How to Modify Child Support in Tennessee
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Tennessee · Last updated September 21, 2026
In Tennessee, a child support modification is a court or agency order that changes the amount of an existing child support order after a change in circumstances, up or down, and unlike states with no fixed trigger Tennessee requires a significant variance, a minimum 15 percent difference between your current order and the amount the guideline would produce now (T.C.A. 36-5-101(g)). For low income providers that variance is set at 7.5 percent (Tenn. Comp. R. and Regs. 1240-02-04-.05). Support is calculated under Tennessee's Income Shares Guidelines using both parents' incomes and parenting time, so a job loss, an income change, or a new custody schedule can move the guideline amount enough to clear the variance. You can ask for a change two ways. You can file a Petition to Modify Child Support in the circuit, chancery, or juvenile court that entered your order, or you can ask the Tennessee Department of Human Services or your local child support office for a review, which can be handled judicially or administratively. A change takes effect only back to the date the petition is filed, not the date your circumstances changed or the date you asked for a review, so support that already came due cannot be reduced (T.C.A. 36-5-101(f)). Keep paying your current order until it is changed. Attorney review of your filing is available through DocDraft.
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Where are you with changing your child support order?
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How do I modify child support in Tennessee?
File a Petition to Modify Child Support in the circuit, chancery, or juvenile court that entered your order, or ask the Tennessee Department of Human Services or your local child support office for a review. You must show a significant variance, a minimum 15 percent difference between your current order and the guideline amount (T.C.A. 36-5-101).
How much does the amount have to change to modify child support in Tennessee?
Tennessee requires a significant variance, a minimum 15 percent difference between your current order and the amount the Income Shares Guidelines would produce now (T.C.A. 36-5-101). For low income providers the variance is 7.5 percent (Tenn. Comp. R. and Regs. 1240-02-04-.05). The court or the child support office recalculates using current incomes.
How far back can a child support change go in Tennessee?
A modification can go back only to the date the petition is filed with the court, not the date your circumstances changed or the date you requested a review (T.C.A. 36-5-101(f)). Support that already came due becomes a judgment and cannot be reduced, so filing promptly protects you. Keep paying the current order until it is changed.
Who handles child support modifications in Tennessee?
The circuit, chancery, or juvenile court that entered your order handles modifications, and the Tennessee Department of Human Services or your local child support office can review your case. A review may be conducted judicially by the court or administratively by the department. Both paths apply the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines.
Tennessee child support modification at a glance
In Tennessee, a child support modification is a court or agency order that changes an existing child support order after a change in circumstances, and it requires a significant variance, a minimum 15 percent difference between the current order and the amount the guideline would produce now (T.C.A. 36-5-101(g)). For low income providers the variance is 7.5 percent. Support is set by the Income Shares Guidelines using both parents' incomes and parenting time. You file a Petition to Modify Child Support in the circuit, chancery, or juvenile court that entered your order, or ask the Department of Human Services or your local child support office for a review, handled judicially or administratively. A change applies only back to the date the petition is filed, so support that already came due cannot be reduced (T.C.A. 36-5-101(f)).
Lowering a Tennessee order after a pay cut
Suppose your Tennessee order was set two years ago and your hours were cut, and a new Income Shares calculation shows a 20 percent drop, clearing Tennessee's 15 percent significant variance (T.C.A. 36-5-101). You prepare a Petition to Modify Child Support, attach proof of your lower income, and file it in the circuit or chancery court that entered your order, or you ask your local child support office to review the case. Because a modification can go back only to the date the petition is filed, not when your hours were cut (T.C.A. 36-5-101(f)), you file right away and keep paying the current amount until a new order issues. The court recalculates under the guidelines and enters a lower order effective from your filing date. Attorney review of your filing is available through DocDraft.
Relevant Laws
T.C.A. 36-5-101 (modification of a child support order)
Directs the court to increase or decrease support when a significant variance exists as defined in the child support guidelines, and provides that unpaid support becomes a judgment not subject to modification as to amounts due before an action to modify is filed.
Tennessee DHS Child Support Modification (retroactivity rule)
The Department of Human Services explains that any court ordered change can only go back to the date the modification petition is filed with the court, not the date circumstances changed or the date a review was requested, and that a modification is not guaranteed.
Tenn. Comp. R. and Regs. 1240-02-04-.05 (significant variance)
The Tennessee Child Support Guidelines set the significant variance for modifying an income shares order at a minimum 15 percent difference between the current and proposed order, and at 7.5 percent for low income providers.
Tennessee Non-IV-D Child Support Forms (Administrative Office of the Courts)
The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts posts the statewide child support forms and explains where parents file a petition to change a child support order in the court that entered the order.
Regional Variances
Tennessee child support modification rules at a glance
Qualifying threshold
Tennessee requires a significant variance, a minimum 15 percent difference between your current order and the amount the Income Shares Guidelines would produce now (T.C.A. 36-5-101(g)). For low income providers the variance is 7.5 percent (Tenn. Comp. R. and Regs. 1240-02-04-.05).
Where to file
The circuit, chancery, or juvenile court that entered your order, or a review by the Tennessee Department of Human Services or your local child support office. A review can be conducted judicially by the court or administratively by the department.
Modification form
Tennessee has no single statewide numbered form for parents. You file a Petition to Modify Child Support in the court that entered your order, and the local child support office mails modification paperwork when it handles the case.
Retroactivity
A change can go back only to the date the petition is filed with the court, not the date circumstances changed or the date a review was requested (T.C.A. 36-5-101(f)). Support that already came due becomes a judgment and cannot be reduced.
Periodic review
You can request a review whenever a significant change occurs; if a full review happened within two years, you must show a change first. Federal law also allows a review about every three years in child support office cases.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Estimate your significant variance
Before you file days after startingRun current incomes and parenting time through the Income Shares Guidelines and compare the result with your current order to confirm a minimum 15 percent variance, or 7.5 percent for low income providers (T.C.A. 36-5-101). Attorney review of your filing is available through DocDraft.
Gather proof of your changed circumstances
Before you file days after startingCollect recent pay stubs, tax returns, proof of the change such as a layoff notice, and your health insurance and child care costs for both parents. The court or the child support office recalculates support from this information under the guidelines.
Prepare your Petition to Modify Child Support
As soon as your circumstances change days after startingPrepare a Petition to Modify Child Support for the court that entered your order. Tennessee has no single statewide numbered form, so use the court clerk's paperwork or the modification packet the local child support office mails you.
File in the court that entered your order
Promptly (the change dates back to filing) days after startingFile your petition with the circuit, chancery, or juvenile court that entered your order and pay the filing fee. Because a change applies only back to the date the petition is filed, file promptly (T.C.A. 36-5-101(f)).
Consider a free agency review
Anytime your case is with the office days after startingIf the Tennessee Department of Human Services or your local child support office manages your case, ask it to review your order at no cost. The review can be conducted judicially by the court or administratively by the department under the guidelines.
Attend the hearing or review and get the new order
On your hearing or review date days after startingProvide your income proof, let the court or department recalculate support under the Income Shares Guidelines, and get the new order effective back to your filing date. A modification is not guaranteed. Keep paying the current order until it is changed.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate your significant variance | Run current incomes and parenting time through the Income Shares Guidelines and compare the result with your current order to confirm a minimum 15 percent variance, or 7.5 percent for low income providers (T.C.A. 36-5-101). Attorney review of your filing is available through DocDraft. | - | Before you file |
| Gather proof of your changed circumstances | Collect recent pay stubs, tax returns, proof of the change such as a layoff notice, and your health insurance and child care costs for both parents. The court or the child support office recalculates support from this information under the guidelines. | - | Before you file |
| Prepare your Petition to Modify Child Support | Prepare a Petition to Modify Child Support for the court that entered your order. Tennessee has no single statewide numbered form, so use the court clerk's paperwork or the modification packet the local child support office mails you. | - | As soon as your circumstances change |
| File in the court that entered your order | File your petition with the circuit, chancery, or juvenile court that entered your order and pay the filing fee. Because a change applies only back to the date the petition is filed, file promptly (T.C.A. 36-5-101(f)). | - | Promptly (the change dates back to filing) |
| Consider a free agency review | If the Tennessee Department of Human Services or your local child support office manages your case, ask it to review your order at no cost. The review can be conducted judicially by the court or administratively by the department under the guidelines. | - | Anytime your case is with the office |
| Attend the hearing or review and get the new order | Provide your income proof, let the court or department recalculate support under the Income Shares Guidelines, and get the new order effective back to your filing date. A modification is not guaranteed. Keep paying the current order until it is changed. | - | On your hearing or review date |
Frequently Asked Questions
A real, involuntary income drop can support a modification if it creates a significant variance, a minimum 15 percent difference from your current order (T.C.A. 36-5-101). You must file a petition or ask for a review; support keeps accruing at the old rate until an order changes it. Do not simply stop paying.
No. Either parent, or the child support office, can request a modification, and the other parent is notified and can respond. If both parents agree on a new amount, they can submit it for a court to approve, but the court still checks it against the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines.
Timing varies by county and by whether the case is contested. After you file, the court sets a hearing, often weeks to a few months out. An administrative review by the child support office can be faster. Because a change dates back only to filing, filing promptly protects you (T.C.A. 36-5-101(f)).
Yes. The Tennessee Department of Human Services or your local child support office can review your order at no cost and adjust it when a significant variance exists. The review may be handled administratively by the department or judicially by the court, and both apply the Income Shares Guidelines.
You can request a review whenever a significant change in circumstances occurs. If a full review happened within the past two years, you must show a change before a new one begins. Federal law also lets you request a review about every three years in child support office cases (T.C.A. 36-5-101).
A modification changes support only from the date the petition is filed forward (T.C.A. 36-5-101(f)). Amounts that already came due become a judgment by operation of law and cannot be reduced or erased, and interest can accrue. Keep paying your current order to avoid building arrears while your request is pending.
There is no cost when the Tennessee child support office handles the modification. If you file your own petition, you may pay court filing fees, service costs, and any attorney fees. The court clerk can tell you the current filing fee for the court that entered your order.
No. Requesting a review does not guarantee a change. Your case is recalculated under the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines, and the amount could go up, go down, or stay the same depending on both parents' current incomes and parenting time. A significant variance must exist before the order is adjusted.
Other Tennessee guides
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