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Adopted children and divorce

On Behalf of | May 3, 2017 | Adoption |

For Tennessee parents who are getting a divorce and who have an adopted child, as long as both parents are legally adoptive parents, the process of negotiating custody and visitation is no different from if the child is a biological one. As with a biological child, a court will focus on the best interests of the child. The process is just as difficult as it is for parents of a biological child. This means that adoptive parents may need to keep a few tips in mind since the coparenting relationship could continue to be contentious after the divorce.

It is critical that each parent obey the order of the court in regards to custody or visitation. This is the case even if one parent disagrees with the lifestyle or parenting choices of the other. If the child is in danger, the parent may need to contact the police and go through the court system to get the custody and visitation agreement changed. Refusing to follow the schedule for any other reason could jeopardize a parent’s rights.

In many cases, a parent may only have visitation rights but might share full legal custody. This means that parent has the right to make major decisions about the child’s life, such as regarding their religion and education, and to be fully involved.

Parents who are unhappy with some aspect of co-parenting after the divorce may want to try to discussing the situation with each other. In many cases, parents may want to retain legal counsel to help them negotiate issues that arise. If the relationship between the parents is particularly contentious, then parents might prefer to keep all communication between their lawyers. They should try to keep their primary focus on the best interests of the child.

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