Nashville Fathers' Rights Attorneys

Tennessee Law Protects Your Rights as a Father

Under T.C.A. § 36-6-101(d), Tennessee courts are prohibited from using a parent’s gender as a factor for or against awarding custody. The law is explicit: being a father doesn’t put you at a disadvantage.

Tennessee law also promotes maximum parental involvement. Under T.C.A. § 36-6-106(a), the court must order a custody arrangement that lets both parents enjoy the maximum participation possible in the child’s life, consistent with the best-interest factors, the parents’ locations, and the child’s need for stability. Courts apply statutory best-interest factors to determine parenting time, and contested custody orders must include written findings of fact and conclusions of law. These provisions, combined with the gender-neutrality mandate, give fathers a strong legal framework when they’re seeking meaningful time with their children.

Under T.C.A. § 36-6-404, any final decree in an action for absolute divorce, legal separation, annulment, or separate maintenance involving a minor child must incorporate a permanent parenting plan. This document designates a primary residential parent (PRP) and an alternate residential parent (ARP), and it controls day-to-day scheduling, decision-making authority, holiday time, and transportation responsibilities. The terms in your parenting plan shape your relationship with your child for years, so getting them right the first time is critical.

How Tennessee Law Treats Unmarried Fathers

Married fathers have a legal presumption of parentage. Unmarried fathers don’t. In Tennessee, an unmarried mother holds sole custody until the father establishes paternity through a court order. Signing a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity at the hospital isn’t enough. Without a court order, you have no legal right to custody or visitation, regardless of your involvement in the child’s life.

Fathers’ Rights Cases We Handle in Nashville

Fathers come to us at different points in their family law journey. Some are unmarried fathers who need to establish paternity before they can pursue custody rights. Others are going through a contested divorce and fighting for meaningful parenting time. We handle the full range:

• Paternity establishment for unmarried fathers seeking custody or visitation
• Child custody and parenting plan development, including primary residential parent designation
• Parenting time and visitation disputes, including enforcement of court-ordered schedules
• Child support establishment, calculation, and modification
• Custody and support modifications based on a substantial and material change in circumstances
• Parental alienation cases where one parent interferes with the father-child relationship
• Custody disputes during divorce, including contested parenting plans

Each of these matters carries different procedural requirements and evidentiary standards. From your first consultation, we map out the specific path your case requires and the steps we’ll take with you.

Why Nashville Fathers Choose Blood Law, PLLC

Our boutique model gives you the personal attention of a small firm backed by the collaborative resources of a full legal team. When your case needs a mediation strategy and a trial-ready backup plan at the same time, we have the depth to prepare both

We pursue alternative dispute resolution, including mediation, when it can support a faster, less adversarial resolution for you and your children. When negotiation stalls or the other side won’t act in good faith, we’re ready to litigate in Davidson County family court.

Communication is where many firms fall short and where we draw a hard line. You’ll know where your case stands, what your options are, and what realistic outcomes look like. No surprises, no weeks of silence. We set expectations early and update you consistently throughout the process.

Attorney Anna Blood founded this firm in 2017 with a clear vision: family law practiced with both empathy and intensity. Our attorneys contribute to podcasts and media as trusted voices in family law, and our team brings over 125 years of combined experience to every case. That depth shows up in courtroom preparation, settlement negotiations, and the tailored strategy we build around your family’s specific circumstances.