Tennessee Child Support: Free Paternity Q&A Set for Nov. 4
Parents in Middleton and across Hardeman County can get free answers about Tennessee child support and establishing paternity on Wednesday, Nov. 4, when the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) hosts its monthly Parents and Partners Connect session online from 11 a.m. to noon Central time.
November’s topic is “Establishing Paternity Part I,” the first of a two-part series. Part II follows on Thursday, Dec. 10, from 4 to 5 p.m. Central.
What the Tennessee Child Support Forum Offers
Parents and Partners Connect is a free virtual customer forum where parents, advocates and employers can talk directly with TDHS child support professionals. According to the department, each session includes:
- A presentation on a child support topic (this month: establishing paternity)
- Time to ask general questions about the child support program
- Private “breakout sessions” for anyone who wants to discuss their own case one-on-one with a child support professional
TDHS says participants can register and drop in at any point during the hour, so parents who can only spare a few minutes on a lunch break can still join.
Why Paternity Matters
Legally establishing who a child’s father is serves as the starting point for many child support cases. Establishing the parentage of a child is one of the core services the TDHS Child Support Program provides, along with:
- Locating parents in order to obtain support
- Establishing and enforcing child support orders
- Reviewing and adjusting existing orders
- Working with other states on cases that cross state lines
That last service can matter in Middleton, which sits just north of the Mississippi line near Walnut. Families with one parent in Tennessee and another in Tippah or Benton County, Mississippi, may have cases involving both states.
How to Register
Registration is handled online through the TDHS Parents and Partners Connect event page, which links to the virtual meeting sign-up for both the Nov. 4 and Dec. 10 sessions. There is no cost to attend.
- Establishing Paternity Part I: Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, 11 a.m. to noon CST
- Establishing Paternity Part II: Thursday, Dec. 10, 2026, 4 to 5 p.m. CST
- Questions: email ChildSupport.CustomerService.DHS@tn.gov
The forum has covered a different topic each month this year, including tax season, debt and child support, and nonparental caretakers, with the paternity series closing out 2026.
More Hardeman County public-service news: Bolivar Launches Dementia Safety Registration and TN Promise Deadline for Middleton Seniors.
Source: Tennessee Department of Human Services
