Child support is an important financial obligation that one parent pays to another to help cover the costs of raising a child after a separation or divorce. In Tennessee, as in many other states, child support is calculated based on a wide variety of factors to ensure the child’s needs are met and they are not negatively impacted by their parent’s relationship. It is important for both the custodial and noncustodial parent to understand how much child support should cover to ensure a fair and equitable support plan. Reach out to an experienced Memphis, Tennessee child support lawyer today for more information and skilled representation.
How Much Does Child Support Cover in TN?
In Tennessee, child support covers a variety of expenses, focusing mainly on the child’s necessities. The items that child support is designed to cover are outlined in the BCSO (Basic Child Support Obligation). The BSCO is intended to cover the child’s basic needs including the following.
- Housing like rent, mortgage, utilities, etc.
- Food
- Transportation
- Clothing
- Education including fees, books, field trips, etc.
- Entertainment
The above costs are the only designated expenses required by all parents paying child support. Depending on the specific circumstances of the family additional items may be included in the final support order.
What is Not Covered Under Tennessee Child Support?
While parents are required to contribute financially to their children in many ways, the obligation for child support has limitations. A noncustodial parent’s BSCO does not include the following.
- The child’s health insurance premium
- Work-related childcare costs
- The child’s uninsured medical expenses
- Special expenses like summer camp, music lessons, art lessons, travel, etc.
- Extraordinary educational expenses like tuition, room and board, fees associated with special needs education, fees associated with private school, etc.
It is important to keep in mind that although these expenses are not inherently included in the child support obligation, they may be required by a court depending on certain circumstances and the details of the situation.
How is Child Support Calculated in TN?
Tennessee’s child support guidelines were created to ensure each parent’s financial contribution to their child is equitable and that the economic impact of a divorce or separation on any shared children is minimized.
The child support obligation in TN is calculated using the Income Shares model which presumes that both parents’ contribution is proportional to their AGI (adjusted gross income). This is done by evaluating the financial situation of both parents including their wages, salaries, commissions, tips, bonuses, overtime, severance, pensions, and more.
After calculating each individual’s total income, the noncustodial parent’s obligation is determined by considering the number of minor children shared, the amount of time each parent has custody of the children, and additional expenses required besides the BCSO.
For more information on how child support is calculated and what your legal rights and obligations are, reach out to an experienced attorney at Rice Law today.
