Knoxville Paternity Lawsuits and Enforcement of Visitation Rights
Paternity Lawsuits
In juvenile courts or divorce courts, Tennessee paternity lawsuits are filed by either fathers or mothers to establish rights and relations between parents and children. Mothers or fathers may seek custody or visitation rights, child support or other orders regarding their children.
DNA testing may be required to determine paternity, either by agreement of the parties or by orders of the courts.
Enforcement of Visitation
Especially after a parent and child, or children, move away from a state that granted a divorce, or where a child or children were born outside of marriage, visitation or child support rights may be hard to enforce without a lawyer. This is governed by Tennessee Code 36-4-401 "Parenting Plans Findings".
Often, a parent moves away from the state that granted a divorce or paternity order, leaving the other parent behind with far less contact with the child or children. Sometimes, a child or children may be brought to Tennessee by a parent who does not want to help the other parent have a relation to the child or children.
Due to distance or financial reasons, visitation between a far away parent and the child or children may require a court to modify prior visitation or child support arrangements. Child support may be required changed, due to the effects of such a move and the cost of travel to maintain a relation to the child or children.
Attorney William C. Cremins works with either parent in such cases to ensure rights regarding the child or children are protected. If a parent won’t let another visit or talk to a child or children after such a move, Tennessee courts may order that a parental relation not be hurt because of the move. If a parent hides a child or children from another parent, who won’t play such games with other people’s emotions, Tennessee courts may order a custody change so that the child or children will be able to have a relation to both parents. A parent who flees with a child or children to deprive the other parent of a relation to the child or children risks losing custody and having to have supervised visitation.
Anyone victimized by a parent who kidnapped or hid a child from the other parent may seek a court order giving custody to the parent who won’t deprive the child of a relation to both parents. In all but the most terrible cases, a child benefits from a loving relation with both parents.
Tennessee courts won’t let one parent deprive the other parent, or a child, of that relation. Your rights to your child may be jeopardized if a claim is made in juvenile court that your child is dependent and neglected. Before talking to anyone, discuss your case with experienced counsel.
Additional resources:
36-4-404 "Requirements of and Procedure for Determining Parenting Plans"
36-6-405 "Modifying Permanent Parenting Plans"
Contact William C. Cremins or call 1-855-235-8924 for more information about Knoxville custody issues.