Updated October 16, 2026
Child support in Kentucky and Tennessee is set by state guidelines based on both parents' incomes, and it does not change on its own when circumstances change. Wise & Associates in Louisville and Wise Law, the Nashville office of Wise & Associates, handle child support cases for an upfront flat fee between $1,500 and $5,000.
Myth 1: “Equal time means no child support.”
Not necessarily. Both states start from both parents' incomes and then adjust for parenting time. In Kentucky, a parent who has the child at least 88 days a year can receive a parenting time adjustment, which reaches 50 percent of the total obligation at equal time (KRS 403.2122). Tennessee's worksheet includes a parenting time adjustment based on the number of days the child spends with each parent (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04). With equal time, the higher-earning parent can still owe support.
Myth 2: “If I don't get my time with the kids, I don't have to pay.”
False in both states. Child support and parenting time are separate obligations. A parent who is being denied time should ask the court to enforce the schedule, not stop paying.
Myth 3: “We can just agree to no support.”
Parents can agree, but the court must approve it. In Kentucky, the court can deviate from the guidelines when applying them would be unjust or inappropriate, with findings (KRS 403.211). In Tennessee, a deviation requires a finding that the guidelines amount would be unjust or inappropriate and that the deviation is in the child's best interests.
Myth 4: “My support goes down automatically if I lose my job.”
No. You must file to modify. In Kentucky, a change of 15 percent or more under the current guidelines is presumed to be a material change (KRS 403.213). In Tennessee, a modification generally requires a significant variance of at least 15 percent. In both states, a modification generally applies only from the date the motion or petition is filed and served, so file promptly.
Myth 5: “Back support goes away after a while.”
No. Past-due support does not simply go away, and support that has already come due generally cannot be reduced after the fact. It can be collected through income withholding, contempt of court, and state enforcement tools such as license suspension and tax refund intercepts.
Myth 6: “Support ends at 18, period.”
Not always. In Kentucky, support generally ends at 18, but if the child is still in high school, it generally continues until graduation, not past age 19. In Tennessee, if the child is still in high school at 18, support generally continues until graduation or the date the child's class is scheduled to graduate, whichever comes first.
Myth 7: “Support only covers the basic amount.”
Both states add the child's health insurance premium and work-related child care to the calculation, and orders also address uninsured medical expenses.
How Wise & Associates and Wise Law Handle Child Support
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I pay child support with 50/50 custody?
You may. Both Kentucky and Tennessee adjust for parenting time, but the higher-earning parent can still owe support with equal time.
Can I stop paying support if I am not allowed to see my child?
No. Support and parenting time are separate obligations. Ask the court to enforce the parenting schedule instead.
How much does income have to change to modify support?
Generally 15 percent or more under the current guidelines in both Kentucky and Tennessee.
Can back child support be forgiven?
Support that has already come due generally cannot be reduced after the fact in either state.
How much does a child support lawyer cost at Wise & Associates?
At Wise & Associates in Louisville and Wise Law in Nashville, child support cases start with an upfront flat fee between $1,500 and $5,000.
Related Reading
- Child support lawyer in Louisville
- Child support lawyer in Nashville
- How to modify child support in Louisville
- How Tennessee child support is calculated and modified
Talk to a Child Support Lawyer
Consultations are free and by phone. Book a time, then call the office at your scheduled time.
Wise & Associates, Louisville: 303 Middletown Park Pl, Suite G, Louisville, KY 40243 · (502) 618-0000 · Book a free phone consultation
Wise Law, Nashville: 4235 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 300, Nashville, TN 37215 · (615) 208-9190 · Book a free phone consultation
Wise Law is the Nashville office of Wise & Associates, Louisville, Kentucky.
Wise & Associates handles Kentucky child support cases from Louisville, and Wise Law, the Nashville office of Wise & Associates, handles Tennessee cases.
Attorney advertising. This article provides general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.