Fatherhood is a precious gift that brings immense joy and responsibility, but what happens when you are an unmarried father? Do you have any legal rights? Will you be able to spend time with your child? Many unmarried fathers are unaware of their legal standing and...
Your Legal Guide Through Life’s Twists And Turns
Fathers’ Rights
Proposed law could help Tennessee fathers seeking shared custody
Tennessee state lawmakers are considering a bill that could make it easier for fathers to get joint custody of their children after divorce. The proposed law would create a presumption for judges that it's best for children when parents share custody. An official with...
How do judges determine what’s in a child’s ‘best interests?’
If you're working with your co-parent towards a custody agreement or if the two of you can't reach an agreement and the matter is going to a judge to decide, you'll likely hear a lot of talk about what's in the "best interests" of your children. Family courts...
Establishing paternity: 3 viable strategies
The joy of fatherhood is a gift to be cherished and revered, but not all fathers have the legal right to spend time with their children. In some cases, for example, a mother will deny that someone is the father, so she can raise the child on her own. In these cases,...
Who’s the primary caretaker of my children?
The question of who served as primary caretaker of your children during your marriage is an important one when it comes to the resolution of child custody disputes. If your dispute were to go to trial, for example, a family law court would likely give more weight and...
Parenting provisions that keep parents up-to-date on contact info
The addresses and contact information of you and your co-parent will no doubt change over the course of raising your child. As a single parent, it's important that you have the ability to contact the other parent at any time. As such, any changes to one parent's...
What are the rights of an unmarried father?
Not only is it best for children to spend as much time as possible with both parents, but it's also -- in most cases -- the legal right of both parents to spend time with their children. This issue is important when considering the rights of an unmarried father, who...
Proving paternity in family law matters
There are two primary circumstances in which the paternity of an alleged father becomes critical in Tennessee family law. First, a mother might need to prove paternity to force the father of her children to contribute child support. Second, a father might need to...
What should I include in a long-distance parenting plan?
The life of a single parent is not always convenient, and it's especially inconvenient when the parents live a long distance away from one another. However, Tennessee courts allow for long-distance parenting plans that ensure children have a chance to spend time with...
Dads have a right to see their kids
Many years ago, when two parents got divorced, Tennessee fathers invariably got the short end of the stick. In the vast majority of cases, the mother would receive full custody of the children. As such, the children would live with the mother full-time and the father...
