Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Hi, this is Miles Mason. This Tennessee child support answer is for our family law and divorce
clients and friends in Memphis, Collierville, Germantown, Tennessee and the surrounding
area. When a parent owes child support for more than on child and the oldest graduates
from high school, the obligation to pay child support ends only for the oldest when that
child reaches 18 or graduates with his or her high school class, whichever occurs second.
So, keep a copy of the high school graduation brochure.
Child support is owed as long as the court order says so. The question becomes how much
is owed. Because some judges in Tennessee may take the position that you owe the higher
amount until the child support order is modified, we advise parents to obtain an order amending
child support as each child graduates high school. Even though the child support obligation
ceases for the oldest child, there is no clear answer as to what amount is owed for the other
child or children unless new child support worksheets are run and included as part of
a court order. Get an amended order to ensure that both parents understand the obligations.
This is the also recommended by Tennessee’s Court of Appeals. If you have any other questions,
call us.