Often times non-custodial parents make a huge mistake when they choose to represent themselves in child support hearings and they are unaware of the laws and how the lack of evidence and lack of preparation can negatively affect the outcome of their child support case. 

 

Tennessee adopted the income shares model and child support is based upon the income of both parents with many other factors being considered such as childcare, health insurance, reoccurring medical costs and extraordinary expenses.  Our firm is experienced in all areas of child support from the magistrate level to the appellate courts. 

 

Fathers sometimes find themselves in the position where they are not a child’s biological father, but have already signed a birth certificate for that child.  You should immediately consult with an experienced disestablishment attorney.  Tennessee laws do not allow you to present a DNA test in court that was NOT ordered by the Court, but Tennessee requires you to meet a specific burden based upon the age of the child. 

 

We know the disestablishment laws and we have handled many successful disestablishment cases.  

 

Facts about Tennessee Child Support Cases:

 

1. Tennessee laws allow the Court to impute (increase) income for parents who are underemployed!
    

2. If a parent of a child (subject to a child support order) is married, the other spouses' income is not considered for the child support worksheet.
    

3. If a man finds out that he is NOT a child's father, after a child has been legitimated, he is not automatically removed from that child's birth certificate.
    

4. Children born during the marriage, who are not the biological child of the husband MUST be disestablished through a divorce proceeding or the Juvenile Court.
    

5. One of the very few ways to terminate child support is to be married and living together.
    

6. Child Support is a non-dischargeable debt under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code