Know the Laws: Tennessee
UPDATED February 2, 2007
WomensLaw.org is in the process of adding more information about custody laws in Tennessee. For now, we have provided links to information we hope you find helpful. (WomensLaw.org has no relationship with these organizations and does not endorse their services. We provide these links for your information only.)
General Information about Custody and Visitation in Tennessee
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Tennessee Legal Aid
- Tennessee Child Custody and Support Guidelines
- Types of Child Custody
- Common Questions about Child Custody and Visitation
How will the judge make a decision about custody?
Definitions
Below is general information about custody – not specific to TN.
After custody is in place
back to topIf a custody order is already in place, how can I get it changed?
If you have a custody order already in place, you can ask the original court that issued the order to make changes or modify it. Generally, you can only ask to have a custody order modified if there has been a change in circumstances.
Example: If there are new allegations or new evidence of abuse, that may count as a change in circumstances. Major changes in either parent's financial or housing status may also count as a change in circumstances.
Generally, once a court has jurisdiction, that court will keep continuing jurisdiction, even if you move to another state. If you have moved, you can ask the court that issued the original order to change the jurisdiction to the new state that you are in. Under certain circumstances, you can ask the court in the new state to modify the order without going back to the original state. This is often complicated, and as with all custody issues, we recommend that you talk to a lawyer about this.
back to topCan I change the state where the custody case is being heard?
If you move to another state, you may be able to change the state where the custody case is being heard. Generally, the court hearing the case will need to be involved in this decision. This is a complicated issue and you should contact a lawyer if you wish to change that state where your custody case is being heard.