Fathers’ Rights

In the past, unmarried fathers were very much out of luck when it came to establishing paternity. Before the advent of blood testing and DNA testing, there was very little one could do to prove -- beyond a shadow of a doubt -- that a particular man was the father of a...

Whether they were married to the mother of their children or not, every single father who participates in his children's lives has his own way of spending time with them. Questions about how fathers spend time with their children, however, definitely makes one wonder...

Millions of babies are born every year to unwed parents throughout the world. In a lot of situations, the mother is left to care for the baby on her own, and the father is nowhere to be found. However, many Tennessee fathers want to play a role in their child's...

When looking at the history of family law, it is clear that the law interfered with marriage as little as possible. Generally, unmarried fathers had little -- if any -- parental rights regarding their children. As such, legislatures and courts would de-facto award...

Fathers of children are treated differently by the courts depending on if they are married or unmarried to the mothers of their children. If married, paternity rights are assumed, and the man will automatically be considered the father. If unmarried, extra steps need...

There is an idea that continues to persist regarding child custody that sounds something like this: Children belong with the mother and mothers should receive full custody of their children. This is an archaic idea from another time. These days, Tennessee courts are...

Unfortunately, many unmarried fathers do not understand how important it is to establish paternity. Failing to do so can result in the total loss of parental rights. This means your child can be adopted right out from under you in some cases. Taking the necessary...

The traditional family unit has really changed over the last couple of decades. Plenty of happy, healthy Tennessee families do not consist of the traditional family unit of years past. When a mother and father decide to have a child when they are unmarried, certain...

When it comes to the happiness and well-being of a child, most parents would agree that it is one of, if not their top, priority. This is true for parents who are cohabitating, as well as parents who are living apart. For some Tennessee fathers, protecting their...