Stepparent and relative adoptions in Tennessee are fairly common, but that does not mean that they are easy to obtain. Often, and understandably, the reluctance or refusal of either or both birth parents to voluntarily terminate their parental rights presents a complication to the adoption process. The Court can intervene with an involuntary termination of parental rights, but only upon determining that the parent is unfit to care for or make decisions for the child.
A parenting agreement provides an ounce of prevention
The laws of Tennessee clearly outline the rights and responsibilities of married couples who choose to divorce, both to one another and to their children. However, we at Parker and LaDuke have observed that the laws have not always kept up with the current trend of couples choosing to start families without the formality of first getting married. Consumer Affairs confirms that, while there are fewer laws and statutes on the books pertaining to the rights and responsibilities of an unmarried couple that chooses to split up, parents' responsibilities to their children are largely the same regardless of whether or not the couple was ever married. Couples, attorneys and courts alike are learning how to cope with these issues as they arise.
Pay attention to divorce document dates
Going through a divorce in Tennessee can be a very confusing experience under any circumstances. Divorce matters can become even more confusing for our clients at Parker and LaDuke as the laws continue to change. During this transitional time, you probably want to pay close attention to the timeframe in which you have filed your documents. A new law is going to effect as of Jan. 1st, 2019 that could cost some people a lot more money in their divorce settlements because the rules about how alimony or spousal maintenance relates to your taxes are changing due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
