Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 1240 - Human Services
Subtitle 1240-02 - Child Support Services Division
Chapter 1240-02-04 - Child Support Guidelines
Section 1240-02-04-.05 - MODIFICATION OF CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS

Universal Citation: TN Comp Rules and Regs 1240-02-04-.05

Current through September 24, 2024

(1) All modifications shall be calculated under the Income Shares Guidelines.

(2) Significant Variance Required for Modification of Order.

(a) Unless a significant variance exists, as defined in this section, a child support order is not eligible for modification; provided, however, the necessity of providing for the child's health care needs shall be a basis for modification regardless of whether a modification in the amount of child support is warranted by other criteria.

(b) A significant variance is defined as at least fifteen percent (15%) difference in the current support obligation and the proposed support obligation.

(c) For all orders modified May 10, 2020 through November 6, 2020, for the case to be modified per the current Guidelines, there must be a change of circumstances, such as income or number of children to support, in addition to at least a fifteen percent (15%) change between the amount of the current support order (not including any deviation amount) and the amount of the proposed presumptive support order.

(d) For all orders modified on or after November 7, 2020, for the case to be modified per the current Guidelines, there must be a at least a fifteen percent (15%) change between the amount of the current support order (not including any deviation amount) and the amount of the proposed presumptive support order.

(3) Within fifteen (15) business days of when the Title IV-D agency learns that the obligor will be incarcerated for more than one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days, a notice may be sent to both parties informing them of the right to request the State to review and, if appropriate, adjust the order consistent with this section.

(4) To determine if a modification is possible, a child support order shall first be calculated on the Child Support Worksheet using current evidence of the parties' circumstances. If the current child support order was calculated using the flat percentage guidelines, compare the existing ordered amount of current child support to the proposed amount of the ARP's pro-rata share of the BCSO. If the current child support order was calculated using the Income Shares Guidelines, compare the PCSO amounts in the current and proposed orders. Do not include the amount of any previously ordered deviations or proposed deviations in the comparison. If a significant variance exists between the two amounts, such a variance would justify the modification of a child support order unless, in situations where a downward modification is sought, the obligor is willfully and voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, or except as otherwise restricted by paragraph (5) below or 1240-02-04-.04(10) above.

(5) Upon a demonstration of a significant variance, the tribunal shall increase or decrease the support order as appropriate in accordance with these Guidelines unless the significant variance only exists due to a previous decision of the tribunal to deviate from the Guidelines and the circumstances that caused the deviation have not changed. If the circumstances that resulted in the deviation have not changed, but there exist other circumstances, such as an increase or decrease in income, that would lead to a significant variance between the amount of the current order, excluding the deviation, and the amount of the proposed order, then the order may be modified.

(6) Minimum Child Support Order.

(a) It is the obligation of all parents to contribute to the support of their children with a minimum child support order of at least one hundred ($100) per month unless as indicated in parts (b) and (d) below.

(b) This provision does not apply:
1. If the obligor's only source of income is Supplemental Security Income (SSI);

2. When the federal benefit for a child results in a calculation of support owed to be less than the minimum amount; or

3. When the Parenting Time Adjustment results in an amount less than the minimum child support order.

(c) The Tribunal shall make a written finding upon evidence submitted and taking all circumstances into consideration to set the current obligation at the minimum order amount.

(d) In its discretion, the Court may deviate from the minimum child support order by either setting a higher or lower support order.

(7) An order may be modified to reflect a change in the number of children for whom a parent is legally responsible, a Parenting Time Adjustment, and Work-Related Childcare only upon compliance with the significant variance requirement specified in Rule 1240-02-04-.05.

(8) No ordered child support is 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. Any payment or installment of support under any child support order on or after the date it is due is a judgment by operation of law with the full force, effect, and attributes of a judgment, including the ability to be enforced, and is entitled as a judgment to full faith and credit. This provision applies to all child support orders issued in all Tennessee courts, including but not limited to circuit, chancery, and juvenile courts and all other tribunals with jurisdiction to modify child support, whether the order originated under an action taken by the authority of Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 36 or 37, or the equivalent law in any other state. When a lump sum award of a federal benefit is sent directly to a caretaker, if an arrearage exists, said lump sum shall be applied to the arrears balance and shall not be considered a retroactive modification of support.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 36-5-101(a)(1), 36-5-101(e), 36-5-103(f), 37-1-151, 71-1-105(12), (15), and (16), and 71-1-132; 42 U.S.C. § 666-667; and 45 C.F.R. §§ 302.56 and 303.8.

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