by Dawn Coppock | Apr 4, 2024 | Adoption, Attorneys & Courts, Foster Parents
Adoption assistance is a program to assist adoptive families of special needs children. The program is state-administered with the majority of funding from the federal government and a state contribution as well. The benefits are usually a monthly stipend and health...
by Dawn Coppock | Mar 26, 2024 | Adoption, Attorneys & Courts, Foster Parents, General, Legislation
Question: I understand that the waiting period for adoption, the time the child must live with the prospective adoptive family before the adoption can be finalized, has been reduced from 6 months to 3 months, correct? Answer: Not exactly. The waiting period is still 6...
by Dawn Coppock | Aug 16, 2023 | Adoption, Attorneys & Courts, News Events
This is not a debated or murky point of Tennessee law. You just can. I do 2 or 3 adult adoptions a year and I have for decades. See Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-1-117(j). (1) When the person sought to be adopted is eighteen (18) years of age or older, only the...
by Dawn Coppock | Jul 13, 2023 | Attorneys & Courts, Foster Parents, Legislation
Effective July 1, 2023 Big addition to foster parent’s right to participate in hearings. T.C.A. § 37-2-415 (a)(17) – (Public Chapter 263)For some time, the court has been required to promptly notify foster parents of all court hearings regarding...
by Dawn Coppock | Jan 9, 2023 | Adoption, Attorneys & Courts, General, Legislation, News Events
Public outcry is needed for Tennessee to fix the Department of Children’s Services – Opinion – By Dawn Coppock – Published by The Tennessean, The Knoxville News Sentinel & The Commercial Appeal – January 4, 2023. Click the blue link...
by Dawn Coppock | Jul 6, 2021 | Legislation
Read it here: – TBA Journal – July / August 2021
by Dawn Coppock | Apr 26, 2021 | Legislation
On April 22, 2021, the Governor signed HB200/SB205, new factors for judges to consider to determine the best interest of a child in a termination of a parental rights case. My detailed analysis is HERE.
by Dawn Coppock | Mar 30, 2021 | Legislation
Click above to play the legislative advocacy video. Sample legislator letter below: Dear Senator (or Representative) Schmo: I live in XXXX (If you live in the lawmaker’s district). I am an attorney/adoptive parent/ environmental engineer/teacher/go to church...
by Dawn Coppock | Feb 1, 2021 | Adoption, Attorneys & Courts, General, Legislation, News Events
In Tennessee, to terminate a parent’s rights the petitioner (Agency or prospective adoptive parents) must prove grounds “against” the parent AND also must prove that termination of parental rights is in the child’s best interest. In most cases, proof of...
by Dawn Coppock | Nov 10, 2020 | Uncategorized
Adoption is a microcosm of values, politics, psychology, economics, public policy, emotion and aggressively competing interests. It is interesting, dynamic, and, in the past three legislative sessions here in Tennessee, very active. Let’s hit the high points....
