Legal Question in Family Law in Tennessee

help please

I have custody of my step grandchild. The pateral grandmother gets him every other weekend(court ordered)my agreement only for the parents visitations, which they do not exercise.My concern is when he comes back from his visits he has bruise marks on him, is very thirsty and now he saying the sh** word(he is only 21 mths.)This past weekend he came back with both hands full of tiny prickers off of a cactus plant, some got in his eyes, i had to take him to the E.R. I contacted the D.C.S here and they went to look at her house and found nothing really wrong, just a dog and 3 cats (doctors orders, no animals he is allergic to them) He has to stay on zyrtec alot now because of his allergies,it takes a week to get them under control then he goes back over there and gets right back into the same shape.Question is, i do not have any money for a lawyer to help with this and i am afraid he is going to suffer in the long run or end up getting hurt real bad.His parents are drug heads and do not call me or visit with him here at the house and offer no child support for him at all. What can i do to protect this innocent child? His dad is border-line diabetic and she continues to give him candy, i'm so afraid for his life, please help! thanks


Asked on 4/18/05, 10:55 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Autry Jones Jones & Landers, Attorneys At Law

Re: help please

The court that ordered the visitation initially could modify the visitation to reduce the current visitation or eliminate it altogether. The court will determine what's in the best interest for the child and modify the current visitation based on proof that's offered in a court hearing. Since it is not likely you will get the paternal grandparents to agree to a reduction or termination of the current schedule, you will have to have a hearing. I would strongly suggest hiring an attorney as it may not be as cut and dry as it appears.

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Answered on 4/20/05, 9:51 pm


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