“It’s important to hire an adoption attorney who knows adoption and family law. You want to choose someone you feel represents your best interests, as well as the best interests of your adopted child(ren).

Where to begin; the legal steps and timelines

There are two main legal steps in any adoption, both of which should be overseen with the help of an adoption attorney.

Terminating the parental rights in the birth parents
Establishing parental rights in the new parent or parents
An adoption may take anywhere from a few weeks to a few years, depending upon the specific circumstances. There are also several options as to how you can adopt:

Domestic adoption: adoptions in the United States
International adoption: adoptions from other countries, such as Korea, China, India, and more
Related person adoption: adoptions from a relative of the potential adoptive parent”

Her article can be found at Michele Goguen Article.

We handle adoptions at Phillips Law, PLLC.

There is no charge for the seminar, but I will be giving out good info and free materials.  Also, I am willing to discuss how to do your own uncontested divorce in Tennessee if interested.  Any divorce topic is free game.  Format will be brief talking by me and then question and answer.

We are now listed at this site
Law

If you are doing a divorce or custody case in Tennessee, you need to work through the Parenting Plan and create a Plan that is in the best interest of your children.

At Invisible Lawyer, a lawyer is willing to work the Tennessee Parenting Plan with you.

Some of the of the reasons this can happen:
1. you have buyer’s remorse.
2. you didn’t have an attorney and you figured out that you are getting messed over
3. you decided you didn’t want to get divorced
4. you found out your spouse is lying and you want to rework the deal

One way or another, revoking the MDA can be done even if you signed the dang thing. If you are revoking the MDA, you really need an attorney. The process is to immediately inform the court that you no longer agree to get divorce because if you don’t the other side may use your MDA to get divorced.  Generally, your attorney will file a notice with the court that you are rescinding your agreement or revoking the MDA.

Once you do this, you are almost certainly going to send the divorce contested.  It is going to make the other side made and probably cost you more money.  Sometimes this is worth it, but don’t make the decision to revoke your MDA haphazardly.

Now, the signed MDA may be used against you later at the final hearing. The other side can use your agreement as evidence against you. They will probably file a Motion to Enforce the MDA, which means that they will ask the court to enforce the MDA regardless of you not wanting the divorce to proceed. This generally won’t happen because a Tennessee divorce is going to require your agreement, unless the other side has been hurt by your signing the MDA.  Either way, get ready for a fight.  At Phillips Law, PLLC, we are ready to help you with that fight.

I have also represented several clients in Davidson County with relocation cases.  The two counties are very different in the way that they deal with the move of a family out of state.

The relocation statue has two different provisions that apply differently to parents wanting to relocate with their minor children.  The key is to look at two issues.  How much time the parents are spending with the children by practice.  And, how much time the parents are spending with the children by the parenting plan.

If you are planning to move out of Tennessee, you must understand the Relocation Statute.  Essentially, the idea is this:  If one of the parent desiring to relocate has more time with the child, they will probably be allowed to move, but a new parenting plan will probably be needed.  If both parents have equal time with the child or children, there will be a fight and the court will determine what is in the best interest of the children.  This “best interest test” will determine whether the child can relocate with the moving parent.

The statute reads as follows:

Tennessee Relocation Statute
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-108
§ 36-6-108. Parental relocation
(a) If a parent who is spending intervals of time with a child desires to relocate outside the state or more than one hundred (100) miles from the other parent within the state, the relocating parent shall send a notice to the other parent at the other parent’s last known address by registered or certified mail. Unless excused by the court for exigent circumstances, the notice shall be mailed not later than sixty (60) days prior to the move. The notice shall contain the following:
(1) Statement of intent to move;
(2) Location of proposed new residence;
(3) Reasons for proposed relocation; and
(4) Statement that the other parent may file a petition in opposition to the move within thirty(30) days of receipt of the notice.
(b) Unless the parents can agree on a new visitation schedule, the relocating parent shall file a petition seeking to alter visitation. The court shall consider all relevant factors, including those factors enumerated within subsection (d). The court shall also consider the availability of alternative arrangements to foster and continue the child’s relationship with and access to the other parent. The court shall assess the costs of transporting the child for visitation and determine whether a deviation from the child support guidelines should be considered in light of all factors including, but not limited to, additional costs incurred for transporting the child for visitation.
(c) If the parents are actually spending substantially equal intervals of time with the child and the relocating parent seeks to move with the child, the other parent may, within thirty (30) days of receipt of notice, file a petition in opposition to removal of the child. No presumption in favor of or against the request to relocate with the child shall arise. The court shall determine whether or not to permit relocation of the child based upon the best interests of the child. The court shall consider all relevant factors including the following where applicable:
(1) The extent to which visitation rights have been allowed and exercised;
(2) Whether the primary residential parent, once out of the jurisdiction, is likely to comply
with any new visitation arrangement;
(3) The love, affection and emotional ties existing between the parents and child;
(4) The disposition of the parents to provide the child with food, clothing, medical care, education and other necessary care and the degree to which a parent has been the primary caregiver;
(5) The importance of continuity in the child’s life and the length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment;
(6) The stability of the family unit of the parents;
(7) The mental and physical health of the parents;
(8) The home, school and community record of the child;
(9) The reasonable preference of the child if twelve (12) years of age or older. The court may hear the preference of a younger child upon request. The preferences of older children should normally be given greater weight than those of younger children;
(10) Evidence of physical or emotional abuse to the child, to the other parent or to any other person; and
(11) The character and behavior of any other person who resides in or frequents the home of a parent and such person’s interactions with the child.
(d) If the parents are not actually spending substantially equal intervals of time with the child and the parent spending the greater amount of time with the child proposes to relocate with the child, the other parent may, within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notice, file a petition in opposition to removal of the child. The other parent may not attempt to relocate with the child unless expressly authorized to do so by the court pursuant to a change of custody or primary custodial responsibility. The parent spending the greater amount of time with the child shall be permitted to relocate with the child unless the court finds:
(1) The relocation does not have a reasonable purpose;
(2) The relocation would pose a threat of specific and serious harm to the child which outweighs the threat of harm to the child of a change of custody; or
(3) The parent’s motive for relocating with the child is vindictive in that it is intended to defeat or deter visitation rights of the non-custodial parent or the parent spending less time with the child.
Specific and serious harm to the child includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) If a parent wishes to take a child with a serious medical problem to an area where no adequate treatment is readily available;
(2) If a parent wishes to take a child with specific educational requirements to an area with no acceptable education facilities;
(3) If a parent wishes to relocate and take up residence with a person with a history of child or domestic abuse or who is currently abusing alcohol or other drugs;
(4) If the child relies on the parent not relocating who provides emotional support, nurturing and development such that removal would result in severe emotional detriment to the child;
(5) If the custodial parent is emotionally disturbed or dependent such that the custodial parent is not capable of adequately parenting the child in the absence of support systems currently in place
in this state, and such support system is not available at the proposed relocation site; or
(6) If the proposed relocation is to a foreign country whose public policy does not normally
enforce the visitation rights of non-custodial parents, which does not have an adequately functioning
legal system or which otherwise presents a substantial risk of specific and serious harm to the child.
(e) If the court finds one (1) or more of the grounds designated in subsection (d), the court shall
determine whether or not to permit relocation of the child based on the best interest of the child. If
the court finds it is not in the best interests of the child to relocate as defined herein, but the parent
with whom the child resides the majority of the time elects to relocate, the court shall make a
custody determination and shall consider all relevant factors including the following where
applicable:
(1) The extent to which visitation rights have been allowed and exercised;
(2) Whether the primary residential parent, once out of the jurisdiction, is likely to comply
with any new visitation arrangement;
(3) The love, affection and emotional ties existing between the parents and child;
(4) The disposition of the parents to provide the child with food, clothing, medical care,
education and other necessary care and the degree to which a parent has been the primary caregiver;
(5) The importance of continuity in the child’s life and the length of time the child has lived in
a stable, satisfactory environment;
(6) The stability of the family unit of the parents;
(7) The mental and physical health of the parents;
(8) The home, school and community record of the child;
(9) The reasonable preference of the child if twelve (12) years of age or older. The court may
hear the preference of a younger child upon request. The preferences of older children should
normally be given greater weight than those of younger children;
(10) Evidence of physical or emotional abuse to the child, to the other parent or to any other
person; and
(11) The character and behavior of any other person who resides in or frequents the home of a
parent and such person’s interactions with the child.
The court shall consider the availability of alternative arrangements to foster and continue the
child’s relationship with and access to the other parent. The court shall assess the costs of
transporting the child for visitation, and determine whether a deviation from the child support
guidelines should be considered in light of all factors including, but not limited to, additional costs
incurred for transporting the child for visitation.
(f) Nothing in this section shall prohibit either parent from petitioning the court at any time to
address issues, (such as, but not limited to visitation), other than a change of custody related to the
move. In the event no petition in opposition to a proposed relocation is filed within thirty (30) days
of receipt of the notice, the parent proposing to relocate with the child shall be permitted to do so.
(g) It is the legislative intent that the gender of the parent who seeks to relocate for the reason of
career, educational, professional, or job opportunities, or otherwise, shall not be a factor in favor or
against the relocation of such parent with the child.

The outcome of this hearing can be determinative of how fast the divorce will proceed. If one side or the other gets an upper hand and receives a great deal of financial support it can end their incentive to move with any speed to the final hearing.

If you are having a hard time negotiating an uncontested divorce with your spouse and they make more money than you, you might want to consider filing a motion for support.

The Ethical Rules for Lawyers in Tennessee allow a lawyer to offer what are called unbundled legal services.  Essentially, a lawyer may limit the scope of his or her representation to assist the client at a much lower cost.  This can be good for both the client and lawyer.

I am thinking about offering these limited legal services for clients.  We have a new website www.invisiblelawyer.com that is going to offer a way for clients to retain and use our lawyers, without having the lawyers actually appear in court.  This should be a huge savings to our clients.  If the client needs a lawyer, we will of course, either offer the full services or we will refer to an appropriate and reputable attorney.

I am interested in comments from those who read the blog.  Look at our website  www.invisiblelawyer.com and let me know what you thinks.  Below is how it works.

You pay a one-time retainer fee of $100.  This makes you an active member of Invisible Lawyer.  You never have to pay this again, even if you stop and start our service in the future.  Once you have become a member, you choose from one of three packages of legal services.

BRONZE PACKAGE:  For $24.99 a month, you get document creation, case management and case guidance.  This packages offers all of the basic features of document review, correspondence, evaluation and self diagnosis of case law.  This is the best package for uncontested divorces, adoptions, basic wills or simple business matters.

SILVER PACKAGE: For $49.99 a month, this is the package for our customers who need a little more TLC.  This package offers the same essential services as the Basic Service, but it also give you a legal coach.  This is our legal professional who will spend as much time as you need guiding you through your case.

GOLD PACKAGE:  For $99.99 a month, this package is designed for the pro se litigant that is working through a case to trial, or a small business that needs a legal professional on call.  The services in the package include:

• Legal advice: telephone calls, fax, mail, E-mail
• Advice about availability of alternative means to resolving the dispute, including mediation and arbitration.
• Evaluation of clients’ self-diagnosis of the case and advising client about legal rights.
• Guidance and procedural information for filing or serving documents.
• Reviewing correspondence and court documents.
• Preparing and/or suggesting documents to be prepared.
• Factual investigation: contacting witnesses, public record searches, in-depth interview of client.
• Legal research and analysis.
• Discovery: interrogatories, depositions, requests for document production.
• Planning for court appearances made by client, including simulated role playing with client.
• Backup and trouble-shooting during the trial.
• Referring client to other counsel and to other experts.
• Counseling client about possible appeal.
• Procedural assistance with appeal and assisting with substantive legal argumentation in appeal.
• Provide preventive planning and/or schedule legal check-ups.
• Other services as needed by the client.

We also offer a series of products, such as books, pamphlets or any other resource materials you may need for a low additional cost.

As part of the plan, child support will be ordered.  Although the parents of the minor children can agree to deviate the child support, the trend among the courts has been to strickly follow the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines.  In Tennessee, Child Support is set by using an income shares model.  This means that both parents income is considered for the child support calculation.  Under the Guidelines, most income will be considered for the parents’ gross income.  There are some exceptions, but essentially, the idea is that the child is the one recieving support, so all forms of income should be considered.  In addition, the child support guidelines also take into consideration whether or not either parent is paying child support for other children or has live at home children.  Each parent’s contribution to health and dental care is considered.  The day care is factored in.  Once all of these things have been factored into the child support calculator, it spits out a number.

In order to change child suport later, there must be a fifteen percent variance in the amount of child support.  This can be an upward or a downward change.  Generally, the Courts will review this only after a six month period has elapsed.