No, you cannot claim support payments on taxes in Tennessee.

Support payments cannot be claimed as income or used as deductions in Tennessee.

A parent who does not stay current with support payments may have their federal and state tax refunds confiscated.

Paternity is established automatically when a child is born while parents are married when a mother signs a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (VAoP) or through court involvement.

A father does not have any rights or financial obligations until paternity is established.

Paternity can be established through a court order regardless of either parent's willingness.

The DNA of a family member is often acceptable.

Results from a private DNA lab will be accepted as long as a test has been conducted legally.

Fathers can sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (VaoP) at the hospital or by appointment at the local health department. Paternity in Tennessee can be established until a child turns 21.

Yes, a modification can be requested after an order is established.

A request for a change can be made at any time in Tennessee as long as documentation indicating that a change in circumstances has occurred is provided if a review has already taken place within the last two years.

Both parents have the right to request a review for the modification of a support order at any point in time.

A written request for an appeal must be submitted to the DHS Division of Appeals and Hearings and sent to the following address:

Division of Appeals and Hearings

P.O. Box 198996

Nashville, TN 37219-8996

Legal representation is typically recommended when requesting a support modification.

Enforcement timetables will depend on the cooperation of both parents and whether or not a non-custodial parent can be easily identified and located.

Contact your local support office.

The list of actions that support enforcement agents may take includes taking wages, suspending licenses, seizing property, intercepting tax refunds and pressing charges.

The support that is overdue by two years or that totals $10,000 or more.

Support debt in Tennessee may be waived with permission from the Tennessee court and a settlement agreement that is signed by both parties.

Support can only be stopped when a child reaches the age when support ceases or if a qualifying event happens.

When a child becomes emancipated, gets married or quits school and gets a job.

A custodial parent can close a case and refuse services as long as they are not receiving public assistance.

When a child reaches the appropriate legal age or if some other qualifying circumstance occurs.

18 years old or when a child graduates from high school with his or her regularly scheduled class.