Celtic Cat Publishing

Coppock on Tennessee Adoption Law, 7th Edition

with forms on CD-ROM

by Dawn Coppock

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For a fraction of the fee for one adoption case, a beginner can achieve basic competence, one experienced practitioner can look over the shoulder and into the forms file of another, and judges can get it right the first time. Children and families are worth cracking a book over. This is your book.

Every chapter and form is updated and revised.

Big changes in the law include:

  • Narrowing of the rights of unwed fathers and expansion of process for proceeding without them
  • New case law on due process and notice
  • New denial of paternity procedure for legal fathers
  • Surrender revocation decreased from 10 days to 3
  • New generalized unfitness ground for TPR
  • More proof required for abandonment by failure to support
  • New right/obligation to check agencies work
  • When non-residents can finalize adoptions in TN
  • Greatly expanded Appellate review process

Always more practical than academic, Coppock on Tennessee Adoption law is full of forms and checklists and now includes:

  • More trial tips and tactics, including use of experts and discovery
  • An thumbnail evidence sheet for your trial notebook
  • More on dependence/adoption interface
  • More on paternity/adoption interface
  • New chapter about unwed fathers
  • New ICWA chapter
  • New Servicemembers chapter
  • New materials about immigrant children
  • New materials to evaluate and negotiate adoption assistance
  • All new diagrams on options and processes
  • Including a chart to be sure you always use the right TPR process for your case
  • The best grounds checklist ever

Featuring:

  • New forms
  • Updated pleadings
  • Trial prep outline
  • Template for findings of fact and conclusions of law
  • New paternity affidavits
  • New ICWA practice forms
  • Records request information
  • Tools for a diligent search
  • Internet links for deeper research and up-to-the-minute information

Contents

  • Part 1 – Parties
    • Chapter I – Introduction
      • A. What Is Adoption?
      • B. Who May Adopt?
      • C. Who May Be Adopted?
    • Chapter II – Whose Rights Must Be Terminated?
      • A. Classification of Parents
        • 1. Mothers
        • 2. Fathers
      • B. Rights of Fathers—History and Context
      • C. Paths Toward Legal Parentage
        • 1. Putative Father Registry Filing
        • 2. Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity
        • 3. Parentage Action
      • D. Denial of Parentage
      • E. Delay in Establishing Parentage
      • F. Identifying and Locating Birth Fathers
  • Part 2 – Termination of Parental Rights Proceedings
    • Chapter III – Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights
      • Which TPR Method Is Correct for Your Case?
      • A. Tennessee Voluntary Consent Options
        • 1. Surrender
      • * Checklist * Tennessee Courts’ Surrender T.C.A. §36-1-111
        • 2. Infant Drop-off
        • 3. Parental Consent
        • 4. Waiver of Interest
      • B. Other States’ Termination Procedures
      • C. Voluntary Consents by Minors
      • D. Fraud and Duress
    • Chapter IV – Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights—Filing to Default
      • A. Who?
        • 1. Standing
        • 2. Miscellaneous Parties
        • 3. Miscellaneous Classifications of Parents
      • B. Where?
        • 1. Court
        • 2. Venue
        • 3. UCCJEA
        • 4. Juvenile Court and Shifting Jurisdiction
      • C. How?
        • 1. Termination or Termination and Adoption
        • 2. Termination Basic Petition Requirements
        • 3. Determining Grounds
        • 4. Service of Process
        • 5. Default Judgment
    • Chapter V – Involuntary / Contested TPR
      • A. Procedural Issues
        • 1. Conversion of Involuntary to Voluntary Termination
        • 2. The Guardian Ad Litem
        • 3. Filing an Answer
        • 4. Defensive Parentage Actions
        • 5. Visitation Pending Trial
        • 6. Child Support Pending Trial
        • 7. Intervening Petitions for Adoption
        • 8. Intervention in Termination Cases
        • 9. Amending to Add New Grounds
        • 10. Prior Court Orders and Proof of Grounds
        • 11. Summary Judgment
        • 12. Defendant’s Disabilities
      • B. Handicapping Cases
      • C. Constitutional Protections for Children
      • D. Trial Preparation Outline
      • E. Discovery
        • 1. Interrogatories
        • 2. Records Request
        • 3. Depositions
        • 4. Experts
      • F. Trial
        • 1. Expedited Trials and Continuances
        • 2. Burden of Proof
        • 3. Evidence
        • 4. Findings
        • 5. Post Termination Custody / Guardianship
        • * Checklist * Involuntary TPR for Judges
        • Trial
      • G. Appeal & Standard of Review
    • Chapter VI – Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights
      • Grounds Available Against All Parents
      • A. Abandonment
        • 1. General Abandonment — Failure to Visit Failure to Support
        • 2. Willfulness, Repentance and Token
        • 3. Abandonment of Dependent and Neglected Children
        • 4. Pre-birth Abandonment
        • 5. Abandonment by Incarcerated Parents
        • 6. Abandoned Infants
      • B. Non-Compliance with Permanency Plan
      • C. Persistence of the Conditions That Led to Removal
      • D. Severe Child Abuse
        • Bodily Injury
        • Mental Harm
        • Specific Criminal Behavior
      • E. Sex Crime Conviction
      • F. Child Abuse and Sentence of Two Years
      • G. Sentence of Ten Years
      • H. Defendant Responsible for Death of Other Parent
      • I. Mentally Incompetent; Continued Inability to Provide Care
      • J. Rape Conviction
      • K. Failed to Manifest Ability & Willingness to Assume Legal, Physical or Financial Responsibility
      • *Checklist* Termination of Parental Rights – Grounds Checklist
    • Chapter VII – Involuntary Termination – Grounds Available Against Putative Fathers
      • Notice of Alleged Paternity
    • Chapter VIII – Best Interest of the Child
    • Chapter IX – When Termination of Parental Rights Is Not Granted
      • A. -Parents as Custodians
      • B. Permanent Guardianship
      • C. Reinstatement of Parental Rights
      • D. Planning for Next Time
    • Chapter X – Termination of Parental Rights When No Adoption Is Anticipated
      • A. Involuntary
      • B. Voluntary
  • Part 3 – Adoption
    • Chapter XI – General Adoption Procedure
      • A. Jurisdiction and Venue
      • B. Petition for Adoption
      • C. Home Study Requirements—Types and Timing
      • D. Order of Reference
      • E. Supervision
      • F. Putative Father Registry
      • G. Guardianship
      • H. Payment and Disclosure of Expenses
      • I. Finalization
      • J. Finality
      • K. Post Adoption Peace and Safety
      • L. Birth Certificate and Social Security Card
      • *Checklist* Independent, Agency, DCS, and Intercountry Adoption for Judges
    • Chapter XII – Disrupted and Wrongful Adoptions
      • A. Disrupted Adoptions
      • B. Liability for Failure to Disclose
    • Chapter XIII – Stepparent and Relative Adoption
      • A. Procedure
      • B. Name Changes as Substitute for Adoption
      • *Checklist* Relative/Stepparent Adoption / Checklist for Petitioners’ Counsel
      • *Checklist* Relative and Stepparent Adoption / for Judges
    • Chapter XIV – Agency and Department of Children’s Services Adoption
      • A. General Issues in Agency Adoption
      • B. Who Represents Adoptive Parents and Scope of Representation?
      • C. DCS Adoption Compared to Private Agency Adoption
      • D. State Agency Foster Care and Adoption Issues
        • 1. Foster Care System
        • 2. Special Immigrant Status
        • 3. Foster Parents’ Rights
        • 4. Adoption Assistance
      • * Checklist * Agency Adoption Checklist / For Petitioners’ Counsel
      • * Checklist * Agency Adoption Checklist for the Agency
    • Chapter XV – Adoption of Children Born Abroad
      • A. Intercountry Adoption
      • *Checklist* Intercountry Adoption / for Petitioners’ Counsel
      • B. Readoption and Recognition of Foreign Adoptions
        • 1. Readoption
        • 2. Recognition of Foreign Final Decree
      • *Checklist* Intercountry Readoption Checklist / for Petitioners’ Counsel
      • *Checklist* Intercountry Readoption Judges
    • Chapter XVI – Independent Adoption
      • A. Adoption Plan
      • B. Counseling and Birth Parent Representation
      • C. Social and Medical History
      • D. Health Insurance
      • E. Birth Parent Expense Payments
      • F. Anonymity and Openness
      • G. Birth to Surrender
      • H. Representation for Birth Mothers
      • I. Birth Mother’s Attorney’s Relationship to Adoptive Parents
      • J. Representation of Birth Father
      • K. Adoptive Parents’ Attorney’s Relationship to Birth Parents
      • *Checklist* Independent Adoption / for Petitioners’ Counsel
      • *Checklist* Independent Adoption / for the Agency
    • Chapter XVII – Adult Adoptions
  • Part 4 – Miscellaneous Issues
    • Chapter XVIII – Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children
    • Chapter XIX – Special Parties
      • A. Indian Child Welfare Act
      • B. Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
    • Chapter XX – Financial Considerations
      • A. Child Support Obligation Following Termination
      • B. Federal Tax Credit for Adoptions
      • C. Employer Provided Adoption Assistance
      • D. Effects of Adoption on Inheritance
      • E. Social Security Benefits
      • F. Health Insurance
      • G. Family Leave
    • Chapter XXI – Post Adoption Contact
      • A. Open Adoption
      • B. Grandparent Visitation
    • Chapter XXII – Adoption Crimes
      • A. Felonies
        • 1. Placement
        • 2. Advertising
        • 3. Baby Selling & Expense Payments
        • 4. Incest
      • B. Adoption Misdemeanors
        • 1. Deception about Identity of a Birth Parent
        • 2. Violation of the Contact Veto
        • 3. Contributing to the Dependency or Neglect of a Child
        • 4. Assault, Aggravated Assault, and Reckless Endangerment
    • Chapter XXIII – Access to Adoption Records
      • A. Old Information
      • B. Non-Identifying Information
      • C. Medical Updates
      • D. Identifying Information
      • E. The Final Order of Adoption
      • F. Contact Veto Registration
      • G. Penalties for Violation
      • H. Birth Certificates, Court Records, and Agency Records
      • I. Judicial Access
      • J. Role of Attorneys
  • Appendix
    • I. Practice Tools
      • Termination of Parental Rights – Grounds Checklist
      • Evidence Summary
        • Relevance
        • Character Evidence
        • Impeachment and Rehabilitation
        • Rehabilitation
        • Refreshing Recollection
        • Witnesses
        • Hearsay
        • Hearsay Exceptions
        • Exhibits—General Rules
        • Public Records
        • Criminal Records
        • Business Records
        • Child Support Records
        • Medical, Mental Health Records
        • Summaries, Data Compilations, Demonstrations
        • Voice Id, Recordings
        • Photos, Videos, Computer Data
        • Paternity Records
      • Searching for Criminal Records
        • Tennessee Felony Offender Information
        • Local Jurisdictions:
        • Out-of-state:
      • Electronic and Public Records Diligent Search Tools
    • II. Addresses, Resources
      • General Information
        • Juvenile and Children’s Law
        • American Public Human Services Association
        • Tennessee Courts / State Public Information
        • Adoptive Families
        • Military Legal Assistance
      • Department of Children’s Services Information and Links
        • The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services main office:
        • Putative Father Registry
        • Tennessee Post Adoption Unit
        • Post Adoption Records
        • Tennessee Vital Records
      • Search and Discovery
        • Department of Children’s Services Child Welfare Records
        • Tenncare Records
        • SNAP Records (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
        • Tennessee Public Housing Information
        • Federal Court Records
        • Military Locator Resources/sites
        • Tax Records
        • Social Security Records
      • Interstate Resources
        • Tennessee Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children
        • The Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children
        • On-Line Directory of Experienced U.S. Adoption Attorneys
      • Special Needs
        • North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC)
        • Adoption Subsidy Negotiation Checklist
      • International
        • United States Department of State
        • United States Department of Homeland Security
    • III. Coppock Practice Forms
      • A. Basic Pleadings
      • B. Additional Allegations to Add to Adoption Petitions in Specific Situations
      • C. Discovery Forms
      • D. Independent Adoption Forms
    • IV. Administrative Office of the Courts’ Forms
    • V. Common State Forms
      • A. Consent, Termination and PFR for fathers
      • B. General Adoption Forms
      • C. ICPC and Special Needs