Counting on another person to provide child support can be extremely complex. There may be miscommunications, late payments or hostility involved. The attorneys at Hodges, Doughty & Carson, PLLC understand this. We are here to help you establish or modify the child support that you need and deserve.
Whether you are divorced, in the process of getting divorced, or separated, we will provide you with proper legal guidance of the child support process. The state of Tennessee has specific guidelines for setting up child support, so we will walk you through this process.
Going through a divorce or separation can take a toll on both parties involved, but this is also a very difficult time for your child or children. Parents want the best for their kids, but sometimes, it can become difficult to look past the fundamental differences between you and your partner to find common ground for the sake of your child. The attorneys at Hodges, Doughty & Carson, PLLC are here to help mediate and determine what is in the best interest of the children in these situations.
We know that raising a child is an expensive endeavor, and it can be incredibly difficult to manage all of the costs on your own. Not only does this put a financial burden on your family, but it can also be emotionally taxing as well. Our family law attorneys want to help alleviate part of that burden.
Emotions may be running high, and there may still be tension in the relationship. It can be difficult to communicate efficiently and respectfully with your spouse, partner or ex-spouse. The important aspect of this situation is that the two of you work out an agreement for the sake of your child or children.
The experienced family law attorneys at Hodges, Doughty & Carson, PLLC work as an advocate for you, and we will serve as your guide so you can understand what you are entitled to in order to support your children.
Applying for Child Support Services
When applying for child support, either a custodial or non-custodial parent is eligible to apply for child support services. You will need several types of documentation for this process including:
- Information about the parent who is responsible for financial support (date of birth, address, physical description, etc.)
- Birth certificates of your children
- Social security numbers of your child, the other parent, and you
- Information regarding your marriage, divorce or separation
- Employer, family, and friend information of the non-custodial parent
- Other information and documentation
We will walk you through this process to make sure all of the necessary information is available for you to receive child support. If you are in need of legal assistance with child support in the Knoxville area, the experienced family law attorneys at Hodges, Doughty & Carson, PLLC are here to help. Contact an attorney today.
Establishing Paternity
It’s important to establish paternity to document who is the legal father of the child. Once this is settled, we can continue deciphering what financial support you will be receiving for your child or children.
Receiving Child Support
Money received from child support payments will be available to access via a Visa debit card. In Tennessee, this card is called the Tennessee Electronic Access Card. The first child support payment will be paid by check, and then the custodial parent will receive the debit card in the mail to use in the future.
Paying Child Support
Our attorneys will gladly walk you through the process of paying child support. There are a few different ways that you can pay for child support in the state of Tennessee, and we are here to help make the process a bit easier.
If you are the non-custodial parent and you will be paying child support, you may do so by an Income Withholding Order (IWO.) An IWO is ordered by the court, and it is sent to your employer. Once your employer receives the IWO, they will know exactly how much money to withhold from your paycheck in order to redirect that amount to financially support your child or children.
In the state of Tennessee, the non-custodial parent can also pay their child support online or by mail. If the non-custodial parent decides to pay their child support by mail, then they will have to make their check or money order to Tennessee Child Support and send it to the following address:
State Disbursement Unit
P.O. Box 305200
Nashville, TN 37229
Other information that should be included is the court ID number, social security number and name of the non-custodial parent. They can schedule recurring payments or pay as they need to.
If the non-custodial parent decides to pay their child support online, they can do so via automatic withdrawal or credit card.
For more information about child support, payment and Tennessee laws, visit tn.gov.
Modifying Child Support
We understand that life happens. Your original plans may no longer be in place, and we are empathetic to that. If your child support needs to be modified or changed, our experienced attorneys will help you move forward with the process and gain the correct amount that is necessary to support your child or children.
Determining child support can be a confusing and frustrating process when you don’t have proper legal representation. This is a process that occurs for the well-being of both you and your child or children, and it is not something that should be completed improperly or without sound legal guidance. The experienced family law attorneys at Hodges, Doughty & Carson, PLLC want to help make this process go as smoothly as possible for the best end result for you and your family.
Do you need help modifying or establishing child support in Knoxville or the state of Tennessee? If so, please don’t hesitate to contact the attorneys at Hodges, Doughty & Carson, PLLC to begin working with you today. We want what is best for you and your family.
