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...
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...
