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Legal Brief Writer, Pro Se Assistance Michael A. S. Guth

Dr. MICHAEL A. S. GUTH
Attorney at Law
Ph.D. (Economics), J.D. Univ. of Tenn.
Licensed in Tennessee since 1998
send e-mail
(E-mail is quickest method of contact).
Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:30 AM  - 6 PM,
Saturday & Sunday 1 PM - 6 PM.


  116 Oklahoma Ave.
  Oak Ridge, TN
  37830-8604
  Phone: (865) 483-8309


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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=226609754

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  child custody

 

I am behind on child support just because i am behind can my wife take my parental rights away from me ? What is the legal age that my kids can choose to live with parent of there choice? 

 

 

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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=267384991

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  Re: child custody

 

No, you will not lose your parental rights from falling behind on child support, although you may have to file a document in court explaining why you fell behind, e.g., unemployment.  A child at age 18 has reached legal adult status and can choose where she lives.  Also, there is case law in Tennessee suggesting a minor's opinion at age 14 should have a significant bearing on a judge in deciding what is in the "best interests of the child."  If you go to my website at http://michaelguth.com/prose.htm you will find numerous examples of pleadings drafted in the past concerning child custody and visitation.

 

Also, you cannot constitutionally be put in jail if you are deadbroke and lack the means to be put in jail.  However, Tennessee trial courts have been putting indigent child support debtors in jail in unconstitutional debtor prisons.  Therefore, it is very important that you do not sit on your rights but actively assert your rights and explain why you have not been able to make child support payments.

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=796169622

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  children and dating question

 

I'm a 29 yr old male with 1 4 year old daughter.

My attorney has told me that I am not allowed to have my child in the presence of another female, other than family members, unless I am married to them. Is this true?

Also She has also stated that I am not allowed to date again until the divorce has been final for one year.

Is this true as well?

Thanks

 

 

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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=291701752

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  Re: children and dating question

 

You are allowed to have your daughter in the presence of other females, unless for some reason the judge who gave you custody or visitation has specifically ordered that you cannot have her in the company of other women.  You will need to obtain a copy of the judge's order in writing and then read it for yourself.  There is no precedent for a judge telling someone he cannot date until one year after a divorce has become final.  That sounds highly suspect.  Again, you will need to read the order from the judge and see if it is mentioned there in the order.  I cannot answer these questions for you without seeing the judge's order myself.

 

 

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=538845673

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  What are my Rights?

 

My husband & I are currently in Chapter 13.  My husband is also an alcoholic.  Both of our checks have volutary deduc-

tions for the bankruptcy.  What are my rights if I do de-

cide to go through a separation due to my husband's alco-

holism?  There are two (2) children involved also.  There is

no physcial abuse, but, a lot of emotional & mental abuse

geared towards our two kids & myself by my husband when he's

in a stupor.  Any information would be very, very helpful.  I would prefer being contacted at work:  615/781-5669, ext.

12.  Thank you for your time.

 

 

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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=752799428

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  Re: What are my Rights?

 

You have the same rights to obtain a divorce or separate from your husband as any other person.  The only catch here is that the Bankruptcy trustee will have to be notified of your new living arrangments, because the monthly amount that you pay the trustee was based on you and your husband sharing the living expenses.  Would you intend to move from your home, or would you like your husband to move out and live elsewhere?  If he has to pay rent, that will affect his ability to pay the bankruptcy trustee as well as any child support to you.  I wonder if divorce is the answer or if forcing your husband to go to an alchohol treatment facility would be a better solution.

 

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=487798535

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  Father's rights

 

My husband pays child support to his children as he should, but he also adopted my 3 children (my children's father was/is alcoholic and gave up his rights). It is a financial strain in every way on our family and the ex-wife is constantly using the kids for power and control. Do the courts take into account other children he has to provide for? Also, his daughter ''decided'' a year ago that she just didn't want to come see him anymore and her mother agreed to let her stay home, we can't afford to go to court and fight this, what should we do?

 

 

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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=757590742

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  Re: Father's rights

 

It is very, very important that any time you face a financial burden because of child support payments that you inform the court of the impact of that burden.  People cannot sit on their rights, because the child support system is set to roll over people and force payments or even put them in jail for failing to pay.  The child support enforcement office absolutely must take into account the number of other children that your husband supports.  The TN Supreme Court initially ruled in error that child support offices did not have to take into account the number of other children supported by the child support debtor.  But that decision was expressly overruled by the Tennessee legislature, and now child support has to follow Tennessee law and take into account the total number of children supported.  Your husband should move to modify his child support obligation.  You can see a sample pleading at http://michaelguth.com/visitation.htm

 

With respect to the recalcitrant daughter, you did not indicate her age.  Assuming she is age 13 or older, you will have a nearly impossible task of forcing her to visit your husband, if she is willing to appear in court and say she does not want to go anymore.  Tennessee courts are obligated by state law to do what is best for the child, and the older the child is, the more weight the court has to place on that child's express wishes concerning visitation and living arrangements.

 

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=103947477

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  Divorce Petition

 

Can I leagally petition the court for a no fault divorce without any legal representation? If so, where and how would I begin this process? Also, where would I find the necessary information to insure that my petition is legal and contains any and all information required to optain a legal divorce in my state? Spouse and I have not been together in a marital fashion as of 1 year today 9/4/04. I am unable to afford the cost of a lawyer and do not seem to be eligible for any local assistance with legal fees.

Thank you in advance for your help

 

 

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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=764242435

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  Re: Divorce Petition

 

How ironic!  I generally don't practice in the area of divorce law.  However, I do help people just like you file their own petitions for divorce pro se (without a lawyer).  You can read all about my assistance to pro se parties at http://michaelguth.com/prose.htm   That page also shows contact information for me.  The cost for having your paperwork prepared is $149 payable to me.  In addition, you will have to pay a court filing cost of approximately $134.50, although the court costs can eventually be taxed to your spouse if you both agree to that.  Or you can pay the court costs if you have more income.  Please feel free to contact me if you and your spouse can agree to a divorce and want to handle this without lawyers.  Tennessee Chancery Courts will accept my pleadings and grant you a divorce.

 

 

 

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=301273490

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  Child Support

 

If a divorced couple has joint legal custody of a minor child and the child's time is divided exactly 50% with mom and 50% with dad, is a child support order mandatory in Tennessee or can it ever be waived?

 

 

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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=490317062

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  Re: Child Support

 

When the child's time is spent 50% with each parent, then it is rare to find cases where there is a required child support payment.  To the contrary, I am familiar with several cases in our local county where a 50% custody by both parents eliminated the burden of child support on either parent.  If you start out with a situation where one party in paying child support, and then the custody changes to 50% with each parent, then it is necessary to get the court to sign an order modifying the existing child support order.  In other words, parties cannot sit on their rights.  The court expects you to petition to modify the support order when the custody arrangement changes.

 

 

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=301273490

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  Child Support

 

If a divorced couple has joint legal custody of a minor child and the child's time is divided exactly 50% with mom and 50% with dad, is a child support order mandatory in Tennessee or can it ever be waived?

 

 

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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=490387125

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  Re: Child Support

 

When the child's time is spent 50% with each parent, then it is rare to find cases where there is a required child support payment.  To the contrary, I am familiar with several cases in our local county where a 50% custody by both parents eliminated the burden of child support on either parent.  If you start out with a situation where one party in paying child support, and then the custody changes to 50% with each parent, then it is necessary to get the court to sign an order modifying the existing child support order.  In other words, parties cannot sit on their rights.  The court expects you to petition to modify the support order when the custody arrangement changes.

 

 

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=301273490

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  Child Support

 

If a divorced couple has joint legal custody of a minor child and the child's time is divided exactly 50% with mom and 50% with dad, is a child support order mandatory in Tennessee or can it ever be waived?

 

 

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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=490367098

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  Re: Child Support

 

When the child's time is spent 50% with each parent, then it is rare to find cases where there is a required child support payment.  To the contrary, I am familiar with several cases in our local county where a 50% custody by both parents eliminated the burden of child support on either parent.  If you start out with a situation where one party in paying child support, and then the custody changes to 50% with each parent, then it is necessary to get the court to sign an order modifying the existing child support order.  In other words, parties cannot sit on their rights.  The court expects you to petition to modify the support order when the custody arrangement changes.

 

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=811665767

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  When can a teenager be free from parents?

 

At what age in Tennessee can a teenager request to live somewhere other than with their legal parent?  My niece is now living in an abusive situation with her adoptive mother (my sister) and wants to return to us and liver here.  She has lived 19 months with her mother, 16 months with us.  She is now 13 years old and very competent.

 

 

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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=961161674

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  child's preferences in custody matters

 

A Tennessee statute related to divorce indicates a judge has to give weight to a child's preferences as to where she wants to live, but the amount of weight given varies with age and is at the discretion of the judge.  Other things equal, a 14 year old should be able to decide where she wants to live.  There are appellate law precedents to that effect.  In Anderson County, a 13 year old successfully petitioned the court to change her custody situation.  If you file a petition seeking custody and your 13 year old neice separately files a petition seeking to live in your house, then it would be very hard for a judge to deny both petitions.  However, your neice's life might be "hell" once her adoptive mother finds out until the hearing is scheduled and the judge signs an order.  That will usually take 3 months or longer.  You can speed things up if you know the right documents to file.  Go to http://michaelguth.com/prose.htm and check out some of the pleadings there for free assistance.  If you want to pay me to draft the documents, please contact me at my e-mail address (also given on that web page).

 

 

LawGuru BBS Administrator

lawtalk@lawguru.com

http://www.lawguru.com/

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=480675988

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  My widowed mother has Alzheimer's

 

My widowed mother has AD. She is getting worse at a very quick rate. I never realized anything was wrong until my dad died a year and a half ago.She is almost totally out of touch with reality, she wanders, she can't clean up after herself, she hallucinates most of the time. I'd say she's about 30% of her former self. I need guardianship or power of attorney. I'm a single mom with 3 kids and we just moved in to help with her but it's too much. I need to put her in assisted living. She has some savings and a pension.I can't afford an attorney so I need to know what my options are. Can I petition the court myself?  Do I need power of attorney or guardianship? Please help!

 

 

 

 

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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=969874240

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  Alzheimer's solutions

 

I take care of an elderly parent with Alzheimer's, and in fact I do extensive health care research -- to the point that I suggest drug treatments that even our local doctors have not considered yet.  Alzheimer's is a disease that should have a very slow progression.  If your mother is declining rapidly, that tends to indicate she is not on the right medicines.  I don't know about your educational background or your skill at using the Internet, but unless you have a good reason otherwise, your mother should be on six different treatments for Alzheimer's.  If your local doctor indicates there are only two classes of drugs for Alzheimer's, then he is not up to speed on the latest treatment therapies.  I am writing an article on this subject, but I don't have it more that sketched out, I would send it to you.

 

A lot of caregivers succumb to the idea that nursing homes have some magical way of dealing with Alzheimer's patients, and their loved ones are safe and secure there.  In fact, nursing homes are badly understaffed, with one nurse's assistant for usually 12 or 13 patients.  If one of the patients uses the bathroom in his or her clothes, that patient will most likely sit or lie in that mess for hours before someone comes in to change the person.  Even then, the staff won't have time to put the person in a shower, and will just wipe around a little, smearing the germs all over, and then put the patient in new clothes.

 

I have spent hours and hours in nursing homes, and I have seen the same type of care over and over again.  Nursing homes are a beehive of activity from 9 AM - 5 PM, but after 5 PM and on weekends, they are like ghost towns with respect to the skeletal staff in place.

 

Your mother's condition can be treated.  Agitation can be treated.  There is no reason you cannot improve her grasp of reality more than what it is today --- but it takes medication.  Antidepressants are extremely important in the treatment of Alzheimer's.  They not only keep a person from going into depression, they also keep the person less agitated, cut down on hallucinations if not eliminate them, and dramatically decrease paranoid behavior when patients can't remember where they placed items.

 

I give my mother a potent mix of drugs each day, but the net result is that we have perfectly normal conversations 8 years after diagnosis; we eat out at restaurants at least twice and sometimes 3 times per week.  Alzheimer's has not been the terrible disease for our family that seems to have ravaged other families --- but again, I am extremely involved in her medicine intake and read daily the latest treatments and proposed treatments and clinical trials for Alzheimer's.

 

Mike Guth

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=247425063

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Category: Juvenile Dependency

Location: TN

Subject:  Emancipation

 

How do I go about the emancipation process and what are the proceedures that are done? Are there any qualifications? Does the teenager being emancipated have to be employeed?

 

 

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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=270939267

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Category: Juvenile Dependency

Location: TN

Subject:  Re: Emancipation

 

In Tennessee, as in all the other 50 states, there is a presumption against emancipation of a minor.  That means there must be compelling circumstances to sever the parental rights.  You do not give enough facts in your question to enable a complete answer.  I don't know how old you are, and whether you could support yourself.  You also did not indicate what you hope to achieve by being declared emancipated.  If you want to live with someone else, there is another means available:  petition for custody.

 

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=363023421

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Category: Elder Law

Location: TN

Subject:  Power of Attorney

 

My 67 year old mother is living with my family now. She is going through a very stressful divorce of a marriage that of 40 plus years.

She has visited my Gym with me & participates in water aerobics & loves it! Her visitor passes have expired and she can not afford to pay for her own membership. The Gym personnel stated that if I could obtain Power of Attorney over her (I am her oldest daughter) then she could be listed as family on my membership & would only be $20.00 per month. If she gets her own membership it will be $75.00 to join and $49.00 per month.

She does receive TN Care and it pays for her meds & most of her doctor visits. She has very little social security income. She is afraid if I get Power of Attorney, then our whole household income would have to be listed and she would loose her TN Care. Will my having Power of Attorney over her interfere with her receiving TN Care benefits? Thank you for your time & consideration!

 

 

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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=619834872

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Category: Elder Law

Location: TN

Subject:  Re: Power of Attorney

 

I have good news for you.  Did you know there are 1,000 different varieties of powers of attorney?  You and your mother seem to be aware of the usual comprehensive power of attorney over financial matters.  However, you can construct a limited power of attorney, still called Power of Attorney at the top of the document, for just decisions concerning gym memberships.  Your gym does not know the law, because having a power of attorney does not make someone your dependent either legally or with respect to the U. S. Tax Code.  Therefore, I suggest you confirm one last time with your gym that if you have a Power of Attorney, they will let your mother participate on your family plan.  Get that person's name, and if he will put it in writing all the better.  Then you can construct a Power of Attorney based on free forms that you can find on the Internet.  You can download them for free and fill in the content.  Your content will be something like "I vest in my daughter the power to make decisions for me concerning gym memberships and to include me as part of her family in any organization offering discount membership plans for families."  Hopefully, your gym won't be smart enough to realize the document is not a comprehensive and complete power of attorney over all financial, health, and legal matters.  You can contact me directly if you need further assistance.

 

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=865589816

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  where will my child go?

 

My child's father has been advised of her birth but is not on birth certificate, doesn't pay child support, and doesn't have visitation.  If something were to happen to me who would get custody of my child (grandparents, etc)?  Would the father automatically get custody even if he has never been involved? 

 

 

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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=914511446

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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption

Location: TN

Subject:  Re: where will my child go?

 

Tennessee places a strong presumption that the best people to care for a child are the biological parents.  However, Tennessee has enacted statutes that make it comparatively easy for a court to enter a finding that a parent has abandoned his child -- which is one step away from having parental rights terminated. 

 

If something happened to you, the child would immediately be placed with your parents -- assuming they are in continual contact with you and know where to find their grand daughter. 

 

At some point, the physical custody has to be turned into legal custody, so a court would hold a hearing -- most likely a juvenile court in response to a petition from the Tenn. Dept. of Children's Services.  If no one came forward to contest the petition, then your parents would almost certainly be awarded custody.

 

If the biological father came forward and asserted parental rights, he would have to prove paternity with a test, and then answer to the court why he had not supported the child all these years.  At that point, the judge would have to hear both sides and try to decide who would be the better parent:  your parents, or the biological father.

 

If he is not paying child support now, you have a bargaining chip.  You could tell him that you will not charge him with child support and seek enforcement if he is willing to sign a document surrendering his parental rights in the child.  That document would tip a court's decision in favor of your parents if anything ever happened to you.

 

Mike Guth

 

 

 

 
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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=720599282
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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption
Location: TN
Subject:  Child Custody
 
How does a father file for custody from the mother when the mom does'nt want the
child and lives in another state and does'nt have the money for a lawyer. is an
agreement notorized from the mother stated she does'nt want the child good enough to
take to court.The mom wants to give the custody in full to me. Thank you so much for
your time.
Sincerely.
 
 
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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=161426529
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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption
Location: TN
Subject:  Re: Child Custody
 
Is there an existing lawsuit in Chancery Court where you are plaintiff and your
ex-wife is defendant?  If so, then you can file an agreed order terminating her
parental rights and vesting full custody in you.  I assume your ex-wife does not
wish to retain parental rights.  If there is not lawsuit, then you can informally
sign an agreement in which she relinquishes custody rights to you -- and get her to notarize her copy so that there will be no allegation that the document was forged. That agreement will not carry the full weight of a court order giving you full custody, but there will be no one to challenge your right of custody except the biological mother -- so the out of court agreement should serve your purpose.
 

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=836061007
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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption
Location: TN
Subject:  Child Custody Out of the Country
 
If my spouses attempts to leave the country with our children how can I prevent it
and if she does leave how can I fight for their return?
 
 
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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=977263309
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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption
Location: TN
Subject:  Re: Child Custody Out of the Country
 
You will need to get an order from the court that issued custody and visitation
orders to hold a hearing on whether your ex spouse should be allowed to leave the
country with your children.  The court might enjoin her from leaving, but you would
have to get her to surrender the children's passports and have a way to alert the
airlines if she tries to depart.  Of course, she could drive to Canada or Mexico.
 
Once a spouse is out of the country with children, it becomes 10 times more
difficult to get the children back.  The United States has signed treaties with
various countries on respect for custody, but those treaties are routinely broken --
as featured on a 60 Minutes show about two or three years ago.
 
Another attorney may have some other good ideas for you.
 

 

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=734491908
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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption
Location: NC
Subject:  Transfer of Custody
 
My husband's ex who lives in North Carolina wants to send their son to live with us
here in Tennessee permanently.  She is the custodial parent & he pays child support.
 What are the steps that he needs to take to make the transition smooth & legal?
 
 
 
 
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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=979176809
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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption
Location: NC
Subject:  Re: Transfer of Custody
 
He will need to file an agreed order with the court that granted custody signed by
your husband and the ex-wife.  The order will state that custody is hereby
transferred to the father, that the child support obligation from father to ex-wife
ends, and if your husband so desires -- that the ex-wife pay him child support for
caring for his son.  I am very proud that you did not erect barriers or obstacles to
prevent your step son from living with you.  It is very important that children have
loving parents.  The son is in a difficult position not of his own making.  Good
luck to you.
 

 

 

 

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=457451129
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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption
Location: TN
Subject:  Ramifications of an order of protection

What effects will an order of protection have on the respondent? In the order, it states that they need counseling and to be prohibited from owning,possessing, using,etc. firearms and that they were once hospitalized in a psych ward for anger issues. Specifically, will this prohibit the respondent from being able to gain employment and /or keep him in the state in which the order was done?


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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=179546511
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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption
Location: TN
Subject:  Re: Ramifications of an order of protection

In general, court orders are difficult to find.  Even with a docket number, a person needs to go searching through a case file.  A future employer is unlikely to find the Protective Order on its own.  However, some employers list on employment applications whether the applicant has any outstanding protective orders against him.  Those are red flag questions that will require some explanation.  For many jobs, that question will not appear on an employment application.

 

 

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=678663396
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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption
Location: TN
Subject:  cremation laws

How can I find out what the laws regarding cremation are in the state of Tennessee - i.e. is embalming required? do you have to purchase a casket? are you limited as to where the ashes can be scattered?


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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=186818505
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Category: Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption
Location: TN
Subject:  Re: cremation laws

This is not an area that is within my expertise.  However, you can find out information simply by calling a funeral home director wherever you live.  In terms of scattering ashes, I know people who have scattered ashes in the mountains and practically answer.  There is really no way the state can regulate or tell people where they cannot scatter ashes.  However, you should use common sense not to create a nuisance, i.e., do not scatter the ashes so that they blow in someone's face or get in the drinking water.  It would be fine to scatter them in a river or stream or beautiful mountain setting. 

 

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=270152750
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Category: Securities Law
Location: NY
Subject:  joint stock account

I have a joint stock account with a former domestic partner.
This is not a business account. The account has been frozen by an attroney in Westchester County in 2001, he is no longer involved due to conflict of interest.
I now reside in TN and would like to settle this account, but she refuses, wants all the stocks.
I would like to find an attorney who can represent me, where I don't have to fly to NY and possible accept the case on contigency basis, the account is at 50,000


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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=282194565
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Category: Securities Law
Location: NY
Subject:  Re: joint stock account

First, you need to contact the brokerage firm and ask if they have a procedure to close a joint account, where one of the account holders wants to leave it open.  Exhaust your administrative remedies before going to court.  I'm sure we could find a sleazy lawyer in NY who would represent you and take 1/3 of your equity.  But do you want to throw that much away?  I would recommend that you consider filing a complaint in the equivalent of Chancery Court to have the court order the brokerage company to dissolve the account.  Are you prepared to take 50% or did you expect more?  If you tell your former partner that you are willing to take 50%, and she can either take that now or go to court and possibly get less than that, then she might do the rational thing.  If you weren't married, then it will be hard for a court to tell who put more into the account -- unless you have receipts.  So a 50-50 split seems fair and reasonable.

 

 

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=619824857
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Category: Real Estate and Real Property
Location: TN
Subject:  Power of Attorney

My older sister has POA over my mom and dad.  Right now they are in felling health but they still have a good mind and do not need supervised companions.  My sisters daughter has been living with my mom and dad for about 4 months, there was never a problem until my other sister and her husband came there to live because they were kicked out of his mothers and than his sisters house. Now my older sister told my niece that she had to get out so my other sister can have the bedroom. She is doing this because my sister that is living there is not working and if shes there than the one that has the POA doesn't have to do so much. I'm worried because my sister staying there and her husband are close to 50 year old and are druggies. I know several people that are after my brother-in-law over drug deals and I worry about what might happen to my parents.  My question is can my sister tell my niece to get out?


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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=700128710
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Category: Real Estate and Real Property
Location: TN
Subject:  Re: Power of Attorney

It is difficult to answer your question without seeing the content of the POA.  Is it a complete and full power of attorney, or a limited one?  In theory, the POA would give your older sister the right to make decisions for your parents, including who lives in their house.  However, it sounds like your parents are being victimized.  This is a perfect case for Adult Protective Services of the Tenn. Dept. of Human Services.  As soon as you file a complaint with them, they will swoop down on your parents' home and investigate.  If they can substantiate any of the drug allegations against your sister or brother in law, then DHS will aggressively go into court for you and seek a restraining order to get your sister and her husband out of that house.  They will also seek to appoint a guardian, so you need to be careful that you are appointed guardian and not some lawyer who will bleed your parents' bank account with his or her excessive legal fees.  Your first step is to contact the Adult Protective Services unit by calling the Tenn. Dept. of Human Services.  Next, you will need to document the alleged drug problem, so that it is not all hearsay.

 

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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=60481015
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Category: Civil Rights Law
Location: TN
Subject:  Unrightful/forceful Kicking me out of the town

Back in March I moved to Tennessee from Indiana to get a new start on life and to live closer to my girlfriend. I found a place to live within a week and a job 2 weeks later. She didn't tell her parents cuz they are very old fashioned and didn't like the idea of her dating a guy she met online. She finally told them after I had been in tennessee for nearly 7 weeks, established a better job etc. Her dad forbid her to talk to me. I wanted to talk to him directly so the church she attended made arrangements that I could meet him at the church with 2 church officials so nothing became physical. When I met him, he threatened to kill me or sue me for ''harassment'' and ''stalking'' (when she would be the one that came over to MY house) if I didn't leave town by sun down. The church officials didn't try to calm him down, but rather, sided WITH him and told me if i didn't move they would help him prosecute me.

I was wondering if I could file anything against either her dad or the church for threatening and forcing me to leave a management job, a steady place to live and wasn't actually harming anyone, to be honest all he had to do was put a restraining order on me.


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Reply: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=705591086
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Category: Civil Rights Law
Location: TN
Subject:  Re: Unrightful/forceful Kicking me out of the town

This fact pattern is one of the strangest cases I have ever heard.  Citizens of the United States are free to travel and relocate to different states without anyone's permission.  Were you dating an underage minor?  If so, then this may have turned out for the best, because you could have gotten into trouble with false accusations that carried penalties worse than just leaving town.

If your girlfriend was an adult, then the father and the church people had no right to tell you where to live or to get out of town.  You would not have been subjected to a restraining order.  Those are only given when there is imminent risk of harm.

Are your rights to relocate restricted based on a past conviction for a felony or sex offense crime?

I don't know enough about the facts in your case to provide further advice.