Child Custody & Visitation Attorney Murfreesboro, TN
We provide parents throughout Middle Tennessee with strong representation for legal needs involving child custody, visitation and other related issues. We also pride ourselves on taking time to understand each client’s situation and goals and on providing people with honest answers, clear explanations and nonjudgmental support at all times.
Child Custody: Permanent Parenting Plans
Most child custody issues are resolved through negotiation or the mandatory mediation process. In either case, a permanent parenting plan defining each parent’s rights and responsibilities must be approved by the court before a divorce will be granted. Our Murfeesboro, TN divorce lawyers can help you set up a permanent parenting plan with custody and visitation arrangements that serve the best interest of your children, while also protecting your rights as a parent.
If mandatory mediation fails to produce an agreement and a trial becomes necessary, the court will issue a decision that serves the best interest of the child or children in question. Numerous factors will be considered in this judicial decision-making process, including the wishes of a mature child, the rights of the parents, special needs of young children, and the moral, physical and financial capacity each parent has to meet the child’s needs.
Child Custody: Who Pays Child Support?
Both parents are liable for child support in Tennessee. We will work with you throughout the divorce proceedings to ensure that the Tennessee child support guidelines are properly applied and that all income is considered.
Child Custody: Paternity Issues
Unmarried parents who are no longer together can have the same concerns about child custody, visitation and support as divorcing spouses. In many of these cases, however, it is first necessary to establish paternity. In Tennessee, paternity issues are resolved in juvenile court, which is a completely separate system with its own judges and rules of procedure. Unfortunately, many people mistakenly assume juvenile court is not as “serious” as regular family court, and they choose to represent themselves, which often does not go well.
Child Custody: Post-Divorce Modifications and Enforcement
Divorce orders are not set in stone. If you or your former spouse has experienced a substantial change in life circumstances (due to a promotion, job loss, an illness, etc.) or if your child’s needs have changed significantly, we can help you negotiate new terms or seek a court order modifying the terms of an existing order.
Lastly, if your former spouse has stopped paying child support or has stopped honoring your parenting and child visitation agreement, we can help you take appropriate actions to enforce those existing orders.
Free Initial Child Custody Consultations · Serving All of Middle Tennessee
To learn more, contact us to schedule an appointment with an experienced Murfreesboro child custody attorney at our family law firm.