Child Support Program

Child Support Guidelines Rules and Regulations

The Department of Human Services will be hosting a Child Support Guidelines Rulemaking Hearing on Tuesday, September 1 at 10:00 am and 6:00 pm Central time. The hearing is open to the public to attend in person or virtually, online. Please click on the link below for details.

TDHS Child Support Guidelines Notice of Rulemaking Hearing

In Tennessee, child support obligations are calculated pursuant to the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines so both parents know what's expected and kids get the support they need. We are proposing revisions to these guidelines to align with changes in federal law, as well as additional updates intended to improve clarity and consistency.  For your convenience, you may review the current Child Support Guidelines to compare them with the proposed revisions and better understand the context of the changes. The current guidelines are available here: https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/1240/1240-02/1240-02-04.20211001.pdf

In Tennessee, the Department of Human Services administers the Child Support Program.  Offices are located across the state in all 32 Judicial Districts.  The services are provided through local district attorneys, DHS staff and private agencies under contract with the state.

If you are having difficulty obtaining child support for your child(ren) or wish to establish paternity of your child(ren), the Department of Human Services can help. The Child Support Program provides services that promote parental responsibility to meet the financial needs of children and their families.

The following services are available through the Child Support Program:

• Location of a child's parent(s) for the purpose of obtaining support or establishing paternity,
• Establishment of paternity,
• Establishment and enforcement of child support orders,
• Establishment and enforcement of medical support,
• Collection and distribution of payments,
• Modification of child support orders, and
• Enforcement of spousal support orders, if child support is involved.

If you feel the Child Support Program would be beneficial to you and you would like to apply online visit the One DHS Customer Portal, or to speak with a child support professional, visit our Child Support Offices web page to find the office which serves the county in which you live. Staff will be glad to answer any questions you may have regarding the program. Frequently asked questions regarding the Child Support Program can be found here. 

NOTE:  The Child Support Program cannot help with civil matters such as divorce petitions, custody, or parenting time/visitation, nor can they provide legal advice on these issues. Contact the court clerk in your judicial district, local bar association or legal aid office to discuss how these matters can be addressed by the court.

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This website is supported by Grant Number 93.563 from the Office of Child Support Services within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Child Support Services.