How do I file for custody of my child in Tennessee?

How do I file for custody of my child in Tennessee?

Parents who aren’t married open a standalone custody case after establishing the child’s paternity. Either parent can file a case….Filing for Child Custody in Tennessee: 5 Steps

  1. Step 1: Determine your court.
  2. Step 2: Complete your paperwork.
  3. Step 3: Finalize your forms.
  4. Step 4: Hand in your paperwork.
  5. Step 5: Service.

What are the child custody laws in Tennessee?

Tennessee child custody law states, in part, “The gender of the party seeking to be the primary residential parent shall not give rise to a presumption of parental fitness or cause presumption in favor of or against such party.” When a child is doing well, the parent who has been the primary caregiver is more likely to …

What rights does a father have in Tennessee?

Legal parents have the right to have a relationship with their child and to visit their child. Once a father acknowledges paternity, he gains these rights. If parents cannot agree on custody or visitation, parents may obtain a Court Order.

What do judges look for in child custody cases?

Mental and Physical Well-Being of Parents Parents’ mental well-being is of great concern to a judge in a child custody case. Psychological disorders, overwhelming stress, drug or alcohol abuse, and mental health crises can prevent a parent from acting in their child’s best interests.

Can unmarried father take child from mother in Tennessee?

Who has child custody in Nashville when you’re unmarried? In Tennessee, an unmarried mother automatically has both physical and legal custody of the child until the father establishes paternity. However, once paternity is established, you have the same rights as any father does, under the law.

Can a mother stop the father from seeing their child?

A mother cannot stop a father seeing his child unless the court orders to do so. If the child is scared of the father due to some kind of abuse or harm, then the mother would need to speak to the child and gather evidence which may prove the child being at risk.

Which custody arrangement is most common?

The most common joint custody arrangements include the 2-2-3 plan and the 2-2-5 plan. Both involve spending alternate sets of days with either parent. Also common is the alternate week plan, where the child spends one week with a parent and the next week with the other.