Legal Question in Family Law in Tennessee

religous decisions reguarding a child.

I am in the beginning stages of a divorce. My soon to be ex-wife associates with Jehovas Witnesses. They do not believe in celebrating any holidays. Christmas, birthdays, thanksgiving etc... I on the other hand do believe in them. The big problem is that they do not believe in receiving blood transfusions in a life or death situation.I will not let my son die. Will a judge even have the power to decide about my son's religous upbringing? Or is this a case of separation of church and state. Should I be able to exercise my beliefs when my son is with me?


Asked on 11/30/00, 7:45 pm

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

Re: religous decisions reguarding a child.

If the parents disagree on a child's religious upbringing, a court may consider that and rule on who can make those decisions. If a parent's religious belief's would put a child at risk, it should be brought to the court's attention.... but to say that she "associates with" members of a particular faith is not likely to get very far, and even if she herself joins that faith, the question is not what the FAITH believes should be done, but what SHE would do in a given situation.

I have much more general advice for parents in custody cases on my website at link 6B

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Answered on 12/10/00, 9:58 pm


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