip: protect contact details
If the other parent tracks your phone, email, mail, or online accounts, ask an advocate how to use safer contact information. Our Tennessee safety guide can help you find local safety support before you update records.
How Tennessee calculates child support
Tennessee uses child support guidelines and worksheets. TDHS says the most recent guideline changes took effect October 1, 2021, and the state is reviewing proposed updates in 2026. Use the official support calculator instead of old internet worksheets.
The amount can depend on both parents’ gross income, parenting time, health insurance costs, work-related child care, other children a parent supports, and other case facts. The state guidelines page warns that outdated calculators or worksheets may give wrong results.
| Worksheet item | What to gather | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Income | Pay stubs, benefit letters, self-employment records, tax records if available. | Tennessee uses income shares, not a simple flat percent for every case. |
| Parenting time | Parenting plan, court order, or a clear record of overnights. | Time with each parent can affect the worksheet. |
| Child care | Receipts or provider statements for work-related child care. | Approved child care costs may be part of the calculation. |
| Health coverage | Insurance premium details and medical support papers. | Medical support can be included in the order. |
| Other children | Orders or proof of support for other children. | Other legal support duties may affect the worksheet. |
Do not guess the amount
A sample amount online can be wrong for your family. Use real numbers, keep proof, and ask the child support office or legal aid if the worksheet does not match your situation.
Payments, debit cards, and missed support
Tennessee has official pages for receiving support and paying support. Parents who receive support may be able to use paper checks, direct deposit, or a Way2Go debit card. Parents who pay support may use approved payment options, including online payment through SMART Tennessee Child Support, phone payment, mail, or income withholding when ordered.
If you pay by credit or debit card, Tennessee says a processor fee applies. Use SMART Tennessee only through official routes, and keep a receipt or confirmation number for every payment.
Avoid private cash deals
Cash, private apps, diapers, rides, and informal trades may not be credited as child support. If an emergency private payment happens, keep proof and ask the court or child support office how it will be treated.
What to do if payments stop
First, check the payment history. Then call the office that handles your county. Give your case number, last payment date, expected amount, and any new employer or address details for the other parent. Enforcement can take time, especially if the other parent changes jobs, works in cash, moves, or has not been located.
How to change a child support order
Either parent can ask for review and adjustment. Tennessee says a significant variance is needed before an existing income shares order can be changed. The state review page lists a minimum 15% difference between the proposed order and the existing order for an income shares order.
A review may be requested when income, employment, disability, child care costs, health insurance, incarceration, or other case facts changed. A review is not a promise that the amount will go down. It could go up, go down, or stay the same.
Do not stop paying or change the amount on your own. The current order stays in place until the proper office, court, or tribunal changes it. If your income dropped, ask about review quickly so arrears do not grow while you wait.
Documents and information to gather
You do not need every paper before asking for help. Still, the more accurate information you have, the easier it is for the office to locate the other parent, establish parentage, set support, and enforce the order. The federal document checklist is a good backup list.
| Category | Examples | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Your child | Birth certificate, Social Security number if available, school details, health insurance details. | Helps confirm identity and medical support needs. |
| You | Photo ID, safe address, safe phone/email, income proof, benefit letters. | Helps the office contact you and complete the worksheet. |
| Other parent | Full name, date of birth, last address, employer, phone, relatives, vehicle, military status. | Helps locate the parent and employer. |
| Existing orders | Divorce decree, parenting plan, prior support order, payment history. | Prevents duplicate or conflicting information. |
| Costs | Child care receipts, insurance premiums, medical bills, special needs costs. | Some costs may affect the worksheet. |
For a broader benefits paperwork list, use our documents checklist before you apply for food, cash aid, child care, health coverage, or housing help.
Safety, legal help, and hard cases
Child support can help a child, but it can also stir up conflict. If there is abuse, stalking, threats, or control over money, phone, mail, or transportation, ask for safety help before you share new contact information or appear in court.
The TDHS Child Support Handbook says a parent may have good cause for not helping with child support actions if helping may cause harm to the parent or child. Ask DHS or legal aid how to raise safety concerns in your case.
Tennessee courts list legal service options for people who cannot afford a lawyer. You can also use Help4TN support for plain-language child support information and free legal help paths.
Special situations to ask about
- The other parent lives outside Tennessee: State child support agencies can work together. The federal ACF parent page explains how local child support offices help families.
- You are a grandparent or caretaker: Ask the office how to apply as the child’s caretaker and what papers show the child lives with you.
- Your child is turning 18: Tennessee’s child support FAQ says support may continue if the child is in high school at age 18.
- You moved: Update safe contact information quickly so notices, payment updates, and hearing papers do not go to the wrong place.
Other help while child support is pending
Child support can be important, but it may not solve this week’s crisis. Apply for other help at the same time if your child needs food, health care, child care, rent help, or utility help.
- Cash help: Tennessee Families First is the state TANF program. Start with Families First, then use our Tennessee TANF guide for practical steps.
- Food: SNAP helps eligible households buy food. Use the official SNAP application page, then check our Tennessee SNAP guide.
- Child care: TDHS says child care payment assistance helps eligible families pay for care so parents or guardians can work, attend school, or take approved training. Confirm current rules on the state child care page, then use our Tennessee child care guide.
- Health coverage: TennCare, CoverKids, and Medicare Savings Programs use TennCare Connect. Start with the official TennCare application page, then check our Tennessee health care guide.
- WIC: Pregnant mothers, postpartum mothers, babies, and young children may qualify. Tennessee WIC says families can contact a local WIC clinic or call 1-800-DIAL-WIC for help.
- Rent and utilities: Use our Tennessee housing help page and Tennessee utility help page. For LIHEAP, THDA posts program forms and current information on its LIHEAP page.
If a benefit case is denied, delayed, closed, or ignored, our benefits problem guide can help you organize notices, deadlines, and appeal questions.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not use an old calculator or old worksheet without checking the TDHS calculator page.
- Do not agree by text to lower, pause, or stop support without a court-approved change.
- Do not ignore court papers, even if you think the other parent is wrong.
- Do not use a shared email, phone, or mailing address if the other parent is unsafe.
- Do not wait months to report a new employer, address, or payment problem.
- Do not assume child support will fix custody or parenting time.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling child support
“Hi, my name is ____. I live in ____ County. I need to open or check a child support case. Which office handles my county, what documents should I send, and how can I send them safely?”
When payments stopped
“I am calling about case number ____. The last payment I see is from ____. The order says ____. Can you tell me whether a payment is pending, whether enforcement is active, and what information you need from me?”
Calling legal aid
“I need help with a Tennessee child support issue. There may also be custody, parenting time, or safety concerns. Do you handle this kind of case, and if not, where should I call next?”
Calling 211
“I am waiting on child support and need help with ____ this week. I have children in the home and live in ZIP code ____. What programs are open now, and what should I bring?”
Resumen en español
En Tennessee, el programa de manutención infantil puede ayudar a localizar al otro padre, establecer paternidad, crear una orden, cobrar pagos, hacer cumplir una orden y revisar una orden si las cosas cambiaron. Puede empezar con One DHS o llamar a la oficina de manutención infantil de su condado.
Si hay violencia doméstica o miedo por su seguridad, hable con una línea de ayuda, una organización local o asistencia legal antes de solicitar o cambiar su información de contacto. Este artículo es información general, no consejo legal.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for child support services in Tennessee?
A custodial parent, noncustodial parent, or caretaker of a child can apply for Tennessee child support services. Tennessee says the application is not based on income.
Can Tennessee DHS help with custody or visitation?
No. TDHS says the Child Support Program cannot handle divorce, custody, parenting time, visitation, or legal advice. Contact legal aid, a court clerk, or an attorney for those issues.
How do I check Tennessee child support payments?
Use Tennessee’s child support payment system to view processed payments. If the payment history looks wrong, call the child support office that handles your county.
Can a child support order be changed?
Yes, but not automatically. Either parent can request review and adjustment. Tennessee requires a significant variance before many existing income shares orders can be adjusted.
Does child support stop when my child turns 18?
Not always. Tennessee says support can continue after age 18 if the child is still in high school, until the child graduates or the class graduates, whichever comes first.
What should I do if the other parent is unsafe?
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If child support action could create danger, contact a domestic violence advocate or legal aid before you apply or update contact information.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified June 17, 2026, next review September 17, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.