Source: https://casetext.com/statute/tennessee-code/title-36-domestic-relations/chapter-5-alimony-and-child-support/part-1-general-provisions/section-36-5-101-child-support-order-jurisdiction-amount-of-support-enforcement-modification-insurance-scientific-parentage-tests
Timestamp: 2020-07-09 14:35:31
Document Index: 506124689

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 36', '§ 36', 'arts 20', 'arts 30', '§ 68', '§ 68', '§ 68', '§ 401', '§ 401', '§ 34', '§ 36', '§ 36', '§ 36', 'art 4', '§ 36', '§ 36', '§ 36', '§ 36', 'art 1', '§ 36', '§ 36', '§ 36', '§ 36', '§ 2468', '§ 10', '§ 4221', '§ 8446', '§ 1', '§ 8446', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 36', '§ 1', '§ 5', '§ 17', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 4', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 8', '§ 2', '§ 16', '§ 7', '§ 13', '§ 1', '§ 5', '§ 3', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 4', '§ 1', '§ 3', '§ 2']

Section 36-5-101 - Child support order - Jurisdiction - Amount of support - Enforcement - Modification - Insurance - Scientific parentage tests, Tenn. Code § 36-5-101 | Casetext Search + Citator
Section 36-5-101 - Child support order - Jurisdiction - Amount of support - Enforcement - Modification - Insurance - Scientific parentage tests
Tenn. Code § 36-5-101
Current through Acts 2019-2020, ch. 762
(3) In interstate cases, jurisdiction to modify, alter or enforce orders or decrees for the support of children shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of parts 20-29 of this chapter. In intrastate cases, jurisdiction to modify, alter or enforce orders or decrees for the support of children shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of parts 30 and 31 of this chapter.
(6) A voluntary acknowledgment of paternity that is completed under the provisions of § 68-3-203(g), § 68-3-302, or § 68-3-305(b), or under similar provisions of another state or government, when certified by the state registrar or other governmental or institutional entity maintaining the record of the acknowledgment, shall be a basis for establishing a support order without requiring any further proceedings to establish paternity.
(9) Where the lump sum amount of retirement or pension benefits or of balances in an individual retirement account, §§ 401(k), 403(b), 457, codified in 26 U.S.C. §§ 401(k), 403(b) and 457, respectively, or any other tax qualified account has been considered by the trial court, and determined to be marital property to be divided, the distributions of such lump sum amounts necessary to complete the division of property, whether distributed in a single payment or by periodic payments, shall not be considered income for the purpose of determining a spouse or ex-spouse's right to receive alimony or child support, but the income generated by the investment of such lump sum awards shall be considered income for such purpose.
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, neither the department of human services, nor any Title IV-D child support contractor of the department, nor any recipient of public assistance in this or any other state or territory, nor any applicant for either public assistance in this or any other state or territory or for Title IV-D child support services from the department or any other Title IV-D agency in this or any other state or territory, shall be required to demonstrate to a court or administrative tribunal that the caretaker of the child for whom child support is sought is vested with any more than physical custody of the subject child or children, in order to have standing to petition for child support from the legal parent of the child or children for whom support is sought, or to seek enforcement or modification of any existing orders involving such child or children.
(1) The court shall set a specific amount that is due each month, to be paid in one (1) or more payments as the court directs. In making any decree or order pursuant to this section, the court shall consider the provisions of § 34-1-102(b). Unless the court finds otherwise, each order made under this section shall contain the current address of the parties.
(A) The order or decree of the court may provide that the payments for the support of such child or children shall be paid either to the clerk of the court or directly to the spouse, or other person awarded the custody of the child or children; provided, however, that:
(ii) In all Title IV-D child support cases in which payment of child support is to be made by income assignment, or otherwise, and in all cases where payments made by income assignment based upon support orders entered on or after January 1, 1994, that are not Title IV-D support cases, but must be made to the central collection and disbursement unit as provided by § 36-5-116, and, except as may otherwise be allowed by § 36-5-501(a)(2)(B), the court shall only order that the support payments be made to the central collection and disbursement unit pursuant to § 36-5-116. No agreement by the parties in a parenting plan, either temporary or permanent, entered pursuant to the provisions of chapter 6, part 4 of this title, or any other agreement of the parties or order of the court, except as may otherwise be allowed by § 36-5-501(a)(2)(B), shall alter the requirements for payment to the central collection and disbursement unit as required by § 36-5-116, and any provision of any parenting plan, agreement or court order providing for any other payment procedure contrary to the requirements of § 36-5-116, except as may otherwise be allowed by § 36-5-501(a)(2)(B), whether or not approved by the court, shall be void and of no effect. No credit shall be given by the court, the court clerk or the department of human services, for child support payments required by the support order that are made in contravention of such requirements; provided, however, that the department may make any necessary adjustments to the balances owed to account for changes in the Title IV-D or central collection and disbursement status of the support case.
(a) When the court enters an order in which the paternity of a child is determined or support is ordered, enforced or modified for a child, each individual who is a party to any action pursuant to this part shall be immediately required to file with the court and, if the case is a Title IV-D child support case, shall immediately file with the local Title IV-D child support office, for entry into the state registry of support cases, and shall update, as appropriate, the parties' and, for subdivisions (c)(2)(B)(i)(a)(1)-(B)(i)(a)(3), the child's or children's:
(2) Date and place of birth. This information shall be filed with the court as a separate document containing the parties' and the child's or children's names, dates of birth and social security numbers. The document shall be placed in an eight and one-half inch by eleven inch (81/2'' x 11'') envelope containing the style of the case and docket number of the case and the document and envelope shall be file stamped by the clerk, and filed under seal in the case file. The document shall also be provided by the parties to the Title IV-D child support office together with the other information required in subdivisions (c)(2)(B)(i)(a)(1)-(8). The social security numbers and other information filed with the clerk shall be available to the clerk of court for processing of documents and legal actions such as, but not limited to, divorce certificates, garnishments, and income assignments. On request, the sealed information shall be made available to the department of human services and any other agency required by law to have access to the information and to other persons or agencies as ordered by the court.
(v) In any subsequent proceeding to modify or enforce support, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the information provided by the parties, as required by this part, has not changed, unless a party has complied with the provisions of this section by updating the information with the court and, if the case is a Title IV-D child support case, with the local Title IV-D child support office.
(1) All support payments that have been paid to the clerk of the court shall be distributed by the clerk, as provided in the order of the court, within ten (10) days; provided, that the payments made to the clerk of the court in Title IV-D child support cases shall be distributed and deposited pursuant to the operating agreements under subdivision (d)(3) and the provisions of subdivision (d)(6), after implementation of the statewide Title IV-D child support computer system in the clerk's county, and after the appropriate notice to the clerk by the department under subdivisions (d)(3) and (6).
(5) Whenever the clerk has ceased handling Title IV-D child support payments under the provisions of subdivision (d)(3), and only where the context requires, all provisions in this chapter relating to the duties or actions involving the clerk shall be interpreted to substitute the department or its contractor.
(6) In all cases in which child support payments are subject to processing through the state's central collection and disbursement unit, the clerks shall, upon notice by the department, deposit all receipts of such child support payments on a daily basis to a bank account from which the state of Tennessee shall electronically debit those payments for the purpose of obtaining funds to distribute the child support obligations to the obligee.
(8) When an order provides for the support of two (2) or more children in a case that is subject to enforcement under Title IV-D, and at least one (1) child is a public charge, based upon receipt of temporary assistance pursuant to title 71, chapter 3, part 1, TennCare-medicaid, or foster care or other custodial services from the state of Tennessee, the child support order shall be prorated by the department for purposes of distribution of the child support to the appropriate person or agency providing care or support for the child, without the need for modification of the child support order by the court.
(A) In making the court's determination concerning the amount of support of any minor child or children of the parties, the court shall apply, as a rebuttable presumption, the child support guidelines, as provided in this subsection (e). If the court finds that evidence is sufficient to rebut this presumption, the court shall make a written finding that the application of the child support guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate in that particular case, in order to provide for the best interest of the child or children, or the equity between the parties. Findings that the application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate shall state the amount of support that would have been ordered under the child support guidelines and a justification for the variance from the guidelines.
(B) Notwithstanding any provision of this section or any other law or rule to the contrary, if the net income of the obligor exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per month, then the custodial parent must prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that child support in excess of the amount provided for in the child support guidelines is reasonably necessary to provide for the needs of the minor child or children of the parties. In making the court's determination, the court shall consider all available income of the obligor, as required by this chapter, and shall make a written finding that child support in excess of the amount so calculated is or is not reasonably necessary to provide for the needs of the minor child or children of the parties. In determining each party's income for the purpose of applying the child support guidelines, the court shall deduct each party's capital losses from that party's capital gains in each year.
(3) Child support guidelines shall be reviewed by the department of human services every three (3) years from the date of promulgation. The department shall make recommendations to the supreme court of any revisions needed in order to maintain compliance with the Family Support Act of 1988, and to ensure that application of the guidelines results in determinations of appropriate child support awards. A copy of the recommendations shall also be sent to the judiciary committee of the house of representatives and the health and welfare committee of the senate.
(B) In calculating amounts of support for children under the guidelines, the court shall allocate an obligor's financial child support responsibility from the obligor's income among all children of the obligor for whom the obligor is legally responsible to provide support and is supporting, in a manner that gives equitable consideration as defined by the department's child support guidelines, to the children for whom support is being set in the case before the court and to any other children for whom the obligor is legally responsible and is supporting. The court shall require that payments, made out of that allocation for all children of the obligor for whom the obligor is legally responsible and is supporting, be made upon such consideration. Guidelines promulgated by the department shall be consistent with the provisions of this subdivision (e)(4)(B).
(A) Any order for child support shall be a judgment entitled to be enforced as any other judgment of a court of this state, and shall be entitled to full faith and credit in this state and in any other state. Except as provided in subdivision (f)(6), such judgment shall not be subject to modification as to any time period or any amounts due prior to the date that an action for modification is filed and notice of the action has been mailed to the last known address of the opposing parties. If the full amount of child support is not paid by the date when the ordered support is due, the unpaid amount that is in arrears, shall become a judgment for the unpaid amounts, and shall accrue interest pursuant to subdivision (f)(1)(B). All interest that accumulates on arrearages shall be considered child support. Computation of interest shall not be the responsibility of the clerk.
(i) Interest on unpaid child support that is in arrears shall accrue from the date of the arrearage at the rate of twelve percent (12%) per year; provided, that interest shall no longer accrue on or after April 17, 2017, unless the court makes a written finding that interest shall continue to accrue. In making such finding, the court shall set the rate at which interest shall accrue after consideration of any factors the court deems relevant; provided, that the interest rate shall be no more than four percent (4%) per year.
(ii) On or after July 1, 2018, interest on arrearages in non-Title IV-D cases shall accrue at the rate of six percent (6%) per year; provided, however, that the court, in its discretion, may reduce the rate of interest to a lower interest rate, including no interest, as deemed appropriate under the circumstances. In making its determination, the court may consider any factors the court deems relevant.
(iii) On or after July 1, 2018, interest shall not accrue on arrearages in Title IV-D cases unless the court makes a written finding that interest shall continue to accrue. In making such finding, the court shall set the rate at which interest shall accrue after consideration of any factors the court deems relevant; provided, that the interest rate shall be no more than six percent (6%) per year.
(B) If the obligor whose license has been subject to the provisions of subdivision (f)(5)(A) complies with the order of support, or if the individual party complies with the subpoena or warrant, the court shall enter an order making such a finding, and the clerk shall send an order immediately to the department of human services to be transmitted to each licensing authority specified in the order, which shall then immediately issue, renew or reinstate the obligor's or individual party's license, in accordance with the provisions of § 36-5-707. Costs related to such order shall be taxed to the obligor or individual party, as the case may be, and shall be paid by the obligor or the individual party prior to sending the order to the department for transmission to the licensing authority.
(C) The department shall provide available information to the obligee, party or the court in actions under this subdivision (f)(5), concerning the name and address of the licensing authority or authorities of the obligor or individual party, in order to enable the enforcement of the provisions of this subdivision (f)(5). The obligee or individual party, as the case may be, seeking such information shall pay a fee, as established by the department for the provision of such service. These fees may be taxed as costs to the obligor whose license has been revoked pursuant to this subdivision (f)(5), or to the individual party who has failed to comply with the warrant or subpoena.
(A) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (g)(4)(B) and § 36-5-103(f), for the purposes of this chapter, the birth or adoption of another child for whom an obligor is legally responsible to support and is supporting shall constitute a substantial and material change of circumstances for seeking a review of the existing order to determine if the addition of such child, and any credits applicable for the addition of such child under the department's child support guidelines, would result in a significant variance under such guidelines. If the significant variance is demonstrated by the review, the amount of an existing child support order may be modified by the court.
(B) For purposes of this chapter, the significant variance established by the department of human services pursuant to the child support guidelines shall provide a lower threshold for modification of child support orders for persons whose adjusted gross incomes are within low income categories established by the department's child support guidelines. The significant variance involving low income persons shall be established by rule of the department at no more than seven and one half percent (7 1/2 %) of the difference between the current child support order and the amount of the proposed child support order.
(iii) The obligor does not owe arrearages to the obligee parent, any guardian or custodian of the child, the department of human services, any other agency of the state of Tennessee, or any other Title IV-D agency of any state;
(1) The court may direct the acquisition or maintenance of health insurance covering each child of the marriage and may order either party to pay all, or each party to pay a pro rata share of, the healthcare costs not paid by insurance proceeds if reasonable and affordable health insurance is available.
(2) In any case in which the court enters an order of support enforced under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, the court shall enter an order providing for health care coverage to be provided for the child or children.
(3) The provisions of § 36-5-501(a)(3) shall apply with respect to enrollment of a child in the noncustodial parent's employer-based health care plan.
(1) Except as provided in subdivision (k)(2), the court may continue child support beyond a child's minority for the benefit of a child who is handicapped or disabled, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, until such child reaches twenty-one (21) years of age.
(2) In any Title IV-D case, if the court grants relief, whether in whole or in part, to the department of human services or the department's Title IV-D contractor, or to any applicant for Title IV-D child support services, the court shall not tax any court costs against the department, the Title IV-D contractor or any applicant for child support services. The court shall not award attorney fees against the department, the Title IV-D contractor or any applicant for child support services, unless there is a clearly established violation of Rule 11 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure or for other contemptuous or other sanctionable conduct. The provisions of this subdivision (l)(2) are not intended to limit the discretion of the courts to tax costs to the individual parties on non-Title IV-D issues, such as custody or visitation.
(i) In any action for retroactive child support filed on or after July 1, 2017, retroactive child support shall not be awarded for a period of more than five (5) years from the date the action for support is filed unless the court determines, for good cause shown, that a different award of retroactive child support is in the interest of justice. The burden to show that a longer time period of retroactive support is in the interest of justice is on the custodial parent. Good cause includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(ii) The court may award retroactive child support for less than the five-year-period required by subdivision (e)(1)(l)(i) if the court determines, for good cause shown, that a different award of retroactive child support is in the interest of justice. The burden to show that a shorter time period of retroactive support is in the interest of justice is on the noncustodial parent.
(iii) Upon a finding of good cause in accordance with this subdivision (e)(1)(l), the court may order retroactive support from the date the court determines to be equitable and just.
(iv) The presumption that child support for the benefit of the child be awarded retroactively to the date of the child's birth contained in the child support guidelines shall not apply to any action in which this subdivision (e)(1)(l) is applicable.
(v) Nothing in this subdivision (e)(1)(l) limits any claim for retroactive child support owed to the department of human services.
T.C.A. § 36-5-101
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 345,s 31, eff. 5/10/2019.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1049,s 1, eff. 7/1/2018.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1049,s 2, eff. 7/1/2018.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 742,s 1, eff. 7/1/2018.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 419,s 2, eff. 7/1/2017.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 145,s 1, eff. 4/17/2017.
Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 200,s 2, eff. 7/1/2015.
Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 200,s 1, eff. 7/1/2015.
Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 236,s 22, eff. 4/19/2013.
Code 1858, § 2468 (deriv. Acts 1835-1836, ch. 26, §§ 10, 19); Shan., § 4221; mod. Code 1932, § 8446; Acts 1949, ch. 53, § 1; mod. C. Supp. 1950, § 8446; Acts 1970, ch. 425, § 1; 1979, ch. 187, § 1; 1979, ch. 339, § 1; 1980, ch. 691, § 1; 1983, ch. 352, § 1; 1983, ch. 414, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 36-820; Acts 1984, ch. 818, §§ 1-3; 1985, ch. 477, §§ 5-7, 17; 1986, ch. 890, § 17; 1987, ch. 39, § 1; 1988, ch. 671, § 1; 1989, ch. 206, § 1; 1989, ch. 489, § 4; 1991, ch. 447, § 1; 1992, ch. 824, § 1; 1993, ch. 243, §§ 1, 2; 1993, ch. 286, § 1; 1994, ch. 926, § 1; 1994, ch. 987, §§ 1-5; 1994, ch. 988, §§ 8, 9; 1995, ch. 504, § 2; 1996, ch. 892, § 16; 1997, ch. 551, §§ 7, 19, 22, 25, 41, 51 - 53, 66; 1998, ch. 1098, §§ 13 - 15, 72; 1999, ch. 303, § 1; 2000, ch. 922, §§ 5 - 9; 2001, ch. 447, §§ 3, 14, 20; 2002, ch. 651, §§ 1 - 3; 2003, ch. 305, § 1; 2003, ch. 361, § 2; 2003, ch. 373, § 1; 2004, ch. 549, §§ 1, 2; 2004, ch. 714, § 1; 2004, ch. 906, § 1; 2005, ch. 287, § 1; 2007, ch. 91, § 1; 2007, ch. 187, §§ 4 - 6; 2007, ch. 502, §§ 1, 3; 2008, ch. 868, § 3; 2011, ch. 119, § 2.
Section 36-5-102 - Portion of spouse's estate decreed to spouse entitled to alimony or support - Maintenance of minor custodial parent