Welcome to the fastest and easiest way to find out about child custody law in Tennessee.
How to approach your child custody question depends on your personal circumstances. Most people find themselves wrestling with issues of parental responsibility at the time of a divorce from the child’s other parent. But child custody concerns arise in many other circumstances as well—for example, if a child’s parents never married or if a grandparent or other family member has concerns about a child’s wellbeing.
Here, you'll find clear and accurate information about how to get custody of a child, including:
To start, here are some important things to keep in mind if you find yourself facing a possible child custody fight:
Learn about the child custody resources available to you at the Tennessee's 95 County Family Courts.
Tennessee courts use the "best interest of the child" standard to make child custody decisions. Specifically, judges refer to Tennessee Code Section 36-6-106 which says in part:
In a suit for annulment, divorce, separate maintenance, or in any other proceeding requiring the court to make a custody determination regarding a minor child, the determination shall be made on the basis of the best interest of the child. more...
