LGBTQ Estate Planning
Monday, April 19th, 2021
People rarely enjoy talking about what will happen to their things when they die. But, especially if you belong to the LGBTQ community, you must. First, get a lawyer and draft your will. If you die without a will, state law will give your property to someone you are related to by blood. You […]
Read More »LGBTQ+ Adoptions in Tennessee
Wednesday, November 11th, 2020
Tennessee law permits persons who identify as LGBTQ+ to adopt children to the same extent as persons identifying as heterosexual and cisgender, so long as they meet the general requirements for adoption under Tennessee law. However, persons identifying as LGBTQ+ should be aware that Tennessee law does not require private adoption agencies—even those that get […]
Read More »Grandparent Adoption
Thursday, November 5th, 2020
You Are Not Alone When you are in your fifties or sixties, you are likely looking forward to retirement. It probably doesn’t occur to you that you might need to raise your grandchildren. But grandparent adoption happens. According to a study conducted by the Council on Aging, in Tennessee, over 70,000 grandparents are raising their […]
Read More »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 In adopting 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 […]
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