Legal Question in Family Law in Tennessee

Child support reduction

I'm currently paying over $800.00 a month in support for 3 different children.I'm a single parent(recently)and my monthly obligations(rent,phone,etc.)exceed my income.I'm court ordered to pay $28,000.00 in one case for a child I found out about in 96,when I took a paternity test and found I was the father.I've no problem supporting my children but I thought support started from the time of notification you had a child and was to appear in court.Another problem is this action is coming from another state.My questions,1)how to reduce support,2)how to stop tax intercept,3)how to get support started from time of test,4)My son now lives with me and my income has changed.


Asked on 4/02/98, 2:41 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jes Beard Jes Beard, Attorney at Law

Child support reduction

In Tennessee you would file a Petition to Modify... and would need a different petition for each mother.Your would not HAVE to use a lawyer, but not having a lawyer would be a serious mistake. Figure right now you don't even know what you need to do... you're not likely to figure out how to do it, and then how to try a case afterwards.In Tennessee the child support obligation begins at birth, NOT when you are notified you are the father.You stop the tax intercept by getting caught up with the child support obligation, or getting the custodial parent to lift the request for the intercept.If one of your children is now with you, you definitely want to get your support obligation modified for that child.Also, under Tennessee law, you would have interest running on the outstanding arrearage running at about 11% a year... which makes it tought to ever catch up.Meanwhile.... either keep your pants zipped, or get a vasectomy... or embrace a future of poverty.

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Answered on 4/21/98, 12:45 am


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