Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04-.06 - RETROACTIVE SUPPORT

(1) Unless the rebuttal provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 36-2-311(a)(11) or 36-5-101(e) have been established by clear and convincing evidence provided to the tribunal, then, in cases in which initial support is being set, a judgment must be entered to include an amount of monthly support due up to the date that an order for current support is entered.

(2) Retroactive child support shall not be awarded for a period of more than five (5) years from the date the action for support is filed unless the court determines, for good cause shown according to Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 36-2-311(a)(11) or 36-5-101(e), that a different award of retroactive child support is in the interest of justice. The burden to show that a longer time period of retroactive support is in the interest of justice is on the PRP.

(3) Deviations from the presumption that a judgment for retroactive support shall be awarded back to the date of birth of the child, the date of the separation of the parties, or the date of abandonment of the child shall be supported by written findings in the tribunal's order that include:

(a) The reasons the tribunal, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 36-2-311(a)(11)(A) or 36-5-101(e)(1)(C), deviated from the presumptive amount of child support that would have been paid pursuant to the Guidelines; and

(b) The amount of child support that would have been required under the Guidelines if the presumptive amount had not been rebutted; and

(c) A written finding by the tribunal that states how, in its determination,

1. Application of the Guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate in the particular case before the tribunal; and

2. The best interests of the child or children who are subject to the support award determination are served by deviation from the presumptive guideline amount.

(4) The retroactive support amount shall be calculated as follows, using the Guidelines in effect at the time of the hearing on retroactive support:

(a) For the monthly BCSO, apply the Guidelines in effect at the time of the order, using the Child Support Worksheet. Use the average monthly income of both parents over the past two (2) years as the amount to be entered for "monthly gross income," unless the tribunal finds that there is adequate evidence to support a different period of time for use in the calculation and makes such a finding in its order. Do not include any current additional expenses on the retroactive worksheet. Complete the worksheet for the retroactive monthly amount, and multiply the amount shown on the worksheet as the "Final Child Support Order" times the number of months the tribunal has determined to be the appropriate period for retroactive support.

(b) An additional amount may be added onto the judgment for retroactive support calculated above in subparagraph (a) to account for the ARP's share of amounts paid by the primary residential parent for childcare, the child's health insurance premium, and uninsured medical expenses over the retroactive period under consideration, and other expenses allowed under Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-2-311.

(c) Add the total amount from subparagraph (a) above to the amount from subparagraph (b) for the total retroactive support due. The retroactive support amount as calculated in subparagraphs (a) and (b) above is presumed to be correct unless rebutted by either party.

(4) A periodic payment amount shall be included in the support order, in addition to any prospective amount of current support, to eliminate the retroactive judgment for support within a reasonable time. Payment of the monthly amount as ordered shall be considered compliance with the retroactive order, however, the department may use additional means of collection to reduce this judgment without regard to the timeliness of the periodic payment.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04-.06

Original rule filed November 4, 2004; effective January 18, 2005. Repeal and new rule filed April 6, 2006; effective June 20, 2006. Stay of effective date of rule filed April 19, 2006; new effective date of rule June 26, 2006. On July 10, 2008, the Government Operations Committee stayed amendments filed May 8, 2008; to be effective July 22, 2008; new effective date August 15, 2008. Amendments filed February 10, 2020; effective 5/10/2020.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 36-2-311, 36-5-101(a), 36-5-101(e), 71-1-105(12), (15), and (16), and 71-1-132; 42 U.S.C. § 667; and 45 C.F.R. § 302.56.