Child Support
What Happens When a Step Parent is Abusive or Problematic in Tennessee?
Stepparents have been a fixture in family dynamics for centuries. An estimated 30% of American families have a step-relative, like a stepparent or stepchild, in their family. However, their roles and influences on children have garnered renewed attention in recent years. While not all step-parenting situations are filled with difficulties, the term “evil stepmother” or…
Read MoreDo Gifts Count Toward Child Support?
Imagine this: your child is in need of new shoes for school, because kids ALWAYS need new shoes for school; their feet grow so fast! You planned on making the purchase this weekend, after you picked up your kid from an overnight stay at his mother’s. When you get to the door, your child comes…
Read MoreCan Living with My New Partner Affect Child Support?
Getting back into the dating game after a divorce can be hard. It takes some folks a long time to learn to trust people with their hearts, so finding someone who makes you feel safe, secure, and loved can be a big step. When you have children, though, there are new challenges to consider. Will…
Read MoreDo I Have to Pay Child Support for My Stepchildren?
Divorces can be complicated. And they can quickly become even more complex when there are children involved. Child support is often a hot topic during the divorce process because there are so many factors that must be taken into consideration. But say your marriage doesn’t work out and your spouse has children from a pervious;…
Read MoreCan I Get My Child Support Arrears Dismissed?
Parents are legally required to support their children, even if they do not live with the child in question. If one parent feels their co-parent is not doing a great job of financially supporting their child, they can file for child support. If child support is granted, the other parent is then required to provide…
Read MoreCan You Pay for Child Support in Advance in Tennessee?
Paying child support is typically done by withholding agreements on the payer’s check. Tennessee courts can also withhold tax return payments if a person falls behind on child support. While this is the norm, not everyone has a weekly or bi-weekly paycheck. Some individuals work for themselves and are not paid weekly, while others work…
Read MoreEven Celebrities Fight Over Child Support
Nothing is guaranteed in life other than death and taxes, right? Your job — whatever that may be — is not exempt from that rule. Success isn’t a single goal, and what it means for you and the life you lead can and probably will change several times over the years. Whether you simply decide…
Read MoreKelly Clarkson Ordered to Pay Child Support in Divorce from Brandon Blackstock
It isn’t unusual to hear about celebrities getting divorced. It is well known that marriages of the rich and famous do not often last long, and when they end, things can get complicated. They have a lot of assets and properties, and there isn’t always a prenup to determine what goes to whom. And just…
Read MoreCan I Get More Child Support?
As a parent, you can personally testify about how the pandemic has affected your household’s finances. Your grocery bill may be a little steep because your children are learning remotely and home all the time. Maybe you were one of the millions of workers whose hours were severely reduced, and it’s difficult to keep up…
Read MoreI Need to Change My Child Support. What Do I Do?
Child support payments are to be used for your children’s benefit, to ensure that they are clothed, fed, educated, and kept healthy. While we know parents want what’s best for their children, we also know that child support can be a contentious issue. The truth is, the person who collects child support can use it…
Read MoreWhen Can You Appeal a Decision in a Family Law Case?
One of the great hallmarks of the United States judicial system is the ability to file an appeal after receiving a criminal or civil ruling in court when mistakes or errors occurred during a trial. However, an appeal is not a trial redo. The purpose of an appeal is to demonstrate that the trial court…
Read MoreSharing Custody and Remote Learning: Avoiding the Pitfalls
In many ways, parents had a tougher job in many ways throughout the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with many families experiencing increased financial pressures, parents also have to make difficult decisions about handling their child’s schooling. Many states and local school districts are allowing students to return in person full-time. However, others are…
Read MoreWhen Can You Stop Making Child Support Payments in Tennessee?
Many divorced parents in the state of Tennessee understand the importance of paying for receiving child support money for their children. However, at some point, based on certain criteria such as the age of the child, the support will come to an end. The question is: when does this happen and when can you stop…
Read MoreChild Support Enforcement in Tennessee: Liens for Child Support Arrears
There are many ways in which the payment of child support can be enforced, and federal law has created some uniform guidelines for enforcing child support payments. Tennessee’s statutes for child support enforcement can be found here: T.C.A. § 36-5-901, and the Department of Human Services (DHS) is the state agency that is responsible for…
Read MoreWhat to do When Your Ex Denies Your Visitation Rights
During the divorce process you and your former spouse sat down and ironed out a parenting plan agreement, which contains a schedule for visitation for the parent who did not get primary residential custody. The Court reviews this document and refers to it when it issues the final custody order. The Tennessee Court as with…
Read MoreWhat Does “Contempt of Court” Actually Mean?
If you watch police procedurals or legal-based TV shows, you’ve probably heard a judge say “You’re out of order, Counselor” (or something along those lines) and then fine the attorney or the client for being in “contempt.” As a general rule, however, these types of shows don’t get the nuances of legal proceedings right, so…
Read MoreAnswers To Your Frequently Asked Questions About Child Support
The rules regarding child support in Tennessee are pretty solid – but that doesn’t mean that the laws don’t change. As family lawyers, we know you have questions, and often those questions are the same from family to family. So we thought we should address some of the more common queries you have, to give…
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