Too many fathers contact my office worried that they will have almost no chance of being named the Primary Residential Parent and will have very limited time with their children.  In my experience working with fathers, most simply do not want to be an “every other weekend” dad. I understand your desire to be as involved as possible with your children, and I am ready to advocate for your rights as a father.

Tennessee has made tremendous progress toward establishing more equal father’ rights. Fathers in Tennessee are guaranteed certain rights when it comes to the care and custody of their children. Tennessee courts no longer consider the gender of parents when determining which parent will have custody. Furthermore, in 2011, the Tennessee legislature passed a new law related to parenting time with children, which states that “the court shall order a custody arrangement that permits both parents to enjoy the maximum participation possible in the life of the child”.

There is no law that mandates a 50/50 parenting schedule, though they are becoming more common. Many judges still do not favor these 50/50 schedules, tub there are ways to maximize your time with the children, with the help of an experienced custody lawyer.

If you have spent very little time with your children, if your children are very small or if you have criminal issues in your past, you need a knowledgeable custody and visitation attorney to fight for your rights in court and ensure that you are given time to visit with your children.

If you are facing a divorce or custody lawsuit, or if you desire to spend more time with your children, you need an experienced family law attorney to protect your rights. Fathers need to work with an attorney who understands the hurdles and biases they face as men. Call today to discuss how you can maximize your parenting time, protect your children and safeguard your parental relationship.