Harmony Family Center on the Journey of Adoption
Friday, July 24th, 2020
Guest blog by Harmony Family Center. When you hear the word “adoption,” what comes to mind? You might be surprised that adoption in the United States and here in Tennessee often doesn’t look like what you imagine — a baby brought home from the hospital by their forever family or adoption from another country. In fact, most […]
Read More »COVID Divorces: What You Need to Know
Monday, July 20th, 2020
COVID-19 is not just impacting how we co-parent. It’s having undeniable effects on the divorce process. Social distancing and isolation measures have put an unusual degree of strain on marriages. The inability to see extended family, to have a drink with friends, or even just spend some time alone can create tension in the happiest […]
Read More »An Open Letter to Mental Health Professionals
Wednesday, July 15th, 2020
Dear Mental Health Professionals: I am a family lawyer. For the last 25 years, I have represented families in crisis. I have read reports, deposed and examined psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed clinical social workers and mental health professionals more times than I can count. The questions I get the most from folks in your field are, […]
Read More »Adoption Resources: The First Steps to a Bigger Family
Wednesday, June 24th, 2020
Beginning the adoption process often feels overwhelming. Finding out where to start is a good first step. Luckily, there are a variety of adoption resources available to prospective adoptive families. Below, we have outlined some of those resources for people looking to welcome a new addition to their family. Tennessee State Adoption Assistance Program ⇨ […]
Read More »Adult Adoption: Formalizing a Family
Friday, June 19th, 2020
When people think of adoptions, they most think of the process of adopting a child. However, adults can be adopted. Adult adoption involving an individual over the age of 18 occurs primarily for 2 reasons: to formalize an existing parental relationship, or for inheritance purposes. Many people are not raised by their biological parents. However, […]
Read More »The Adoption Process in Tennessee
Thursday, June 11th, 2020
The adoption process in Tennessee is lengthy but worth it. The steps include terminating biological parental rights, determining eligibility, completing a home study, and formalizing the adoption. Terminating Rights To adopt a child in Tennessee, the parental rights of the biological parents of the child must be terminated. The state may terminate parental rights when […]
Read More »Abandonment and Terminating Parental Rights
Tuesday, May 5th, 2020
Before a child can be adopted, the biological parent(s) must have their rights terminated. The most common (and easiest) way to terminate those rights is to prove that the biological parent(s) have “abandoned” the child. A parent is guilty of legal abandonment if, for a period of four consecutive months, they either fail to visit or […]
Read More »Visitation and Custody During the Pandemic
Friday, April 17th, 2020
Visitation and custody during the pandemic is complex and uncharted territory. At Held Law Firm, we are flooded with calls from clients worried about their children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number one question we hear relates to whether Governor Lee’s Executive Order allows certain activities for children. The second concern is that the other parent is not […]
Read More »Transgender Parents and Custody Disputes
Monday, April 13th, 2020
Determining whether a parent is fit for custody can be complicated. Transgender parents going through a divorce face the alarming possibility that their identity could factor into a court’s ruling on custody. While courts cannot deem a parent “fit” based solely on gender identity, some states have upheld the termination of transgender parental rights without […]
Read More »My Ex Isn’t Following Our Parenting Plan: What Now?
Monday, April 6th, 2020
Custody disputes can be quite contentious and involve heated emotions. When it comes to their children, most people are not eager to compromise. It is not surprising that many parents encounter further disputes due to another parent not following the permanent parenting plan established by the court. Child custody disputes end with a permanent parenting plan (PPP) […]
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