Franklin Child Support Lawyer

Trusted child support lawyers with over 20 years of experience.

Patterson Bray PLLC has been handling child support matters across Tennessee for more than 20 years. Our Franklin, TN child support lawyer will review your financial situation, make sure the calculation is done correctly under Tennessee’s guidelines, and advocate for an amount that accurately reflects both parents’ obligations. If you need help with child support in Williamson County, reach out to our office to schedule a consultation.

Child Support Lawyer Franklin, TN

A child support lawyer handles the legal and financial side of establishing, modifying, or enforcing support obligations. Tennessee uses an Income Shares model to calculate child support, which means the amount is based on both parents’ combined adjusted gross income, the number of children, and the parenting schedule. The guidelines were most recently updated effective October 1, 2021. That formula sounds straightforward, but it rarely is. Income disputes, self-employment, bonus structures, variable parenting time, and add-on expenses like healthcare and childcare all complicate the calculation. In Franklin, child support matters are heard in the Williamson County Circuit or Chancery Court. Having an attorney who knows how to work through the numbers and present the right evidence makes a real difference in what the final order looks like.

Types of Child Support Cases We Handle in Franklin

Patterson Bray PLLC handles a wide range of child support matters for parents in the Franklin, TN area. The right approach depends on where you are in the process and what issues are in dispute.

Initial child support establishment. When parents separate or divorce, a child support order must be established. We work through the child support guidelines calculation, verify income figures, and make sure the order includes appropriate provisions for healthcare, childcare, and other expenses.
Child support modifications. If either parent’s income changes significantly, or if the parenting schedule shifts, the existing support order may need to be modified. Tennessee allows modifications when there has been a significant variance from the current order based on the guidelines.
Enforcement and contempt. When a parent fails to pay court-ordered child support, enforcement options include wage garnishment, contempt proceedings, license suspensions, and other remedies. We help custodial parents hold the non-paying parent accountable.
Income calculation disputes. Not all income is easy to verify. Self-employed parents, business owners, and parents who receive irregular compensation require a more detailed financial analysis. We present evidence of actual income, including tax returns, business records, and bank statements.
Healthcare and add-on expenses. Beyond the base support amount, the guidelines require parents to share costs for health insurance premiums, uninsured medical expenses, and work-related childcare. We make sure these expenses are accurately calculated and properly allocated between parents.
Child custody. Custody and support are closely connected. The number of overnights each parent has directly affects the support calculation. We handle both issues together to make sure the parenting plan and support order are consistent.

Why Choose Patterson Bray PLLC for Child Support in Franklin, TN?

Extensive Family Law Experience

Austin T. Rainey is a partner at Patterson Bray PLLC and leads the firm’s family law practice. He is admitted to practice in Tennessee and Mississippi, along with the U.S. District Courts for the Western and Middle Districts of Tennessee and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Sixth and Eighth Circuits. Austin holds a civil engineering degree from Clemson University and a J.D. from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. That technical background is directly useful in child support cases, where income analysis, financial projections, and careful calculation often determine the outcome.

Austin has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America across multiple editions and was named a Top 10 Under 40 attorney by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys in both 2017 and 2018. He received the 2017 Tennessee Supreme Court Pro Bono Service Award. His practice covers child support, custody, property division, and spousal support across Williamson County and throughout Tennessee.

A Firm That Handles the Full Picture

Patterson Bray PLLC has served Tennessee clients for over 20 years across family law, personal injury, estate planning, and business litigation. That range matters in child support cases because financial disputes often involve questions that go beyond the guidelines worksheet. Business income, investment returns, trust distributions, and personal injury settlements can all affect the support calculation. Having attorneys who understand those areas means we can identify income that might otherwise go unreported or undervalued. Patterson Bray PLLC has been recognized as a Tier 1 law firm by U.S. News & World Report.

Understanding Child Support Cases

How Tennessee Calculates Child Support

Tennessee’s child support guidelines are based on the Income Shares model, which looks at both parents’ combined adjusted gross income to determine the total support obligation. The key concepts include:

Adjusted gross income includes wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, dividends, and other sources, minus credits for children from other relationships
The child support schedule sets a base amount of support based on combined income and the number of children
Each parent’s share of the base amount is proportional to their percentage of the combined income
Additional expenses for health insurance, uninsured medical costs, and work-related childcare are divided between parents according to their income percentages
The parenting schedule affects the calculation because additional overnight credits reduce the paying parent’s obligation when they have substantial parenting time

Important Aspects in Your Child Support Case

A few things can significantly affect the outcome of a child support case in Williamson County.

Income verification is the foundation. The court requires both parents to submit verified income statements. If the other parent is underreporting income, hiding compensation through a business, or voluntarily reducing their earnings, the court can impute income based on their earning capacity. This happens more often than people expect, and it requires solid evidence.

Tennessee child support continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. But support does not automatically end. The paying parent must file a petition to terminate the obligation. Continuing to pay beyond the required period does not create a credit, and failing to pay before the end date creates arrears that accumulate interest.

The court also has discretion to deviate from the guideline amount if applying the standard formula would be unjust. Deviations can be upward or downward, but they require specific findings by the judge. Property division in the underlying divorce case can also influence support calculations when one parent receives income-producing assets.

Child Support Case Timeline

Every case is different, but here is a general sense of the process in Franklin:

Filing the petition to establish, modify, or enforce child support
Both parents exchanging financial documents, including tax returns, pay stubs, and business records
Completion of the child support worksheet based on verified income figures
Mediation or negotiation to resolve disputes over income, expenses, or deviations
Hearing before the court if the parties cannot agree, where the judge reviews the worksheet and enters an order
Entry of the child support order, including provisions for wage withholding if applicable

Some straightforward cases can be resolved in a few months. Cases involving disputed income or complex financial situations take longer.

What to Bring to Your Child Support Consultation

If you are meeting with a child support attorney in Franklin for the first time, bring what will help us understand the financial picture.

Your most recent tax returns for at least two years
Current pay stubs or proof of income
Documentation of the other parent’s income, if available
Records of expenses related to the children, including healthcare costs, childcare, and school expenses
Any existing court orders related to custody or support

We will review the numbers, identify any issues with the current or proposed calculation, and explain what to expect going forward. If your support case involves a prenuptial agreement or other complicating factors, we will address those as well.

Tennessee Legal Resources for Child Support

Tennessee provides several public resources for parents dealing with child support. Here are a few starting points.

The child support guidelines page on the Tennessee Department of Human Services website provides the current guidelines, calculators, and worksheets
The support calculator page provides downloadable worksheets and a calculator app for estimating child support obligations
The guidelines FAQ page answers common questions about how the Income Shares model works and how specific situations are handled
The Tennessee court forms page includes general civil forms for support petitions, modifications, and enforcement actions

Reach Out to Patterson Bray PLLC to Schedule a Consultation

If you need help with child support in Franklin, TN, Patterson Bray PLLC is here to help. For over 20 years, our attorneys have handled support cases across Tennessee, and we understand the financial complexities that affect what families pay and receive. We will review your situation, walk through the numbers, and give you a clear sense of where things stand.