Adoption & Termination of Parental Rights:
Adoption can change a child's life and the lives of their family members. As an attorney, I love the rewarding experience of helping families to take care of children. I handle several different kinds of adoption: stepparent adoption, grandparent and relative adoption, adult adoption, and foster parent adoption.
Appellate Practice:
If you have lost at trial and believe that the trial judge made mistakes when ruling on issues of law and/or procedure, you may have good grounds to appeal the court's ruling. Or if you were successful at trial and the opposing party is appealing their adverse judgment, I can also defend you on that appeal.
Child Support Modification & Enforcement:
As an attorney I often help parents resolve disputes related to child support. In Tennessee, child support guidelines use an income shares model that takes into account the incomes of both parents. This model can seem complicated. I make sure that my clients understand the law and how they may be affected by it.
Dependency & Neglect/Emergency Custody:
This type of case is typically filed by the Dept. of Children's Services but by state law may also be filed by a private party. These cases may allege that a child is beyond the parent's control, or the child is in a dangerous environment or abused in their home, and puts measures into effect to stabilize the family situation, including therapy and treatment plans. These can be very serious cases and can have serious ramifications. At the Law Office of Debra L. Dishmon, I provide representation to individuals seeking emergency custody of a child or children due to dependency and neglect issues. I also provide representation to parents of children who have been removed from a parent's custody by the Dept. of Children's Services.
Divorce:
Divorce can be an emotionally difficult time for couples. Unfortunately, it is also a time when they must make complicated decisions that could have a profound effect on their futures. That is why I take a pragmatic approach to separation and dissolution of marriage. I know that emotions should not get in the way of making the best decisions about your future. At the Law Office of Debra L. Dishmon, I take every action possible to protect your rights under Tennessee law.
Grandparent's Visitation:
I understand the bond that grandparents and their grandchildren often share. So when grandparents ask me about custody or visitation of their grandchildren, my answer is often that I will fight hard for grandparents' rights. Tennessee law sometimes allows grandparents to seek custody or visitation, and when they are seeking custody or visitation of their grandchild, I can help them take action to protect their rights.
Name Changes:
If as an adult you choose to change your name it is a relatively simple process and can be accomplished in a short amount of time by filing a petition in the proper court. However, a petition would be denied if you were changing your name to avoid judgments, legal actions, debts or obligations. An attorney cannot help change someone's name to defraud any other person.
Parental Responsibility (Custody) Modification & Relocation:
If you are involved in child custody case, your interests are best served by hiring an attorney who understands what your children mean to you. As an attorney and parent, I understand parents' worries about their children and I fight hard to make sure your rights are protected. Tennessee provides that if either parent relocates greater than 100 miles from the jurisdiction of the court or to another state that the relocating parent must give specific written notice and give the other parent the right to object to the relocation of the child. The Court must find that the relocation is reasonable and that it is not intended to interfere with the other parent's relationship.
