Building Families

For over 30 years, Dawn has been serving Adoptive, Foster, and Birth Parents and Adoption Attorneys in Tennessee.

Tennessee Adoption Attorney

Accepting Attorney Consults
And Mediation Only

Dawn Coppock is Tennessee’s Leading Adoption Attorney. She is now retired and no longer accepts new direct client matters.  She remains available to assist with attorney consults and mediation by appointment only.

Dawn is experienced, competent, easy to talk with, diligent and sensitive to delicate adoption issues.

Dawn is on the executive committee of the Tennessee Bar Association Adoption Committee and is a member of many other professional organizations. She trains other lawyers, judges and adoption professionals, consults with other lawyers, and is a certified Rule 31 Family Law Mediator.

 

Coppock on Tennessee Adoption Law

Dawn is the author of the legal treatise
Coppock on Tennessee Adoption Law.

Click here for information about the 8th Edition.

See the Tennessee Bar Journal Book Review!

For
On-Demand Seminars

See www.goodlawtn.com 

Young beautiful woman looking at the screen of a laptop and smiling

About Dawn Coppock

Tennessee Adoption Attorney, Author, and Teacher

Nothing is closer to the bone than family. You must feel comfortable with the competence, values and ethics of your lawyer before you place the creation of your family in their hands.  You may want to get to know Dawn a little. That’s fair. 

In 1997, Dawn wrote the book on Tennessee Adoption law. She’s kept it up-to-date ever since. Coppock on Tennessee Adoption Law is now in its 8th edition and is the go-to adoption law resource for judges and lawyers in Tennessee.

For years, Dawn has been training lawyers, judges, prospective adoptive parents, students, community groups, public and private adoption agencies and has been a media resource regarding adoption law and child welfare.

Dawn Coppock, Adoption Attorney

Testimonials From Dawn’s Clients

“Dawn provided us the wisdom of a trusted family friend, the knowledge of an expert in her field, and unparalleled compassion in some of the most trying moments of our lives. She is unflinchingly honest and a consummate professional. Her instincts for people and situations are sharp. She is experienced and she is dedicated. We hold her in the highest regard as an essential part of our family’s story.”

Former Client

Dawn Coppock represented us during all four of our adoptions, and we never had to worry about anything being overlooked. She and her staff are extremely meticulous and pay attention to every detail, and are also very caring and compassionate. Dawn walked with us through every step of the legal process, and rejoiced with us and our four blessings when our adoptions were finalized. We are thankful for her knowledge and expertise, and have recommended her to our friends.

Sam and Rita Grindstaff

“Tony and I would not consider using anyone but the Dawn Coppock team. Adoption is a scary and stressful process, and to know that you have an experienced, and caring team that is watching out for every aspect with your family’s interests at heart, is a Godsend. They Are Amazing!!!”

The Amos Family

Blog & Resources

DAWN COPPOCK is retiring from the practice of law.

I know I just said I wasn’t retiring, and that was true when I said it. Now it isn’t. I started declining new cases today. By April 7, 2025 I will be retired, except for a few outstanding cases and on-demand seminar production. I had expected to retire near my husband...

Update your termination of parental rights pleadings with the new notice to incarcerated respondent birth parents effective July 1, 2024.

Effective for Petitions filed on or after July 1, 2024, the new notice is: T.C.A. § 36-1-113 (f) (1) A parent or guardian who is incarcerated at the time the parent is served with a petition to terminate parental rights shall receive notice that: (A) A...

A Foster Child’s Relationship to Foster Parents Acquires More Legal Significance As Time Passes

At 6 months, the foster child’s relationship with foster parents becomes a “significant relationship,” so it has weight when compared with other nonparental, pre-removal relationships. At 9 months, the foster parents don’t just get notice of hearings regarding the...