Legal Question in Family Law in Tennessee

Re: After paternity is established can the father be required to visit the child

While attorney David Waldrop is correct in his post that you can not make a parent visit a child, there is a way to get a court to ENCOURAGE it.

Under TN law, if a parent does nto visit with a child as much as contemplated under the state's child support guidelines (in other words about 80-110 days a year, the court is allowed to INCREASE child support to reflect the increased expense the custodial parent has. You can press the issue and once he begins visiting let it go.

There is often more than one way to skin a cat.

Re: After paternity is established can the father be required to visit the child

You cannot make your child's father have a relationship him/her. However, you can require the father to support the child. I once heard a judge tell a father, " I cannot make you love your child, but I can make you support him."

I suggest you try speaking with the father or his parents so he understands the child wants a relationship with him. Also make sure you are not doing anything to discourage a relationship. It is better your child figure out his/her father is a jerk rather than you telling the child such.