title: "Tennessee Child Custody - Slim Packet v3"

state: "TN" | price: "$97" | updated: "2026-03-30"

Tennessee Child Custody Packet

Jurisdiction-correct document templates. Not legal advice.

ELIGIBILITY

• [ ] You are a parent, legal guardian, or person in loco parentis
• [ ] Child lives in TN or has lived here 6+ consecutive months (home state per T.C.A. § 36-6-101)
• [ ] No active DCS dependency/neglect case for this child
• [ ] Not seeking termination of parental rights
• [ ] If unmarried father: paternity established before filing custody
• [ ] No other state has active jurisdiction

Key statutes: Jurisdiction § 36-6-101 · Best interests § 36-6-106 · Parenting Plan § 36-6-404 · Modification § 36-6-410 · Relocation § 36-6-108 · Parent education § 36-6-408

File at: Circuit Court Clerk in county where child lives · Fee: ~$150-$200 · Fee waiver: ask clerk · Find your court: tncourts.gov

FORM 1: PETITION TO ESTABLISH CUSTODY AND PARENTING PLAN

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STATE OF TENNESSEE, COUNTY OF [COUNTY]

[YOUR FULL LEGAL NAME], Petitioner, v. [OTHER PARENT'S FULL NAME], Respondent.

PETITION TO ESTABLISH CUSTODY AND PARENTING PLAN

I. PARTIES AND CHILDREN

1. Petitioner resides at [ADDRESS], [CITY], [COUNTY] County, TN.
2. Respondent resides at [ADDRESS], [CITY], [STATE] [ZIP].
3. Minor child(ren): [NAME] DOB [DATE] [NAME] DOB [DATE]
4. Child(ren) currently reside with [PETITIONER / RESPONDENT / BOTH] at [ADDRESS], [CITY], TN.
5. Child(ren) have resided in TN for 6+ months. No other custody proceeding pending elsewhere.

II. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

1. Jurisdiction per T.C.A. § 36-6-101 (UCCJEA). Venue proper because [PETITIONER/CHILD] resides here.

III. MARITAL STATUS

[ ] Parties ARE married (married [DATE]; divorce proceedings [ARE / ARE NOT] pending).

[ ] Parties were NEVER married. Paternity [HAS / HAS NOT] been established by [VOL. ACKNOWLEDGMENT /

COURT ORDER / GENETIC TESTING] on [DATE].

IV. REQUEST FOR CUSTODY

A. PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL PARENT: [ ] Petitioner [ ] Respondent [ ] Equal shared

B. RESIDENTIAL SCHEDULE:

[ ] Primary physical with Petitioner (child lives with Petitioner most of time)

[ ] Shared ~50/50 [ ] Other: [DESCRIBE]

C. OTHER PARENT'S TIME:

[ ] Every other weekend Fri 6pm–Sun 6pm [ ] One weeknight/wk: [DAY] [TIME–TIME]

[ ] Holidays per Parenting Plan [ ] Summer: [DESCRIBE] [ ] Other: [DESCRIBE]

D. DECISION-MAKING:

[ ] Joint on all major decisions [ ] Petitioner final say on: [AREAS] [ ] Other: [DESCRIBE]

Proposed Permanent Parenting Plan filed herewith and incorporated by reference.

V. CHILD SUPPORT

[ ] Establish per TN Child Support Guidelines. [ ] Not requested at this time.

VI. BEST INTERESTS (T.C.A. § 36-6-106) — check all that apply:

[ ] Petitioner has been primary caregiver [ ] Stable home environment

[ ] Encourages child-other parent relationship [ ] Strong bonds with Petitioner

[ ] Child thriving in current school [ ] Other: [EXPLAIN]

WHEREFORE, Petitioner requests: custody order per above; adoption of Proposed Parenting Plan;

child support per Guidelines; court costs; and such other relief as just.

Date: ____________ _________________________________ [YOUR SIGNATURE / NAME / ADDRESS / PHONE]

VERIFICATION: I, [NAME], verify the above is true and correct. False statements are punishable

under T.C.A. § 39-16-402. Date: ____________ _________________________________

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FORM 2: PERMANENT PARENTING PLAN

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PERMANENT PARENTING PLAN [T.C.A. § 36-6-404]

IN THE [CIRCUIT/CHANCERY/JUVENILE] COURT FOR [COUNTY] COUNTY, TENNESSEE

[MOTHER'S NAME], Mother, v. [FATHER'S NAME], Father. Case No. [NUMBER]

Submitted: [ ] By agreement of both parents [ ] By [Mother / Father] as proposed plan.

MOTHER: [NAME] · [ADDRESS] · [PHONE] · [EMAIL] · Employer: [NAME] Hours: [HOURS]

FATHER: [NAME] · [ADDRESS] · [PHONE] · [EMAIL] · Employer: [NAME] Hours: [HOURS]

CHILD(REN): [NAME DOB] [NAME DOB]

PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL PARENT: [ ] Mother [ ] Father [ ] Equal time (no PRP designated)

Address for school enrollment: [ADDRESS], [CITY], TN [ZIP]

REGULAR SCHEDULE (school year):

[ ] Alternating weeks [ ] 2-2-3: Mon-Tue [__] / Wed-Thu [__] / Fri-Sun alternate

[ ] Weekdays [__] / Weekends [__] [ ] Other: [DESCRIBE]

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE (alternate even/odd unless noted):

Thanksgiving: [ ]M/[ ]F Christmas Eve: [ ]M/[ ]F Christmas Day: [ ]M/[ ]F

Spring Break: [ ]M/[ ]F Easter: [ ]M/[ ]F Child Birthday: [ ]M/[ ]F

Mother's Day: always Mother. Father's Day: always Father.

SUMMER: [ ] Regular schedule [ ] Mother gets [#] weeks [ ] Father gets [#] weeks

Select summer weeks by [DATE] each year.

TRANSPORTATION: [ ] Parent beginning time picks up. [ ] Parent ending time drops off.

[ ] Meet at [LOCATION]. [ ] Other: [DESCRIBE]

DECISION-MAKING: Education: [ ]Joint/[ ]Mom/[ ]Dad Healthcare: [ ]Joint/[ ]Mom/[ ]Dad

Religion: [ ]Joint/[ ]Mom/[ ]Dad Extracurricular: [ ]Joint/[ ]Mom/[ ]Dad

Emergency: either parent may act; notify other ASAP.

COMMUNICATION: Parent-child: [DESCRIBE] Parent-parent: [ ] Email [ ] Text [ ] App: [NAME]

RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL: If parent can't exercise time for [#]+ hours, first offer to other with [#] hrs notice.

RELOCATION: 60-day written notice required before moving child 50+ miles (T.C.A. § 36-6-108).

DISPUTES: [ ] Mediation first [ ] Parenting coordinator: [NAME] [ ] Court

CHILD SUPPORT: [ ] IS [ ] IS NOT addressed here. If yes, see attached Worksheet.

_________________________________ Mother / Date ____________

_________________________________ Father / Date ____________

NOTARY — STATE OF TENNESSEE, COUNTY OF [COUNTY]

Before me personally appeared both parties named above.

_________________________________ Notary (Mother) Expires: ____________

_________________________________ Notary (Father) Expires: ____________

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FORM 3: MOTION TO MODIFY PARENTING PLAN

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STATE OF TENNESSEE, COUNTY OF [COUNTY]

[YOUR NAME], Petitioner, v. [OTHER PARENT], Respondent. Case No. [EXISTING NUMBER]

MOTION TO MODIFY PARENTING PLAN

1. On [DATE], this Court entered Parenting Plan establishing: PRP [NAME]; schedule [DESCRIBE].

Children: [NAME DOB] [NAME DOB]

1. MATERIAL CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES since entry of current order:

[ ] Petitioner/Respondent relocated or plans to relocate

[ ] Child's school/needs/schedule changed significantly [ ] Safety concerns

[ ] Parent not complying with current order

[ ] Child's preference (age 12+) [ ] Other: [DESCRIBE IN DETAIL]

1. PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS:

PRP: [ ] No change [ ] Change to [NAME]

Schedule: [ ] No change [ ] Change to: [DESCRIBE]

Decision-making: [ ] No change [ ] Change to: [DESCRIBE]

1. Proposed modifications are in best interests of child(ren) because: [EXPLAIN]

Attached: [ ] Proposed Modified Parenting Plan [ ] Supporting documents

WHEREFORE, Petitioner requests modified Parenting Plan as stated, court costs, and further relief.

Date: ____________ _________________________________ [YOUR SIGNATURE / NAME / ADDRESS / PHONE]

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FILING STEPS

1. Complete parent education seminar before final orders (T.C.A. § 36-6-408; ~4 hrs, $30-60). Keep certificate.
2. Complete Forms 1 and 2 (Proposed Parenting Plan). Make 3 copies of all documents.
3. File at Circuit Court Clerk in county where child lives. Pay fee (~$150-200) or request fee waiver.
4. Get stamped copies and case number.
5. Serve other parent: sheriff ($25-50), private process server, certified mail, or waiver of service.
6. Attend mediation (usually required before trial; reduced fees for low-income parents).
7. Attend hearing. Arrive 30 min early. Dress business casual. Bring all documents.

Modifying an existing order: Use Form 3. Must show material change in circumstances.

LEGAL AID

• West Tennessee Legal Services: wtls.org · 1-800-372-8346
• Legal Aid Society of Middle TN: las.org · (615) 244-6610
• Memphis Area Legal Services: malsi.org · (901) 523-8822
• Statewide: lawhelp.org/tn · dial 211

*Not legal advice. Jurist-Diction is not a law firm. Templates are jurisdiction-correct.

Verify current law before filing. For legal advice, contact a licensed TN attorney or legal aid. jurist-diction.com*