Legal Analysis and Commentary
Facts: Child was born in 2010 to the never-married Mother and Father. In 2012, Mother transferred custody of Child to Maternal Grandmother because of Mother’s ongoing mental health issues. In late 2014, Father petitioned to establish paternity and obtain custody of Child. Father had enjoyed coparenting time with Child until Grandmother recently refused to respond to […]
Read MoreWhen is it in a child’s best interest to terminate parental rights in Tennessee?
Read MoreWhen can a parent’s right to custody of their child be defeated by a grandparent or other nonparent in Tennessee?
Read MoreWhen can a Tennessee court use an order prepared by a lawyer?
Read MoreWhen can parental rights in Tennessee be terminated for substantial noncompliance with a permanency plan?
Read MoreFacts: Child was born to the unmarried Mother and Father. When Child was seven weeks old, Father died in a car accident. Following Father’s death, Mother stayed with Father’s aunt for a week, at which time Father’s mother — Grandmother — had regular contact with Child. Grandmother’s relationship with Mother quickly became adversarial, and Mother prevented […]
Read MoreWhen can a Tennessee court establish a guardianship for children?
Read MoreWas the Tennessee Legislature as bad in 2018 as they’ve been in previous years? You be the judge.
Read MoreIs a parent’s failure to visit willful when the other parent prevents it?
Read MoreWhat is a “willful” failure to visit that may result in the termination of parental rights in Tennessee?
Read MoreUtah’s legislature unanimously passed a “free-range parenting” law. Should Tennessee follow?
Read MoreWhen is the failure to visit one’s child not willful?
Read MoreShould politicians be allowed to intervene personally in a Tennessee divorce?
Read MoreLawyers are taught to avoid asking one question too many. It turns out there’s an inverse to that rule.
Read MoreFacts: 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, […]
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