Can one parent terminate the other parent’s rights in Tennessee?
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…
Well, that didn’t take long. A few weeks ago I wrote about the sudden avalanche of appellate decisions dismissing parental-rights-termination cases because the appellant’s lawyer…
Well, that didn’t take long. A few weeks ago I wrote about the sudden avalanche of appellate decisions dismissing parental-rights-termination cases because the appellant’s lawyer…
As I wrote about a few weeks ago, the legislature enacted a statute last year that requires parents appealing the termination of their parental rights…
Facts: Child was removed from the parents’ custody and determined to be dependent and neglected. Five months later, the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) petitioned…
Facts: Mother and Father are the parents of Child. They never married. Child lived with Mother. The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) received a…
Facts: Mother gave birth to Child in 2002. In 2007, Maternal Grandmother obtained custody of Child. In 2015, Maternal Grandmother petitioned to terminate Father’s parental…
Dawn Coppock, Esq., is widely recognized as the preeminent authority on Tennessee adoption law. She also happens to be a wonderful person. When I was…
Facts: Child 1 was born in February 2009. Shortly thereafter, Father was placed on probation after pleading guilty to a drug charge. In July 2009,…
Facts: Child 1 was born in February 2009. Shortly thereafter, Father was placed on probation after pleading guilty to a drug charge. In July 2009,…
Facts: In 2011, Child was born to Mother and Father. At birth, Child weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces. Six months later, Child weighed a mere…
Facts: Father and Stepmother petitioned to terminate Mother’s parental rights to Child so Stepmother could adopt Child. The proof showed Mother was a heroin addict.…
Facts: Mother and Father are the parents of Child. At the time of Child’s birth, Father was incarcerated serving an effective 19-year prison sentence, although…
Most termination of parental rights cases focus on grounds for termination. If grounds are proven, it often seems as if the second prong of the…