Legal Question in Family Law in Tennessee

Child Custody second thoughts.........need help

I am a 19-year-old mother of an 11 month old girl. Her father and I have seperated and filed for divorce. We already signed the maritial dissolution agreement papers and all that, but her father has not followed up on anything he was supposed to do. He was supposed to have her 2 weekends ago, but never showed up, so we switched it to last weekend, but the same thing happened. He's also supposed to have her one day a week, but that hasn't happened either. We've been seperated for almost 3 months, and he's only bought her one pack of diapers and one pack of baby wipes. If he's not going to call or make any effort to see her or take care of her, but i've already signed the papers, what can I do? What options do I have?


Asked on 11/30/02, 3:35 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jes Beard Jes Beard, Attorney at Law

Re: Child Custody second thoughts.........need help

The first thing you should do is to speak with an attorney directly. If you want to call my office, feel free to. On your underlying question, simply because you signed the Marital Dissolution Agreement and Parenting Plan and Final Decree, does NOT mean you can't change your mind. Until the JUDGE signs things and makes all of that an Order of the Court it doesn't bind anyone. But since you have the child and I would be that is the principal thing you want, why get upset that the father does not come to pick up the child when scheduled. You will NEVER be able to force him to do that. Regarding support, until the judge signs the Order, he really is not REQUIRED to pay. If he fails to do so afterwards you can take him back to court for contempt and ask the judge to put him in jail for failing to pay.

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Answered on 12/02/02, 9:17 am


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