Token Child Support Examined in Livingston, Tennessee Termination of Parental Rights: In re Anna G.
What is token support for purposes of terminating parental rights in Tennessee?
Read MoreCategory: Juvenile Law
Why — and How — Parents Should Help Teens Develop a Healthy Understanding of Sex
How can parents help their teenage children develop a healthy understanding of sex?
Read MoreSevere Child Abuse Examined in Knoxville, Tennessee Dependency and Neglect Case: In re E.Z.
What proof is required to find severe abuse of a child in Tennessee?
Read MoreThe Changing Profile of Unmarried Parents
Data shows more unmarried parents are cohabitating with a partner.
Read MoreChild Support Reversed for Lack of Subject-Matter Jurisdiction in Morristown, Tennessee: Hance v. Hance
Can other courts act when a dependency and neglect action is pending in Tennessee?
Read MoreDoes Tennessee Need a”Free-Range Parenting” Law?
Utah’s legislature unanimously passed a “free-range parenting” law. Should Tennessee follow?
Read MoreChild’s Name Change Reversed in Nashville, Tennessee Parenting Dispute: In re McKenzie Z.
What evidence is necessary to change a child’s last name in Tennessee?
Read MoreTermination of Parental Rights Reversed Because Question Wasn’t Asked in Covington, TN: In re Michael O.
Lawyers are taught to avoid asking one question too many. It turns out there’s an inverse to that rule.
Read MoreTermination of Parental Rights Reversed for Lack of Evidence in Knoxville, Tennessee: In re Brianna T.
Facts: Father and Mother are the parents of four children. After being found to be dependent and neglected because of severe abuse to one child, all four children went into the protective custody of the state. The Department of Children’s Services (DCS) subsequently petitioned to terminate Father’s parental rights. Although Father did not attend the trial, […]
Read MoreTennessee Supreme Court Says Parent’s Signature Not Required on Notice of Appeal in Termination of Parental Rights Cases: In re Bentley D.
The legislature says a notice of appeal in a termination of parental rights case must be signed by the appellant. The Court of Appeals dismissed several such appeals solely because the notice of appeal was signed by the lawyer. Now the Tennessee Supreme Court weighs in.
Read MoreSplit Decision Increases Child Support in Memphis, Tennessee: State ex rel. Schrita O. v. Robert T.
Sometimes when you lose, it’s best not to appeal. This case illustrates the point.
Read MoreTennessee Supreme Court Reverses Termination of Parental Rights in Chattanooga, Tennessee: In re Gabriella D.
Facts: Mother and Father are the parents of three children. After one child was found to be severely malnourished, i.e., starving, all three children were removed from their parents’ custody and placed in foster care. The rest of the facts can be found in my earlier post on the 2-1 decision from the Court of […]
Read MoreDenial of Transgender Child’s Name Change Reversed in Williamson County, Tennessee: In re Leyna A.
Facts: Sixteen-year-old Child was born female but identifies as male. Child is transgender and undergoing a medical transition via hormone therapy from the female gender to the male gender. Child was diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria, a medical diagnosis that refers to the emotional distress of having a gender identity that is different than the gender […]
Read MoreTennessee Has Jurisdiction to Determine Whether Returning to Home Country Is in Child’s Best Interest: In re Domingo C.L.
Facts: Child was born in Guatemala 16 years ago. Child’s father abandoned the family over four years ago. Child’s mother struggled to provide for the family, which forced Child to drop out of school after the sixth grade because his mother was too poor to pay for him to continue. After dropping out of school, […]
Read MoreRefusal to Award Child Support Retroactive to Birth Affirmed in Gallatin, TN Paternity Matter: Carr v. Sutton
Facts: Mother gave birth to Child in 1996. No father was listed on the birth certificate. When Child was 17 years old, the State petitioned to establish paternity and require the father to provide health insurance for Child. DNA testing confirmed Father’s paternity a few months before Child’s 18th birthday. An order was entered, but […]
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