What to Know About Non-Custodial Parents’ Rights

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When parents separate or divorce and children are involved, questions about parenting time and parental rights can quickly become complicated. In Tennessee parenting plans, parents are commonly identified as the Primary Residential Parent (PRP) and the Alternate Residential Parent (ARP), rather than relying solely on the traditional terms “custodial” and “non-custodial” parent.

This terminology reflects Tennessee’s focus on each parent’s responsibilities and the parenting arrangements that serve the best interests of the children.

At Inman, Stadler & Hill, we understand that parents designated as the ARP may have questions about what that role means and what rights they continue to have. This article explains some of the key rights of an ARP in Tennessee and what you can do if you believe those rights are not being respected.

Non-Custodial Parents’ Rights: A Legal Overview

Tennessee law generally provides both parents with important rights, although those rights may be limited by a court order when appropriate. A Permanent Parenting Plan, discussed further in The Parenting Plan Agreement, establishes important details such as the residential schedule, holidays, healthcare, education, and other parenting responsibilities.

Under Tennessee law, an ARP may have several important rights, including:

Couple speaking with a legal professional during a consultation
  • Unimpeded Communication: You generally have the right to unimpeded telephone or, when available, video conversations with your child at least twice a week at reasonable times and for reasonable durations.
  • Mail Privacy: Mail you send to your child generally cannot be destroyed, defaced, opened, or censored by the other parent.
  • Timely Notifications: You generally have the right to receive notice and relevant information as soon as practicable, but within 24 hours, of a hospitalization, major illness or injury, or death of your child.
  • Access to Records: You generally have the right to obtain educational records directly from your child’s school and medical or treatment records directly from healthcare providers, subject to applicable law.
  • Activity Involvement: Whenever possible, you generally have the right to at least 48 hours’ notice of extracurricular activities in which parental participation or observation would be appropriate, along with an opportunity to participate or attend.
  • Out-of-State Travel Itineraries: If the other parent takes your child out of Tennessee for more than 48 hours, you generally have the right to receive reasonable notice and an itinerary that includes departure and return dates, destinations, the mode of travel, and telephone numbers.
  • Freedom from Derogatory Remarks: You generally have the right to be free from unwarranted derogatory remarks about you or your family made by the other parent to or in the presence of your child.

These protections are addressed in Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-6-101. Because a court may restrict certain rights based on the child’s best interests, parents should also review the specific terms of their parenting plan and any other applicable court orders.

What Non-Custodial Parents Can Do if Rights Are Violated

Even with a parenting plan in place, disagreements can arise over school information, extracurricular activities, medical care, and other matters involving a child. Depending on the circumstances, withholding information required by the parenting plan, a court order, or Tennessee law may interfere with the other parent’s rights.

If you believe your rights as an ARP are not being respected, there are several steps you can take:

  • Keep Detailed Records: Document missed notices, withheld information, denied communication, and other incidents that may conflict with your parenting plan or court order. Save relevant emails, text messages, and other communications.
  • Address the Issue Directly: When appropriate, communicate with the other parent about the problem and refer to the relevant terms of the parenting plan. Keeping the discussion focused on your child and the specific issue can help avoid unnecessary conflict.
  • Seek Legal Assistance: If the problem continues, a Knoxville family law attorney can review your parenting plan, determine whether your rights may have been violated, and explain the legal options available to address the issue.

How Non-Custodial Rights Differ from Termination of Parental Rights

It’s important to distinguish between being a non-custodial parent and losing parental rights entirely. A parent designated as the ARP generally continues to have parental rights even though the child may spend more residential time with the other parent. Termination of parental rights, by contrast, is a separate legal process that severs the parent’s legal rights concerning the child, including rights involving custody, visitation, and decision-making.

In Tennessee, involuntary termination of parental rights requires clear and convincing evidence of at least one statutory ground for termination and a finding that termination is in the child’s best interests. Statutory grounds can include abandonment, severe child abuse, and other circumstances specifically identified by Tennessee law. Parental rights may also end through a legally valid voluntary surrender under applicable Tennessee procedures. Simply being designated as the ARP does not, by itself, terminate a parent’s legal relationship with their child.

How to Maximize Your Role as a Non-Custodial Parent

Your role as an ARP is shaped by the terms of your parenting plan, including your residential schedule and other parental responsibilities. Staying involved and consistently following the plan can help you maintain a strong relationship with your child.

  • Stay Engaged: Attend school events, extracurricular activities, parent-teacher conferences, and other important events whenever possible.
  • Follow the Parenting Plan: Consistently following the residential schedule and other terms of the parenting plan can provide stability for your child and help reduce unnecessary disputes.
  • Keep Communication Respectful: Avoid speaking negatively about the other parent in front of your child, and keep discussions with the other parent focused on your child’s needs.
  • Know Your Rights: Understand the rights provided by your parenting plan and Tennessee law. If you believe those rights are not being respected, document the issue and consider speaking with a family law attorney about your options.

Common Questions About Non-Custodial Rights

Can my ex prevent me from seeing school or medical records?

Generally, no. Tennessee law allows noncustodial or nonresident parents to request certain school records directly from the child’s school and medical or treatment records directly from healthcare providers. However, access may be limited by applicable law or a court order.

What if my child’s other parent doesn’t tell me about a medical emergency?

Tennessee law generally requires the parent exercising parenting time to provide notice and relevant information as soon as practicable, but within 24 hours, of a hospitalization, major illness or injury, or death of the child.

Parents and children listening during a family consultation

Am I allowed to call my child whenever I want?

Not necessarily. Tennessee law generally provides a right to unimpeded telephone or, when available, video conversations with your child at least twice a week at reasonable times and for reasonable durations. Your parenting plan or court order may also establish specific days and times for those conversations.

Can the other parent take my child out of state without my knowledge?

If the other parent takes your child out of Tennessee for more than 48 hours, Tennessee law generally provides a right to reasonable notice and an itinerary that includes the planned departure and return dates, destinations, mode of travel, and telephone numbers.

Contact Us Today for a Consultation

If you’re having difficulty understanding or exercising your rights as a non-custodial parent, or if you believe you are being excluded from important decisions or information involving your child, speaking with a family law attorney may help you understand your parenting plan and the options available to you.

At Inman, Stadler & Hill, our Knoxville family lawyers help parents understand Tennessee parenting plans, ARP rights, and disputes involving parenting time and parental responsibilities. We can review your situation, explain your legal options, and advocate for your rights and your continued role in your child’s life. Contact us today for a consultation to learn how we can help.

Related reading: Understanding Grandparents’ Rights in Family Law · How to Increase Child Visitation and Custody Rights in Tennessee · Can Child Custody Arrangements Be Changed?

Understanding Grandparents’ Rights in Family Law

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Grandparents can have an important and lasting relationship with their grandchildren. When parents divorce or separate, a parent dies, or other serious family circumstances arise, contact between a grandparent and grandchild may sometimes be reduced or disrupted.

Tennessee law allows grandparents to seek visitation in certain circumstances, but divorce, separation, or the death of a parent does not automatically create a right to visitation. Courts may consider the history of the grandparent-grandchild relationship, whether reducing or ending that relationship could cause substantial harm to the child, and whether visitation would be in the child’s best interests.

The Importance of Grandparents’ Rights

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One of the primary legal concerns for grandparents is visitation. Family disputes, divorce, separation, or other changes in family circumstances can sometimes reduce or end contact between a grandparent and grandchild. Although grandparents do not have an automatic right to visitation in Tennessee, state law allows them to petition the court under certain circumstances.

When a petition qualifies under Tennessee law, the court must first determine whether ending or severely reducing the grandparent-grandchild relationship creates a danger of substantial harm to the child. If that threshold is met, the court then considers whether ordering grandparent visitation would be in the child’s best interests.

Factors Considered by Courts in Grandparent Visitation Cases

Existing Relationship
The court may consider the length and quality of the relationship between the grandparent and grandchild, the role the grandparent has played in the child’s life, and the emotional ties between them. Tennessee law may recognize a significant existing relationship when, for example, the child has lived with the grandparent for at least six consecutive months, the grandparent served as a full-time caretaker for at least six consecutive months, or the grandparent had frequent visitation with the child for at least one year.

Parental Rights
Parents have important legal rights to make decisions concerning their children, and a court does not order grandparent visitation simply because it believes visitation would be beneficial. Under Tennessee law, the court must first determine whether ending or severely reducing the grandparent-grandchild relationship creates a danger of substantial harm to the child. If that requirement is satisfied, the court then considers whether visitation would be in the child’s best interests.

Grandparents’ Involvement
The extent of a grandparent’s involvement in the child’s life can be important when the court evaluates a visitation petition. A grandparent who has served as a caregiver or maintained frequent and meaningful contact with the child may have evidence of a significant existing relationship. The court may also consider the grandparent’s prior role, the child’s emotional ties to the grandparent, and whether continued visitation would interfere with the parent-child relationship.

Grandparents’ Custody Rights

Grandparent custody involves a different legal standard from grandparent visitation. In Tennessee, parents have a fundamental right to the care and custody of their children. When a grandparent or other nonparent seeks custody over a parent’s objection, showing that living with the grandparent would simply be in the child’s best interests is generally not enough. The court ordinarily must first find that remaining in or returning to the parent’s custody would create a danger of substantial harm to the child.

In serious circumstances involving abuse, neglect, abandonment, or an inability to provide appropriate care, grandparents may seek custody in certain circumstances. Whether custody may be awarded depends on the facts of the case, the parents’ rights, prior custody orders, and the evidence concerning the child’s welfare.

Parental Unfitness
Evidence that a parent cannot safely or adequately care for a child may be relevant when a grandparent seeks custody. Courts look at the actual effect of the parent’s circumstances or conduct on the child rather than assuming that a particular condition automatically makes a parent unfit. Issues such as abuse, neglect, abandonment, substance abuse, domestic violence, or other serious circumstances may be relevant when they create a danger of substantial harm to the child.

Parental Death
The death of a parent can also affect a grandparent’s legal options, but it does not automatically give the grandparents custody or visitation. If another fit parent survives, that parent’s rights remain important. Tennessee’s grandparent-visitation law does provide a specific protection when the deceased parent’s own parent seeks visitation: if an existing relationship with the grandchild is ended or severely reduced, the law creates a rebuttable presumption of substantial harm to the child.

Family Disputes and Parental Rights
Parents have a fundamental constitutional right to make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of their children. Courts therefore cannot override a fit parent’s decision about grandparent contact simply because a judge believes a different arrangement would be better for the child.

Both federal and Tennessee courts have recognized these parental rights. At the same time, Tennessee law permits court involvement when the statutory requirements for grandparent visitation are satisfied or when sufficient evidence of substantial harm supports intervention in a custody dispute. The outcome depends heavily on the particular family circumstances and the evidence presented to the court.

Tips for Navigating Grandparent Visitation Disputes

Grandparent visitation disputes can involve difficult family relationships as well as specific legal requirements under Tennessee law. The following considerations can help grandparents and parents approach these disputes more carefully and understand the issues that may affect a visitation case.

Maintain a Positive Relationship
When possible, maintaining respectful communication with your adult child and other family members may help prevent disagreements over grandparent visitation from escalating. Tennessee courts may also consider hostility between a parent and grandparent, as well as the grandparent’s willingness to support the child’s relationship with the parent, when evaluating the child’s best interests.

Consider Mediation or Other Settlement Options
Not every grandparent visitation dispute needs to be resolved through a contested court hearing. When appropriate, mediation may give parents and grandparents an opportunity to discuss possible visitation arrangements with the assistance of a neutral third party. Reaching an agreement can allow the family to address visitation without leaving every disputed issue for a judge to decide.

Clients and attorney reviewing paperwork at a law office

Prioritize Your Grandchild’s Needs
A grandparent visitation case should remain focused on the child rather than the disagreement between the adults. If the court reaches the best-interests stage of the analysis, it may consider factors including the grandparent’s prior relationship with the child, the emotional ties between them, whether visitation would interfere with the parent-child relationship, and the child’s preference if the child is sufficiently mature to express one. Evidence showing the role the grandparent has played in the child’s life may also be relevant to the court’s evaluation.

The Importance of Hiring an Experienced Family Law Attorney

Tennessee grandparent visitation and custody cases involve specific legal standards that can be difficult to apply without understanding the facts of the particular family situation. An attorney can evaluate whether the statutory requirements for seeking visitation may be satisfied, explain the substantial-harm and best-interests standards, help gather relevant evidence, and represent a client during negotiations or court proceedings.

At Inman, Stadler & Hill, our attorneys can help grandparents understand their legal options when contact with a grandchild has been ended or severely reduced or when more serious custody concerns arise. Because grandparents do not have an automatic right to visitation or custody, each case should be evaluated under the requirements of Tennessee law.

Grandparents can have close and meaningful relationships with their grandchildren, and losing that relationship may have serious consequences in some circumstances. If you have questions about seeking visitation or custody, our legal team can review your situation and explain the options that may be available. Contact us today for a consultation.

Related reading: What to Know About Non-Custodial Parents’ Rights · How to Increase Child Visitation and Custody Rights in Tennessee · Can Child Custody Arrangements Be Changed?

How to Increase Child Visitation and Custody Rights in Tennessee

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Child custody and visitation rights are important issues in Tennessee family law. When parents separate or divorce, they may need to establish an initial parenting arrangement or later request changes to an existing custody order or Permanent Parenting Plan.

If you’re a parent in Tennessee seeking additional parenting time or a change to an existing custody arrangement, it is important to understand the legal standard that applies. An initial custody determination focuses on the child’s best interests, while modifying an existing custody order or residential parenting schedule generally requires proof of a material change in circumstances before the court considers whether the requested change would serve the child’s best interests.

What Are Tennessee’s Child Custody Laws?

Tennessee courts make custody and parenting decisions based on the child’s best interests. The specific legal requirements, however, depend on whether the court is establishing a parenting arrangement for the first time or considering a request to modify an existing order.

Clients meeting with a lawyer in a professional office

In Tennessee, the primary consideration in determining custody arrangements is the child’s best interests.Rather than relying only on labels such as sole or joint custody, Tennessee courts use parenting plans to establish each parent’s responsibilities, decision-making authority, and residential parenting time.

A Permanent Parenting Plan generally includes a residential schedule showing when the child will be in each parent’s care and addresses how important decisions concerning the child will be made. When one parent has more than half of the residential parenting time, that parent is generally designated as the Primary Residential Parent.

Parents may share decision-making responsibilities and residential time in different ways depending on the child’s needs and the circumstances of the family. An equal parenting schedule is possible, but joint parental involvement does not necessarily mean that each parent receives exactly the same amount of parenting time.

Tennessee parenting arrangements can divide parenting responsibilities and residential time in several ways. Rather than relying only on labels such as joint legal or joint physical custody, Tennessee courts use a Permanent Parenting Plan to establish each parent’s responsibilities, decision-making authority, and residential schedule.

Decision-Making Authority: Parents may share responsibility for major decisions involving the child’s education, healthcare, religious upbringing, and other important matters, or the parenting plan may allocate particular decisions to one parent.

Residential Parenting Time: The parenting plan establishes when the child will be in each parent’s physical care. Parenting time does not have to be divided equally. When one parent has more than half of the residential parenting time, that parent is generally designated as the Primary Residential Parent.

Other arrangements, including schedules in which siblings spend different amounts of time with each parent or arrangements in which the child remains in one residence while the parents rotate in and out, may be possible depending on the circumstances. However, the court’s focus remains on the child’s best interests and the parenting arrangement established in the Permanent Parenting Plan.

If you are asking the court to modify an existing custody order or residential parenting schedule, showing that the proposed arrangement would benefit the child is generally not enough by itself. Tennessee law ordinarily requires proof of a material change in circumstances before the court considers whether the requested modification would be in the child’s best interests.

Steps to Seek More Parenting Time or Modify a Custody Arrangement in Tennessee

Consult an Attorney
If you are considering seeking additional parenting time or modifying an existing custody arrangement, consulting a Tennessee family law attorney can help you understand the legal standard that applies. An attorney can review the existing parenting plan or custody order, explain your options, help prepare the necessary filings, and represent your interests in negotiations or court proceedings.

Consider Mediation and Other Dispute Resolution
Mediation is commonly used in Tennessee parenting disputes, and a Permanent Parenting Plan generally includes a dispute-resolution process for certain disagreements before the parties return to court. Depending on the type of case, the existing parenting plan, and applicable court rules, mediation may be required or ordered.

Mediation can give parents an opportunity to work toward an agreement with the assistance of a neutral third party and may reduce the need for contested litigation. Tennessee law also provides important restrictions and safeguards when domestic abuse is involved.

Clients meeting with a lawyer in a professional office

File the Appropriate Petition
If you and the other parent cannot agree on a proposed change, you may need to file a petition with the appropriate court requesting modification of the existing custody order or Permanent Parenting Plan. In Tennessee, a parent seeking a modification generally must first establish a material change in circumstances. The petition should identify the changes that have occurred and explain why the requested modification should be considered.

Document the Changes and Relevant Evidence
Evidence should relate to the specific change you are asking the court to address. Depending on the circumstances, relevant information may include changes in the child’s needs, changes in a parent’s living or working situation that affect parenting, failure to follow the existing parenting plan, the history of each parent’s involvement with the child, and other facts relevant to the statutory standards.

Attend Required Court Proceedings
Attend scheduled hearings and comply with court orders, filing requirements, and deadlines throughout the case. Failing to appear when required or failing to comply with procedural requirements can affect the proceeding and may lead to adverse consequences.

Address the Child’s Best Interests
If the applicable material-change requirement is satisfied, the court considers whether the proposed modification would be in the child’s best interests. Tennessee courts consider factors including the strength and stability of the child’s relationship with each parent, each parent’s performance of parenting responsibilities, the child’s emotional and developmental needs, continuity in the child’s life, and each parent’s willingness to support an appropriate relationship between the child and the other parent.

Follow the Court’s Orders
Once the court enters a custody order or Permanent Parenting Plan, both parents are expected to follow it. Failure to comply may result in enforcement proceedings and can also become relevant if either parent later asks the court to modify the parenting arrangement.

Our Tennessee Family Law Attorneys Can Help with Child Custody Matters

Seeking additional parenting time or requesting a change to an existing Tennessee custody arrangement involves more than showing that a different schedule would be preferable. When a modification is requested, the parent generally must establish the applicable material change in circumstances and then address whether the proposed change serves the child’s best interests.

At Inman, Stadler & Hill, our attorneys can review an existing custody order or Permanent Parenting Plan, evaluate the circumstances that have changed, explain the legal standard that applies, and represent clients during negotiations, mediation, and court proceedings when necessary.

Contact our Tennessee family lawyers today for a consultation to discuss your current parenting arrangement and the legal options that may be available under Tennessee law.

Related reading: What to Know About Non-Custodial Parents’ Rights · Understanding Grandparents’ Rights in Family Law · Can Child Custody Arrangements Be Changed?

Can Child Custody Arrangements Be Changed?

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When parents divorce in Tennessee, the court generally enters a Permanent Parenting Plan that establishes a residential parenting schedule and addresses each parent’s responsibilities and decision-making authority. Some families may have schedules that provide the parents with similar amounts of parenting time, while others may have substantially different residential schedules based on the circumstances of the child and family.

The circumstances that existed when a parenting plan was first entered can change over time. A child may develop different educational, medical, or developmental needs, a parent’s work or living situation may change, or the existing parenting schedule may become difficult to follow.

Child custody arrangements can be changed in Tennessee, but an existing custody order or parenting plan generally cannot be modified simply because one parent would prefer a different arrangement. Tennessee law requires the parent seeking modification to establish the applicable material change in circumstances and, when required, show that the requested modification is in the child’s best interests.

Why Are Child Custody Arrangements Changed?

Parents discussing family and custody documents with a professional

There are many circumstances that may support a request to modify an existing Permanent Parenting Plan or residential parenting schedule, including:

  • Relocation or changes in a parent’s residence
    A parent’s move may affect transportation, school schedules, exchanges, or the amount of residential parenting time that is practical. Tennessee also has specific requirements that may apply when a parent proposes to relocate outside the state or more than 50 miles from the other parent. A move does not automatically justify changing custody or parenting time, however. The effect of the relocation on the child and the existing parenting arrangement is important.
  • Failure to follow the parenting plan
    Repeated failure to comply with a Permanent Parenting Plan or custody and visitation order can be relevant to a modification request. Depending on the circumstances, violations involving parenting time, exchanges, decision-making, or other court-ordered responsibilities may support a finding that circumstances have materially changed. Whether the parenting arrangement should actually be modified will depend on the facts and the applicable legal standards.
  • Changing needs of the child
    A child’s needs can change considerably with age. Changes involving school, medical care, developmental needs, activities, transportation, or other important parts of the child’s life may affect whether the existing residential schedule continues to work. Tennessee law specifically recognizes significant changes in a child’s needs over time as a circumstance that may support modification of residential parenting time.
  • Changing circumstances of a parent
    Significant changes in a parent’s living or working conditions can also affect a parenting arrangement. For example, a parent who previously had unstable housing, employment problems, or substance-use issues may later establish a stable home and demonstrate sustained improvement. Likewise, changes in employment schedules or other circumstances can affect a parent’s ability to exercise parenting time. These changes do not automatically result in additional or reduced parenting time, but they may be relevant to whether modification is appropriate.
  • Concerns about the child’s safety or well-being
    Evidence of abuse, neglect, exposure to dangerous conduct, substance misuse that affects parenting, or other circumstances presenting a risk to the child can be highly relevant in a custody or parenting-plan proceeding. A parent’s physical, mental, or emotional health may also be considered when it affects that parent’s ability to care for the child. Depending on the evidence, a court may impose appropriate limitations or modify the parenting arrangement to protect the child’s welfare.
    • physical, sexual, or emotional abuse;
    • intentionally or negligently putting the child at risk of abuse by others;
    • drug or alcohol abuse that harms the child or creates a negative influence on them;
    • suffering from mental health problems, including dangerous and erratic behavior;

their custody privileges may be reduced or revoked.

How Are Child Custody Arrangements Changed?

To obtain an enforceable change to an existing Tennessee custody order or Permanent Parenting Plan, the modification generally must be approved by the court.

When one parent seeks a contested modification, the court must first determine whether the applicable material change in circumstances has been established. Tennessee applies different standards depending on whether a parent is seeking to change custody, such as changing the primary residential parent, or seeking only to modify the residential parenting schedule. If the required material change is established, the court then considers whether the requested modification is in the child’s best interests.

If both parents agree to a modification, they can present their proposed revised parenting arrangement to the court for approval. Tennessee law allows courts to approve agreed modifications, although the court retains authority to review the agreement when appropriate.

When parents cannot agree, the dispute-resolution process contained in the existing Permanent Parenting Plan may apply, and mediation may also be ordered or required under applicable court rules. If the disagreement cannot be resolved, the court can decide the requested modification based on the evidence and applicable Tennessee law.

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Let Us Assist with Your Child Custody Arrangement Needs

Parenting arrangements sometimes need to change as children grow and family circumstances evolve. Whether you are seeking additional parenting time, responding to another parent’s request for modification, or dealing with concerns about compliance with an existing Permanent Parenting Plan, it is important to understand the legal standard that applies to your situation.

The Tennessee family law attorneys at Inman, Stadler & Hill can review your existing parenting plan, evaluate the circumstances surrounding a proposed modification, explain your legal options, and represent you in negotiations or court proceedings when necessary. Contact us today for a consultation.

Related reading: How to Increase Child Visitation and Custody Rights in Tennessee · What to Know About Non-Custodial Parents’ Rights · Understanding Grandparents’ Rights in Family Law

Tennessee Divorce, Child Custody, or Child Support Issue? We’re Here to Help.

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Family-law disputes can affect some of the most important parts of a person’s life, including marriage, finances, parenting responsibilities, and the support of children. Divorce, child custody, and child support matters can also involve Tennessee laws and court procedures that may be unfamiliar to people dealing with these issues for the first time.

Some relatively straightforward family-law matters may be handled without full legal representation, but an attorney can help explain the law, identify potential issues, prepare required documents, and advocate for a client when disagreements arise.

At Inman, Stadler & Hill, our attorneys bring decades of combined legal experience to family-law and other legal matters. We approach family-law cases with professionalism and compassion while helping clients understand their options and make informed decisions based on their individual circumstances.

Divorce Lawyers

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Whether you are considering filing for divorce or your spouse has already started the process, speaking with a Tennessee divorce attorney can help you understand your rights, responsibilities, and available options.

Some agreed divorces may be relatively straightforward, while contested cases can involve disputes over property division, marital debt, alimony, parenting arrangements, child support, or other issues. An attorney can review the circumstances of the marriage, prepare or review legal documents, negotiate disputed issues, and represent a client in court when necessary.

At Inman, Stadler & Hill, we help clients evaluate both the legal and practical issues involved in divorce and develop an approach based on the facts and priorities of the individual case.

Child Custody Lawyers

When parents separate or divorce, decisions about parenting time and parental responsibilities can have lasting effects on both the children and their parents.

In Tennessee divorces involving minor children, a Permanent Parenting Plan generally establishes the residential parenting schedule and addresses important parental responsibilities and decision-making. When parents cannot agree, the court determines the arrangement based on the child’s best interests and the factors required by Tennessee law.

Our attorneys can help parents prepare and evaluate proposed parenting plans, address disagreements involving parenting time or decision-making, and present relevant evidence when a custody or parenting dispute must be decided by the court.

Child Support Lawyers

Child support is intended to help provide for the financial needs of children whose parents live apart. In Tennessee, support is generally calculated under the state’s Child Support Guidelines rather than simply according to what either parent considers fair.

Tennessee uses an Income Shares model that considers both parents’ adjusted gross incomes, along with other information required by the Child Support Guidelines and worksheet. Changes in income, parenting circumstances, or other relevant factors may also create questions about whether an existing order should be reviewed or modified.

Our attorneys can help clients understand how the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines apply, review financial information, seek establishment or modification of support when appropriate, and address enforcement issues involving unpaid child support.

Family Law Assistance

Divorce, child custody, and child support are only some of the family-law matters our attorneys handle. We also assist clients with issues involving:

  • Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements
  • Spousal support payment orders
  • Adoption assistance
  • Emancipation of minors
  • Paternity cases
  • Parental rights
  • Child visitation rights and modification
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Family-law matters can involve detailed court procedures, financial information, legal documents, and difficult decisions. Our attorneys can review the circumstances of a case, explain the applicable Tennessee law, and assist with negotiations, court filings, or litigation when necessary.

East Tennessee Lawyers Helping All Tennesseans

Inman, Stadler & Hill is based in Knoxville and primarily practices in East Tennessee. Our firm has also handled matters involving clients from Bristol to Memphis and maintains professional relationships and referral resources throughout the state.

If you have questions about a Tennessee divorce, child custody matter, child support issue, or another family-law concern, contact us today for a consultation. We can review your circumstances, explain the legal issues involved, and discuss the options that may be available in your case.

Related reading: How to Increase Child Visitation and Custody Rights in Tennessee · How We Can Help with Your Child Support Arrangement · Can Child Custody Arrangements Be Changed?