The short answer is yes, provided the person doing the adopting is an adult and meets the other standard qualifications. Adoption by sibling falls under the category of adoption by a relative, also known as a kinship adoption. Generally, adoption agencies do like to keep families together, so kinship adoptions are encouraged whenever possible. Situations [...]
In an early news story, USA Today reported that the popular Bonnaroo festival resulted in 100 citations and four arrests on the first day. Most of the 100 citations were for “minor” drug offenses. About two in five of the citations were made while people were working their way to the festival. The 40 entry [...]
On July 1, 2018, Tennessee’s new parental relocation statute became law. The main difference from prior law is that prior law made it easier for a parent to relocate if the parent who was relocating was spending comparatively equal time with a child as the parent who wasn’t moving. Prior law made it harder for [...]
Parole and probation are similar in some ways, different in others. Both terms apply to anyone convicted of a crime. Both terms require that the person convicted comply with all related conditions. Noncompliance with parole or probation conditions can mean that the convicted person will be confined in a jail or prison. Tennessee generally defines [...]
Many couples have joint bank accounts during their marriage. Each spouse has the right to make deposits into the account. Generally, each spouse has the right to withdraw from the account any amount that is in the account. Spouses often create joint accounts for practical and romantic reasons. Practically, the couple is pooling their resources [...]
Wish TV reported on May 30, 2019, that a woman suspected of driving under the influence gave a text-book response to the Carter County deputy who requested she submit to field sobriety tests. Unfortunately, the text-book reply covered pretty much everything you shouldn’t do if requested to take a field sobriety test. The woman driver [...]
Sometimes, when parents get divorced, they become a bit competitive for the child’s affections. One parent may allow the child to get away with breaking rules. The other parent may attempt to buy the child’s affection. We caution our clients against this type of behavior, but we know that in some cases, it’s inevitable. There [...]
The Bonnaroo festival is around the corner. In just a few weeks, tens of thousands of tourists will join local Manchester, Tennessee residents in several days of great music and fun. The festival is a place where all visitors can relax and enjoy having a good time. For some visitors, though, the festival can become [...]
Adoptions generally happen in a few ways. A stepparent may want to adopt a child if the non-spousal parent is deceased or has no interest in raising the child. Parents often adopt new children through adoption agencies so the child can be part of a loving family. There are some situations where family members may [...]
The Tennessean reported on April 30, 2019, that federal and state law enforcement agencies arrested a Brentwood woman as a result of a sting operation. The arrest involved allegations of “trafficking juveniles for the purpose of illicit sex.” The report was based on a press release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The sting was [...]
Drinking and driving is dangerous at any age. For teenagers, it is especially dangerous. This is in part because teenagers think they can handle anything. Teens often don’t think through that just one drink can impair their ability to control their cars. Having a BAC of .08 is equivalent to driving after being awake for [...]
There are high-asset divorces and then there are high-asset divorces. NBC News recently reported that Jeff Bezos and his wife settled their family law matters. The end of the marriage became public when both spouses made announcements on Twitter. Mr. Bezos, according to the story, is the richest person in the world. In addition to [...]
This year’s Bonnaroo music festival is fast-approaching. The national event will run from June 13 to June 16, 2019. The four-day event takes place on the Great Stage Park (a 650-acre farm) in Manchester, Tennessee. The festival attracts a broad range of musical styles including classic rock, indie rock, folk, bluegrass, country, gospel, pop, jazz, [...]
State representatives in Tennessee have introduced a bipartisan bill that make joint custody, or shared parenting, the presumption in custody disputes. In Tennessee, when spouses divorce, decisions need to be made about which parents will have legal and physical custody of the children. Legal custody decides who will make decisions about the child’s health, education, [...]
The ability to obtain divorce records varies depending on the year you were divorced. Most recent divorce records from 1949 through 2019 can be accessed at the following office: Tennessee Department of Health Office of Vital Records 1st Floor, Central Services Building 421 5th Avenue, North Nashville, TN 37243 The records are kept in a [...]
Music festivals and promoters are beginning to take sexual assault safeguards more seriously. Do LaB, a music promoter in LA, is holding training classes on sexual harassment for fans and staff at music festivals. They also provide a medical team “specifically trained to fight sexual harassment as well as counselors available for any victims.” The [...]
In deciding how to assign legal and physical custody, judges always focus on what is in the best interests of the child. Generally, courts like to have parents share legal custody unless there are strong reasons why only parent shouldn’t have any legal custody. One parent is usually granted (primary) residential custody, and the other [...]
In a unanimous Supreme Court opinion, the nine Justices ruled in February 2019 that the US Constitution’s Eighth Amendment ban on excessive fines applied to the 50 states. The case before the Court was on appeal from the Indiana Supreme Court which has ruled that the government could seize a defendant’s $40,000 Land Rover even [...]
Separations are a middle ground for most Tennessee couples. This means the spouses do recognize that that marital relationship isn’t working, but they aren’t ready to terminate the marriage. Separations generally require that the spouses live apart. Tennessee may resolve some issues such as child custody and child support at the time of the legal [...]
The Bonnaroo music festival in Tennessee is a wonderful experience for thousands and thousands of music lovers each June. The festival draws people from across the county. While many attendees love the performances, there are hundreds of people each year who are charged with crossing the line. These few hundred people are charged with selling [...]
