Trusted Child Custody Lawyers In Sevierville
From the time children are born, parents worry about doing everything they can to raise them well. Many parents split responsibilities regarding taking care of the kids, making meals, supporting the family financially and chauffeuring the kids to extracurricular activities. During divorce, these responsibilities will likely be rearranged, and it can be tough for parents to believe their kids will be okay when they are not around.
If that is the situation you are facing, it is vital to work with an experienced Sevierville child custody attorney who can address your concerns and help you create a parenting plan that will protect your children’s best interests. At White & White, Attorneys at Law, we are lawyers who do just that for families in Sevier County, Knox County, Blount County and surrounding counties.
Creating A Parenting Plan Together
In Tennessee, child custody is based on a number of factors. The most important consideration is doing what is in the child’s best interest. The court looks at a variety of factors, including:
- The relationship each parent has with the child
- Which parent has been the primary caretaker
- Living situations of each parent
- Availability of each parent to spend time with the child
When we work with parents to create custody and visitation plans, we take the time to understand the needs and concerns of the parents and work closely with them to devise a plan that everyone can be satisfied with. If both parents cannot agree on a parenting plan, we can litigate the case in an effort to receive the best possible outcome.
Why Choose Us?
With over 23 combined years of experience helping clients in Sevierville and East Tennessee manage their family law problems with confidence and peace of mind, we can help you navigate your custody case using practical solutions. As a mother, son and daughter team, we bring a personal understanding of how important family relationships are and how deeply custody concerns can affect everyone involved.
Our commitment is to give compassionate advice and focused representation that suits your family’s specific needs. As your legal ally, we will help you protect what matters most while working toward a solution that supports your child’s best interests.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Custody
Family law issues often arise during stressful times, especially after a divorce or a change in your personal circumstances. To help ease some of your worries, we have addressed five common questions about custody and parenting rights in Tennessee.
What is the difference between legal and physical custody in Tennessee?
Legal custody is the right of a parent to make important decisions for the child, including decisions about their education, healthcare and religious upbringing. Physical custody refers to where the child lives and which parent handles the child’s day-to-day routines. In Tennessee, courts decide these issues based on the child’s best interests.
Can a parent withhold visitation rights of the other parent responsible for child support obligations?
A parent may not withhold visitation simply because the other parent has not paid child support. In Tennessee, child support and parenting time are separate legal issues. A parent cannot deny court-ordered visitation because support is behind. A parent who is denied visitation should not take matters into their own hands by stopping support payments.
The proper remedy is to seek enforcement through the court or the child support enforcement process. Tennessee law treats support obligations and parenting time as independent responsibilities, and courts can enforce each separately.
In Tennessee divorce cases, do mothers automatically get physical custody of their children?
No, mothers do not automatically get physical custody in Tennessee divorce cases. State law is neutral; neither parent is favored based on their gender. The court must decide custody based on what arrangement is in the child’s best interests, and it may consider key factors like each parent’s relationship with the child and their ability to provide care.
How does a parent modify an existing child custody order in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, a parent seeking to modify an existing custody order must file a petition and show a material change in circumstances since the last order. A material change does not have to be something extreme, but it must be significant enough to justify reconsidering custody or parenting arrangements.
Common reasons may include a parent’s relocation, concerns about a parent’s stability, interference with parenting time or a substantial decline in either parent’s ability to care for the child. If the court finds a material change in circumstances, it will then determine whether changing the custody order is in the child’s best interests.
Do grandparents have visitation rights in Tennessee?
Grandparents can sometimes have visitation rights in Tennessee, but they do not get automatic visitation. Tennessee law allows grandparents to petition for visitation in limited circumstances, such as when the parent is deceased, divorced or separated, or when there is a severe parent-child relationship issue.
The court must also find that visitation is in the child’s best interests, and that denial of visitation would cause substantial harm in many situations. Because these cases are fact-sensitive, a grandparent must meet specific statutory requirements before the court will grant visitation.
Reach Out To Our Child Custody Lawyers Today For A Free Consultation
Whether you need guidance creating a parenting plan or seek legal representation for your custody case in Tennessee, we can help. Contact our Seymour family law office today at 865-622-7768 or send us an email to arrange your free confidential consultation with us.