attorney general opinion tn superior rights of parent when joint custody with third party

by Mrs. Bert Feeney 8 min read

What is an ex parte child custody order in Tennessee?

ATTORNEY GENERAL PO BOX 20207 NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37202 July 9, 2004 Opinion No. 04-106 Juvenile Court’s Subject Matter Jurisdiction to Award Joint Custody QUESTIONS 1. Does the Juvenile Court possess subject matter jurisdiction to award joint custody or guardianship to petitioning parties when the action is based solely on a petition for ...

What is shared parenting in Tennessee child custody law?

Jul 08, 2010 · It is well-settled that the Tennessee Constitution protects a natural parent’s fundamental right to have the care and custody of his or her children. Parental rights are superior to the rights of others and continue without interruption unless a parent consents to relinquish them, abandons the child, or forfeits parental rights by conduct that substantially harms the …

How is joint custody determined in Tennessee?

Nov 21, 2012 · When joint custody is awarded, both parents get to share in the raising of the child. However, Tennessee divorce laws provide guidelines for courts making this decision. Talking with a Memphis divorce lawyer can help in making sure your rights are protected, along with ensuring the best interests of your child are considered. In Tennessee, joint custody may also be …

What is a reasonable preference in Tennessee child custody cases?

Child custody in Tennessee divorce answers to frequently asked questions: Tennessee state law on child custody, joint custody, child visitation, how to file for joint custody, unmarried, equal time, shared parenting, 50/50, parenting plans, residential time, parenting time, primary residential parent, not married, and final decision-making ...

What are major decisions in joint custody?

Joint legal custody means that both parents have the legal authority to make major decisions for the child. 1 These include decisions regarding education, religion, and health care. Parents should be aware, too, that legal custody is separate from physical custody.May 20, 2020

What criteria are used in making decisions about child custody dispute?

The mental and physical health of each parent, as well as the children. The quality of the relationship between the children and each parent. The willingness of each parent to support and facilitate the children's ongoing relationship with the other parent.Jul 24, 2020

At what age can a child refuse to see a parent in Tennessee?

12 years oldIn Tennessee, the child must be at least 12 years old. That would be the legal age at which the child could express a preference of a parent to live with over the other. Children should never be pressured to take sides or choose the more loved (or permissive) parent instead of the other parent (or disciplinarian).

When can you deny visitation to the non custodial parent?

The court can restrict or deny a noncustodial parent visitation grounds on the flowing grounds: If the parent has a history of molesting the child. If the court believes that the parent can kidnap the child. If the parent is likely to abuse drugs while taking care of the child.Apr 16, 2020

What is joint legal custody?

The difference between legal custody and physical custody Typically, parents are awarded joint legal custody, which means that the parents must share in decision making regarding the children and that the parents have equal rights to the child's medical and educational records.

What factors do forensic psychologists use in child custody evaluations?

The typical steps in the forensic psychology child custody evaluation process include interviews of parents and children in meetings and home visits; psychological testing of parents to help assess general mental health; payment to the evaluator to encourage compliance; and the evaluator's report, which is shared with ...

Can a mother deny a father access?

Unfortunately, it is quite common for mothers to stop a father's access to a child merely by refusing to let them see them. However, fathers do not often recognise that they have the same rights as mothers. This means in terms of child contact that they are entitled to have access to the child as much as the mother is.

Do you have to pay child support if you have joint custody?

When one co-parent has sole custody of their child, the non-custodial co-parent is usually ordered to pay child support to the custodial co-parent. In joint custody, a child is considered to have two custodial parents. In most cases, the parent with the higher income pays support to the parent with the lower income.

How does joint custody work in Tennessee?

Tennessee child custody laws allow for joint custody and grandparents' visitation rights, while emphasizing the child's own wishes when considering custody decisions. In fact, Tennessee courts are required to state, in writing, why it's legal and why the physical custody decision is in the child's best interests.Jan 2, 2020

What is malicious parent syndrome?

"Malicious parent syndrome" is when one parent seeks to punish the other parent by talking poorly about them and/or doing things to place the parent in a bad light, particularly in the eyes of their children.Aug 17, 2020

What do you do when your child doesn't want to see their dad?

Specifically, you could ask your child's other parent to call the child on the phone or come over to your house and try to speak with the child who is refusing visits. This helps the other parent understand the situation and places some obligation on their part to facilitate visits.

Can custodial parent block phone calls?

Unless a court order authorizes such action, one parent can't block another parent with custodial rights from contacting their own child.Mar 20, 2017

How old do you have to be to get custody in Tennessee?

In Tennessee child custody law, if a child is over 12 years old, then a parent can request the court consider the child’s wishes in a contested child custody matter. When the child is under 12, the court may hear and consider the child’s wishes.

What is supervised visitation in Tennessee?

In Tennessee child custody law, there is no strict definition for supervised visitation. In general, supervised visitation describes restricted parenting time. The parent must 0nly see the child in the presence of a third person who supervises the parent-child visitation.

What is primary residential parent?

Primary residential parent refers to the parent with whom a child lives more than with the other parent. The other parent is the alternative residential parent, or ARP. The legal term “custodial parent” under the old law is not exactly the same as “primary residential parent” under the current law.

What is the final decision making authority?

Final decision-making authority is separate from residential time and can be allocated by topic, such as education or religious training. Day-to-day parenting decisions are determined by the parent with whom the child resides on any given day.

What is full custody?

Traditionally, full custody meant roughly the same thing as sole custody. In general, a parent with full custody had the absolute right to make all parenting decisions. Physical custody related to how much time a parent spent with the child.

How to remove a minor from Tennessee?

Before a minor child of divorced parents is temporarily removed from Tennessee, the parent responsible for the child’s removal must inform the other parent of all addresses and telephone numbers where the child may be reached while away. It is always a good idea to be up-front in these situations. Provide cell phone numbers and a reasonably detailed itinerary to the other parent. See the non-custodial parent’s rights discussed previously.

Can you pay child support in Tennessee?

Yes. In Tennessee child custody and child support determinations, the Tennessee child support guidelines are designed to require that one parent pay child support to the other parent. Who pays whom and the exact amount of child support owed depends upon each parent’s earnings, each parent’s number of days parenting the child, who pays how much in health insurance premiums, who pays how much in work-related child care, and other expenses and adjustments. Some exceptions apply, of course. In theory, a court could approve a “downward deviation” allowing a Tennessee child support obligation to be less than the amount set under the Tennessee child support guidelines. Adequate grounds for a downward deviation are very limited, though. For more information, read 50/50 Equal & Shared Parenting Time in Tennessee Child Support Laws.

What happens if a parent disputes custody in Tennessee?

If child custody is disputed, however, they will have to receive a child custody order from a Tennessee judge, who will attempt to make a custody decision that is in the "best interests of the child".

What is child custody in Tennessee?

Child custody is defined as the guardianship over a child, which covers both physical custody and legal custody. In a child custody dispute the court may award joint custody to both parents or sole custody to a single parent. Child custody cases in Tennessee can be either contested and resolved by court order, or noncontested ...

What are the rights of a child in custody?

What is Considered in the Case of Custody? 1 The right to phone conversations with the child at least twice a week at reasonable times and durations 2 The right to send mail to the child that the other parent cannot open or impede in any way 3 The right to receive relevant information as soon as practicable but within 24 hours of any event of hospitalization, major illness or death of the child 4 The right to receive the child's school records, names of teachers, class schedules, standardized test scores, and any other records made available to parents 5 the right to receive copies of the child's medical, health or other treatment records, unless otherwise argued by court 6 The right to be free of unwarranted derogatory remarks from any party involved

What happens after a divorce in Tennessee?

After a breakup or divorce in Tennessee, couples with children must come to a child custody agreement that describes which parent the children will live with, how visitation will be scheduled, and how the non-custodial parent will pay child support .

What is a guardian ad litem?

Appointment of guardian ad litem. (a) In an action for dissolution of marriage involving minor children, upon its own motion or upon the motion of either party, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem for any minor child of the marriage.

How old do you have to be to get custody of a child?

The reasonable preference of the child, if 12 years of age or older. The party who is granted custody of the child will be allowed to enforce the provisions of the court's declarations concerning the support of the child.

Is joint custody in the best interest of a minor child?

Unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, there is a presumption that joint custody is in the best interest of a minor child where the parents have agreed to joint custody or so agree in open court at a hearing for the purpose of determining the custody of the minor child. For the purpose of assisting the court in ...

What is an ex parte order?

An ex parte order is a temporary order that is granted without notice of hearing to the other side. These orders are unusual and only issued in certain circumstances. An ex parte order is only issued for a certain period of time. For example, if one parent alleges physical abuse, the court may grant an ex parte order.

What is the purpose of the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act?

The purpose of PKPA was to prioritize jurisdictional grounds to prevent states from fighting over jurisdiction over child custody issues. Related Article: 13 Ways To Prevent Parental Kidnapping.

Can a court appoint a Guardian Ad Litem?

Either party may request a Guardian ad Litem be appointed by the court. In some cases, the court will appoint a Guardian ad Litem without a request from either party. Related Article: Using A Guardian Ad Litem In A Custody Case.

Can you file a petition for child support?

No, child support is a completely different and independent issue from the right of visitation. If a parent refuses to pay child support, the other parent should file a Petition for Contempt. Related Article: Options If Denied Parenting Time Over Owed Child Support.

What is the Texas Access and Visitation Hotline?

The Texas Access and Visitation Hotline is the only service of its kind in the nation that provides noncustodial and custodial parents with free phone access to parenting time specialists who provide legal information related to child custody and visitation issues, as well as paternity and child support information.

What is access and visitation directory?

The Access and Visitation Directory is an online collection of helpful community services for families who are parenting together but living apart. The directory includes local providers for services including mediation, co-parenting education, counseling, supervised visitation and development of parenting plans.

Can the Attorney General modify custody orders?

Federal regulations do not allow the Office of the Attorney General to use child support funding to modify or enforce custody or visitation orders. However, the OAG does receive special funding to provide access and visitation services through local organizations.