Tennessee Child Support Attorney
Child custody and support are often the most contentious issues in a divorce. Parental battles over custody and support carry the very real risk that children will suffer undue stress and trauma. To address this, Tennessee law requires parents to attend a parenting seminar within 30 days of filing for divorce. The statute also provides the opportunity for parents to participate in mediation sessions to address all issues related to the welfare of their children.
Helping Parents Protect Their Children
We believe that parents should select their legal counsel carefully to minimize the negative effects of custody and support disputes. At Abernathy, Story, Stovall, Hood, Harris, Garner, Ashworth and Campbell, An Association of Attorneys, our Franklin, Tennessee, lawyers are dedicated to helping clients resolve matters related to these sensitive topics in a way that protects and serves the best interests of their children.
Developing Support and Custody Proposals That Work
Unless parents can agree on issues, a judge will impose rulings on parents without full knowledge of the situation. This is not the judge's fault. It is impossible to have a complete understanding of a family's dynamics and circumstances. That is why our lawyers try to address all the important issues before the matter goes to trial, minimizing the negative impact on the children and arriving at a proposed agreement that is workable for the family.
Issues in Custody and Support Cases
Issues that are often part of custody and child support disputes include:
- Where will the child live and for how long? This is also called a parenting plan or a child visitation schedule.
- Who gets the children for holidays?
- Who pays for health insurance?
- Who pays for medical items not covered by health insurance, such as dental bills, counseling or uncovered medications?
- Who pays for extras such as music lessons, summer camp and school trips?
- Which parent takes the tax deduction for the children?
- Who pays for life insurance? Who are the beneficiaries?
- Which parent pays child support? How much and for how long?
Each family is unique and what works for one may be unsuitable for another. Tennessee has guidelines, worksheets and a calculator to help estimate child support payments. We advise our clients about these tools and help them complete the worksheets.
Contact a Franklin child custody attorney to learn more about establishing Tennessee child support and custody.
