by Dawn Coppock | Jan 11, 2026 | Adoption, Attorneys & Courts, Foster Parents, General, News Events, Tax
The adoption tax credit is a lovely thing. It offers a direct financial benefit to families who adopt. The benefit is better for families who adopt special needs children. There is much written about the policy and mechanics of the federal adoption tax credit. It is...
by Dawn Coppock | Jan 4, 2026 | Adoption, Attorneys & Courts, Legislation
Have a look at 2025 TN Public Chapter 500. Basically, it requires that when we give notice by publication in a newspaper, we must also publish in a paid local online platform, where one exists. But the TN Press Association already has a free...
by Dawn Coppock | Nov 25, 2025 | Adoption, Attorneys & Courts, Legislation
A child adopted abroad by Tennessee parents may obtain a report of foreign birth from the Tennessee Department of Vital Records. That is not new. Note, immigration is top of mind just now, that a Tennessee adoption of a child born abroad requires proof of the child’s...
by Dawn Coppock | Nov 3, 2025 | Adoption, Attorneys & Courts
In 2024, the form to amend a Tennessee birth certificate after adoption, a Certificate of Adoption, was revised to remove the previously required court certification. Tennessee Department of Vital Records requires instead, that a certified copy of the final order of...
by Dawn Coppock | Oct 20, 2025 | Adoption, Attorneys & Courts, General, Seminars
Increased Care with Identity Documents Advised And A Suggested Approach for Unresponsive Government Agencies Identity documents have become increasingly requested and regulated since 9/11. That trend has accelerated as immigration and gender identity have...
by Dawn Coppock | Aug 29, 2025 | Adoption, Attorneys & Courts, General, Legislation, Seminars
Registration will open by the end of September for Good Law’s flagship seminar, Adoption Law School*, but this time as an on-demand course. You asked for it, and finally, Dawn’s done it. 15 hours of CLE, including 3 hours of ethics credit, will be open for...
by Dawn Coppock | Aug 3, 2025 | Adoption, Attorneys & Courts, Foster Parents, Legislation, News Events
On May 19, 2025, a class action on behalf of 13 Tennessee foster children was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee against the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, alleging significant systemic failures,...
by Dawn Coppock | Mar 3, 2025 | Attorneys & Courts, General, News Events, Seminars
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...
by Dawn Coppock | Nov 18, 2024 | Adoption, Legislation
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...
by Dawn Coppock | May 13, 2024 | Adoption, Attorneys & Courts, Foster Parents
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...
