Chapter 6 of Title 36 in the Tennessee Code contains all of the laws and state information about child custody. This is important information for anyone involved in a custody situation. Here are some of the more applicable rules that parents should know.

The Tennessee parenting plan. The law requires parents in Tennessee to have a parenting plan. The plan must be submitted and accepted by the court. The plan must: provide for the child’s changing needs, establish the authority of each parent with regard to making decisions, minimize the child’s exposure to harmful conflict, and include a residential schedule. The residential schedule is a Tennessee custody schedule and should show where the child is every day of the year.

The standard of the child’s best interest. The court will make decisions about custody according to what is in the best interest of the child. Chapter 6 outlines some of the factors that the state thinks influences what is best for the child: the love and affection between the parents and the child; the disposition of the parents to provide the child with food, medical care, clothing, education, and other necessary provisions; the length of time the child has lived in a stable, safe environment; the stability of the family unit of the parents; the mental and physical health of the parents; the child’s home, school, and community record; the request of the child; each parents’ past or future potential for the performance of parental responsibilities; and the character of persons residing in the parents’ homes. All of these factors should be considered as a mother and father make a Tennessee custody agreement.

Custody may be awarded to either parent. The father or mother may be awarded custody, or the parents can have a shared parenting agreement. The law states that if parents can agree on a Tennessee visitation schedule, the court will accept it. If they cannot cooperate, the court can determine what the schedule will be–along with deciding the other custody arrangements. ]]> http://www.custodyxchange.com/blog/2010/01/tennessee-child-custody/feed/ 0