A recent opinion by the Tennessee Supreme Court could make it easier for parents who are divorced to leave the state with their children -- even in situations where the other parent doesn't agree. The decision, which was unanimous, would apply to situations in which...
Your Legal Guide Through Life’s Twists And Turns
Child Custody and Visitation
When are American men most likely to claim paternity?
A recent study published by the University of Oklahoma looked at the instances when American fathers are most likely to claim paternity of a child born outside of wedlock. According to the study, men are more likely to voluntarily step forward if the woman is 1)...
How can I prevent my ex-spouse from hurting my children?
Not all spouses are friendly, and some are physically abusive. Tennessee parents who divorced the mother or father of their children due to physical abuse will probably be afraid to leave their children with their ex-spouse during scheduled parental visitation time....
How stepchild adoption works in Tennessee
The truth is, for the purposes of everyday life, many stepchildren already live as though they were adopted by their stepparent. Formalizing this arrangement legally can make a lot of sense, enabling the stepparent to participate fully in decisions about healthcare or...
Court of Appeals awards child custody to ex-prostitute
The Tennessee Court of Appeals has granted primary custody of two children to an ex-prostitute, who is the mother of the children. The award reversed a previous ruling by the Hamilton County Juvenile Court. According to the higher court, the lower court's ruling to...
5 things to consider before adopting
Choosing to adopt a child is likely the most important decision you will ever make. It is never one to enter into lightly. Adopting a child is also not a fast process. As soon as you start thinking about adoption, however, there are some important things you need to...
4 important child custody issues grandparents should consider
There are a lot of reasons why a grandparent might assume custody of his or her grandchild. In many cases, grandparents are left to assume custody of their grandchildren because it is the only other option aside from seeing their grandchildren swept away into a...
Yes, Non-Custodial Parents Have Rights
While increasingly parents who separate or divorce are opting for shared or joint custody arrangements, today in Tennessee it is still more likely that a child will live primarily with one parent, who is referred to as the custodial parent. Both custodial and...
Tips For Recently Divorced Parents: Helping a Child Succeed in School
For recently divorced parents and their children, the start of a new school year may be especially difficult and stressful. As parents establish and attempt to navigate their new roles as co-parents, there are likely to be some bumps along the way. It's important,...
2 things same-sex parents should know
With the legalization of same-sex marriage across the country, the legitimacy of two individuals of the same sex raising their children together is now official. With this right, however, like any married couple, a same-sex couple with children will need to decide...