Best Child Support in Tennessee — 8 resources

About Child Support for Women

Child support is administered state-by-state under the federal Title IV-D program, with every state required to operate a Child Support Enforcement (CSE) agency. For custodial mothers, these agencies establish paternity, locate non-custodial parents, calculate orders under state guidelines, and enforce payments through wage garnishment, tax refund intercept, license suspension, and contempt actions. Services are free of charge. Mothers can also pursue retroactive support and modifications when income changes. The federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) oversees the program. This directory includes each state's CSE agency, online support calculators, local enforcement offices, and modification resources.

Child Support in Tennessee

Tennessee circuit and chancery courts hear family matters in each of its 31 judicial districts, with some counties operating juvenile courts for unmarried-parent custody. Tennessee Child Support Services operates under DHS. Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga are the major metros. Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee, Memphis Area Legal Services, and the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence serve women.

8 Resources

1. Tennessee Department of Human Services - Child Support — Free

Statewide child support enforcement, establishment, and modification services for mothers and custodial parents. Services include establishing paternity, opening cases, modifying orders, and enforcing unpaid support. Bring birth certificates, income documents, and paternity information when applying. Open Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm.

615-313-4880 · 400 Deaderick St, Nashville, TN 37243 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm

2. Shelby County Child Support Office — Free

Child support establishment and enforcement for Memphis-area mothers. Services include establishing paternity, opening cases, modifying orders, and enforcing unpaid support. Bring birth certificates, income documents, and paternity information when applying. Open Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm.

901-222-3400 · 170 N Main St, Memphis, TN 38103 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website

3. Davidson County Child Support Office — Free

Locating absent parents, establishing paternity, and enforcing child support for mothers and custodial parents in Nashville. Services include establishing paternity, opening cases, modifying orders, and enforcing unpaid support. Bring birth certificates, income documents, and paternity information when applying. Open Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm.

615-253-4560 · 15 S 5th St, Nashville, TN 37213 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website

5. Find Your State Child Support Agency — Free

Federal directory providing direct contact links to every state and tribal child support enforcement office for opening, modifying, or enforcing orders at acf.hhs.gov.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

6. Single Mother Guide — Child Support — Free

Comprehensive plain-language online resource for single mothers covering child support, benefits, budgeting, and family law. Free at singlemotherguide.com with no registration required.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. National Family Support Network — Free

NFSN strengthens families through quality support services and a directory of family resource centers in all 50 states at nationalfamilysupportnetwork.org.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many child support resources are in Tennessee?
Women's Corner tracks 8 child support resources for women in Tennessee.
Are child support resources in Tennessee free?
8 of the 8 listed child support resources in Tennessee are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Tennessee have child support resources?
Listings span cities including Nashville, Memphis.
What are some examples of child support resources in Tennessee?
Featured entries include Tennessee Department of Human Services - Child Support, Shelby County Child Support Office, Davidson County Child Support Office, National Child Support Enforcement Association, Find Your State Child Support Agency.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
3 of 8 Tennessee child support listings include phone numbers.
How do I open a child support case?
Apply free through your state's Child Support Services agency — online, by mail, or in person at the local office. The agency establishes paternity if needed, locates the other parent, calculates the order, and enforces collection through wage garnishment, tax intercepts, and license suspension. You don't need the father's cooperation to open a case.
What if the father isn't paying?
Report non-payment to your state Child Support Services agency — they have enforcement tools you can't access alone, including wage garnishment, federal/state tax refund intercepts, passport denial, driver's license suspension, and contempt prosecution. Keep your contact info current with the agency so payments route to you correctly.
Can I get child support if we were never married?
Yes. You first establish paternity — voluntarily through an Acknowledgment of Paternity form, or through a court-ordered DNA test if the father disputes it. Once paternity is legal, the court issues a support order based on his income. The state agency handles the whole process at no cost.
What if my support order is too low?
File a Motion to Modify with the court if there's been a substantial change — his income went up, your costs went up, custody time changed, or it's been 3+ years since the last review. Your state Child Support agency will do a free review every 3 years on request. Modifications aren't retroactive, so file as soon as circumstances change.