Franklin Child Support Lawyer

Child support is a common area of contention in many family law matters. Whether you are navigating a divorce in Franklin or simply no longer in a relationship with your co-parent, you may need to seek child support payments or defend against excessive payments. If so, you may need to attend a hearing at the Williamson County Courthouse on 4th Avenue South in Franklin. These cases can be difficult, but a Franklin child support lawyer can represent you.

At Story & Abernathy, PLLP, our family law attorneys have been assisting clients throughout Franklin and Williamson County for nearly 40 years. Nationally ranked as Top 10 Attorneys with the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, we are also members of the Williamson County Bar Association and certified Rule 31 mediators. Our team can meet your needs, whether you are the parent seeking child support or the paying parent in a child support case.

How Child Support Is Determined in Franklin, TN

In Tennessee, both parents are financially responsible for their children. Child support cases are common in situations of divorce, which happen at a rate of about three cases per 1,000 residents in the state. However, child support cases can also occur due to a legal separation or when parents are simply no longer in a relationship with one another.

In most situations, child support will be paid by one parent to the other; typically, the receiving parent is the one with higher levels of physical custody of the children. Whether through mediation or court litigation, several factors will be used to determine the amount of child support in a case. These include:

• The health insurance costs of the child
• The parents’ current income level and employment
• The cost of the child’s basic needs or regular and daily expenses
• The higher-earning parent’s ability to pay the necessary child support
• The education level of the parents
• If the parent required to pay support has any other child support obligations from previous relationships
• The amount of time the child spends with each of their parents
• If there are any work-related childcare costs, such as daycare or babysitting
• The number of children involved in the support case

If you have questions regarding child support, whether you are the parent seeking this support or the one who is paying it, it is vital that you have an attorney on your side. They can guide you through all the various aspects of these complicated cases. In 49.4% of child custody cases, the parent with the higher amount of custody is typically paid child support, either through legal means or an informal agreement.

Enforcing Tennessee Child Support

Child support is an important matter in many family law cases, as it directly impacts the well-being of your children. If the parent required to pay child support fails to do so, you may need to take enforcement actions. In these challenging situations, a child support attorney from Story & Abernathy, PLLP, can assert your rights to these payments.

In Tennessee, withholding required child support is actually illegal, and a family law attorney can help you enforce your rights to support as the receiving parent. There are several ways to enforce child support in Tennessee, including:

• Filing a legal motion. If the parent required to make child support payments fails to do so, your attorney from Story & Abernathy, PLLP, can file legal motions to hold your co-parent in contempt of court.
• Wage garnishment. When your co-parent fails to pay child support on a consistent basis, your family attorney can work with the courts to garnish their wages. The state will automatically deduct child support payments from your co-parent’s paycheck.
• Asset seizure. If your co-parent holds a significant amount of assets, your family lawyer can explore the legal option of seizing certain assets from your co-parent. These may be liquidated or otherwise used to meet unpaid child support obligations.

FAQs

Q: How Much Can I Get in Child Support?

A: The amount you can get in a child support case will depend on several factors. These include:

• The child has special needs.
• The child has unique educational needs.
• The number of children involved in the case.

In 2021, $20.2 billion dollars were received by parents for child support nationwide, averaging a total of $441 per month for each case.

Q: What Should I Avoid During a Child Support Case?

A: During a child support case in Franklin, you should avoid certain actions. These include:

• Ignoring or refusing to make required payments
• Withholding support due to other issues, such as custody disputes
• Not making sure all support agreements are made in writing and approved by the court
• Underestimating the costs of your child’s needs

Q: How Long Do I Need to Pay Child Support?

A: In Tennessee, child support payments are typically made until the child reaches 18. However, in cases where the child is still in high school at 18, the support will continue until that child either graduates high school or turns 19 years old, whichever occurs first. An attorney can determine the extent of your child support obligations.

Q: Can I Seek to Modify a Child Support Order?

A: Yes, in Tennessee, you can seek to modify a child support order if you experience certain life changes that warrant such an action. These can include:

• The loss of employment
• An increase in income for either parent
• The child suffering from a disability
• Either one of the parents becomes legally and financially responsible for another child

Seek Legal Assistance From a Compassionate Family Lawyer Today

Child support is an important aspect of many family law cases in Franklin. If you are facing a child support issue, the team at Story & Abernathy, PLLP, can represent your interests. We can help you establish an initial support order, modify an order that already exists, or enforce payments. Whatever your child support case entails, we can offer you compassionate and experienced legal assistance. Contact our offices today to learn more.