Legal Question in Family Law in Tennessee

I am the step-mother of a 13 yr old girl

we reside in Tn. Her Mother has to have mental troubles/bi-polar, etc because she does not always act ''right''. The child's maternal grandmother and great-grandmother was/is hospitalized. The child's mother has seemed to be getting worse lately. Is there anyway to do something to get custody or make the mother get tested, counseling, etc? Also, she seems really threatened by me lately. She doesn't want me to have any responsibilities toward the child at all. If, for example, I were taking the child to school and had a car wreak could the mother sue me if the child was hurt?


Asked on 1/24/07, 2:46 pm

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

Re: I am the step-mother of a 13 yr old girl

Could you be sued for negligently causing injuring to the child? Yes. That is one of the reasons to carry insurance. As to the more important question of what you should do, for the child or to pursue custody, this is something your husband (as father of the child) will have to pursue. Contact an attorney and schedule an appointment to go back to court for a Petition to Modify seeking primary parenting responsibility of the child. Check my website at jesbeard.com for general information and feel free to give me a call to discuss the specifics of your case.

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Answered on 1/28/07, 9:36 am


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