Source: https://www.aboutdivorce.com/children/parenting-plan-statute/
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 16:35:49+00:00

Document:
(a) Parents have the responsibility to make decisions and perform other parental duties necessary for the care and growth of their minor children. In any proceeding between parents under this chapter, the best interests of the child shall be the standard by which the court determines and allocates the parties’ parental responsibilities. The general assembly recognizes the detrimental effect of divorce on many children and that divorce, by its nature, means that neither parent will have the same access to the child as would have been possible had they been able to maintain an intact family. The general assembly finds the need for stability and consistency in children’s lives. The general assembly also has an interest in educating parents concerning the impact of divorce on children. The general assembly recognizes the fundamental importance of the parent-child relationship to the welfare of the child, and the relationship between the child and each parent should be fostered unless inconsistent with the child’s best interests. The best interests of the child are served by a parenting arrangement that best maintains a child’s emotional growth, health and stability, and physical care.
(b) The general assembly finds that mothers and fathers in families are the backbone of this state and this nation. They teach children right from wrong, respect for others, and the value of working hard to make a good life for themselves and for their future families. Most children do best when they receive the emotional and financial support of both parents. The general assembly finds that a different approach to dispute resolution in child custody and visitation matters is useful.
(1) “Dispute resolution” means the mediation process or alternative dispute resolution process in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 31 unless the parties agree otherwise. For the purposes of this part, such process may include: mediation, the neutral party to be chosen by the parties or the court; arbitration, the neutral party to be chosen by the parties or the court; or a mandatory settlement conference presided over by the court or a special master.
(6) “Temporary parenting plan” means a plan for the temporary parenting and the best interests of the child, including the establishment of a temporary residential schedule, and the establishment of temporary financial support designed to maintain the financial status quo to the extent possible, consistent with title 36, chapter 5, and the guidelines thereunder.
(2) If the parties cannot agree to a temporary parenting plan, either or both parties may request the court to order dispute resolution. The court may immediately order the parties to participate in dispute resolution to establish a temporary parenting plan unless one (1) of the restrictions in § 36-6-406(a) exists. If dispute resolution is not available either party may request and the court may order an expedited hearing to establish a temporary parenting plan. In either mediation or in a hearing before the Court each party shall submit a proposed temporary parenting plan and a verified statement of income as defined by title 36, chapter 5, and a verified statement that the plan is proposed in good faith and is in the best interest of the child. If only one (1) party files a proposed temporary parenting plan in compliance with this section, that party may petition the court for an order adopting that party’s plan by default, upon a finding by the court that the plan is in the child’s best interest. In determining whether the proposed temporary parenting plan serves the best interests of the child, the court shall be governed by the allocation of residential time and support obligations contained in the child support guidelines and related provisions in title 36, chapter 5.
(5) Allocate decision-making authority to one (1) or both parties regarding the child’s education, health care, extracurricular activities, and religious upbringing. The parties may incorporate an agreement related to the care and growth of the child in these specified areas, or in other areas, into their plan, consistent with the criteria in this part. Regardless of the allocation of decision making in the parenting plan, the parties may agree that either parent may make emergency decisions affecting the health or safety of the child.
(6) Provide that each parent may make the day-to-day decisions regarding the care of the child while the child is residing with that parent.
(7) Provide that when mutual decision making is designated but cannot be achieved, the parties shall make a good-faith effort to resolve the issue through the appropriate dispute resolution process, subject to the exception set forth in subdivision (a)(4)(F).
(8) Require the obligor to report annually on a date certain to the obligee, and the department of human services or its contractor in Title IV-D cases, on a form provided by the court, the obligor’s income as defined by the child support guidelines and related provisions contained in title 36, chapter 5.
(B) with a consent order to modify a final decree or judgment involving a minor child.
(2) If the parties cannot reach agreement on a permanent parenting plan, upon the motion of either party, or upon its own motion, the court may order appropriate dispute resolution proceedings pursuant to Rule 31 of the Rules of the Supreme Court, to determine a permanent parenting plan.
(3) If the parties have not reached agreement on a permanent parenting plan on or before forty-five (45) days before the date set for trial, each party shall file and serve a proposed permanent parenting plan, even though the parties may continue to mediate or negotiate. Failure to comply by a party may result in the court’s adoption of the plan filed by the opposing party if the court finds such plan to be in the best interests of the child. In determining whether the proposed plan is in the best interests of the child, the court may consider the allocation of residential time and support obligations contained in the child support guidelines and related provisions contained in chapter 5 of this title. Each parent submitting a proposed permanent parenting plan shall attach a verified statement of income pursuant to the child support guidelines and related provisions contained in title 36, chapter 5, and a verified statement that the plan is proposed in good faith and is in the best interest of the child.
(a) In a proceeding for a modification of a permanent parenting plan, a proposed parenting plan shall be filed and served with the petition for modification and with the response to the petition for modification. Such plan is not required if the modification pertains only to child support. The obligor parent’s proposed parenting plan shall be accompanied by a verified statement of that party’s income pursuant to the child support guidelines and related provisions contained in chapter 5 of this title. The process established by § 36-6-404(b) shall be used to establish an amended permanent parenting plan or final decree or judgment.
(b) Title IV-D child support cases involving the department of human services or any of its public or private contractors shall be bifurcated from the remaining parental responsibility issues. Separate orders shall be issued concerning Title IV-D issues, which shall not be contained in, or part of, temporary, permanent or modified parenting plans. The department and its public or private contractors shall not be required to participate in mediation or dispute resolution pursuant to this part.
(2) Physical or sexual abuse or a pattern of emotional abuse of the parent, child or of another person living with that child as defined in § 36-3-601.
(b) The parent’s residential time with the child shall be limited if it is determined by the court, based upon a prior order or other reliable evidence, that the parent resides with a person who has engaged in physical or sexual abuse or a pattern of emotional abuse of the parent, child or of another person living with that child as defined in § 36-3-601.
(c) If a parent has been convicted as an adult of a sexual offense under § 39-15-302, title 39, chapter 17, part 10, or §§ 39-13-501 – 39-13-511, or has been found to be a sexual offender under title 39, chapter 13, part 7, the court shall restrain the parent from contact with a child that would otherwise be allowed under this part. If a parent resides with an adult who has been convicted, or with a juvenile who has been adjudicated guilty of a sexual offense under § 39-15-302, title 39, chapter 17, part 10, or §§ 39-13-501 – 39-13-511, or who has been found to be a sexual offender under title 39, chapter 13, part 7, the court shall restrain that parent from contact with the child unless the contact occurs outside the adult’s or juvenile’s presence and sufficient provisions are established to protect the child.
(8) Such other factors or conduct as the court expressly finds adverse to the best interests of the child.
(e) In entering a permanent parenting plan, the court shall not draw any presumptions from the provisions of the temporary parenting plan.
(3) The agreement is in the best interest of the child and is agreed to by the guardian ad litem, if one has been appointed by the court.
(3) One (1) parent is opposed to mutual decision making, and such opposition is reasonable in light of the parties’ inability to satisfy the criteria for mutual decision-making authority.
(4) The parents’ geographic proximity to one another, to the extent that it affects their ability to make timely mutual decisions.
(a) In an action where a permanent parenting plan is or will be entered, each parent shall attend a parent educational seminar as soon as possible after the filing of the complaint. The seminar shall educate parents concerning how to protect and enhance the child’s emotional development and informing the parents regarding the legal process. The seminar shall also include a discussion of alternative dispute resolution, marriage counseling, the judicial process, and common perpetrator attitudes and conduct involving domestic violence. The program may be divided into sessions, which in the aggregate shall not be less than four (4) hours in duration. The seminar shall be educational in nature and not designed for individual therapy. The minor children shall be excluded from attending these sessions. The requirement of attendance at such a seminar may be waived upon motion by either party and the agreement of the court upon the showing of good cause for such relief.
(b) The fees or costs of the educational sessions under this section, which shall be reasonable, shall be borne by the parties and may be assessed by the court as it deems equitable. Such fees may be waived for indigent persons.
(c) No court shall deny the granting of a divorce from the bonds of matrimony for failure of a party or both parties to attend the educational session.
(1) Each neutral party, the court, or the special master shall apply or, in the case of mediation, assist the parties to uphold as a standard for making decisions in mediation, the criteria in this part. Nothing in this part shall be construed to prevent a party from having the party’s attorney present at a mediation or other dispute resolution procedure.
(2) The Tennessee Rules of Evidence do not apply in any mediation or alternative dispute resolution process; the neutral party may rely upon evidence submitted that reasonably prudent persons would rely upon in the conduct of their affairs.
(3) When dispute resolution is utilized in this chapter, it shall be preceded by a pretrial conference and the attendance by parents at the parent education seminar set forth in § 36-6-408.
(C) Preempts such process upon motion of either party for just cause.
(C) The victim is permitted to have in attendance at mediation a supporting person of the victim’s choice, including, but not limited to, an attorney or advocate. No victim may provide monetary compensation to a non-attorney advocate for attendance at mediation. The other party may also have in attendance at mediation a supporting person of such party’s choice, including, but not limited to, an attorney or advocate.
(C) The financial circumstances of the parties to pay for alternative dispute resolution processes where court sanctioned alternative dispute resolution programs are unavailable.
Solely for the purpose of all other state and federal statutes and any applicable policies of insurance which require a designation or determination of custody, a parenting plan shall designate the parent with whom the child is scheduled to reside a majority of the time as the custodian of the child; provided, that this designation shall not affect either parent’s rights and responsibilities under the parenting plan. In the absence of such a designation, the parent with whom the child is scheduled to reside a majority of the time shall be deemed to be the custodian for the purposes of such federal and state statutes.
Nothing in this part shall be construed to alter, modify or restrict the exclusive jurisdiction of the juvenile court pursuant to § 37-1-103.
It is the legislative intent that the gender of the party seeking to be the primary residential parent shall not give rise to a presumption of parental fitness or cause a presumption in favor of or against such party.
The mother and father will behave with each other and each child so as to provide a loving, stable, consistent and nurturing relationship with the child even though they are divorced. They will not speak badly of each other or the members of the family of the other parent. They will encourage each child to continue to love the other parent and be comfortable in both families.
This plan □ is a new plan.
□ modifies an existing Parenting Plan dated Type Date.
□ modifies an existing Order dated Type Date.
The Primary Residential Parent is Type Primary Residential Parent.
Mother Type Number days Father Type Number days.
□ every week □ every other week □ other: Enter Other Day and Time.
□ every week □ every other week □ other: Enter Additional Information.
This parenting schedule begins □ Please Enter Start Date or □ date of the Court Order.
A holiday shall begin at 6:00 p.m. on the night preceding the holiday and end at 6:00 p.m. the night of the holiday, unless otherwise noted here Please enter other holiday start time.
The day to day schedule shall apply except as follows Enter Exception beginning Enter Date.
The □ mother □ father shall have the child or children for the first period from the day and time school is dismissed until December Please Type Date at Please Type Time □ a.m. □ p.m. □ in odd-numbered years □ in even-numbered years □ every year. The other parent will have the child or children for the second period from the day and time indicated above until 6:00 p.m. on the evening before school resumes. The parties shall alternate the first and second periods each year.
The day-to-day schedule shall apply except as follows Please Enter Spring Exception beginning Please Enter Spring Exception Start Date.
The day-to-day schedule shall apply except as follows: Please Enter Summer Exception beginning Enter Start Date of Summer Exception.
Is written notice required? □ Yes □ No. If so, Please Type Number of Days number of days.
The place of meeting for the exchange of the child or children shall be Please Type the Meeting Place for Exchange of Children.
Payment of long distance transportation costs (if applicable): □ mother □ father □ both equally.
□ Place: Type Location of Parenting Time.
□ Responsibility for cost, if any: □ mother □ father □ both equally.
Each parent shall make decisions regarding the day-to-day care of the child while the child is residing with that parent, including any emergency decisions affecting the health or safety of a child.
Father’s gross monthly income is $ Please Type Father’s Gross Monthly Income.
Mother’s gross monthly income is $ Please Type Mother’s Gross Monthly Income.
2. Retroactive Support: A judgment is hereby awarded in the amount of $Amount to □ mother □ father against the child support payor representing retroactive support required under Section 1240-2-4.06 of the D.H.S. Income Shares Child Support Guidelines dating from Please Type Date of Child Support Start which shall be paid (including pre/post judgment interest) at the rate of $Please Type Rate of Payment per □ week □ month □ twice per month □ every two weeks until the judgment is paid in full.
3. Payments shall begin on the Please Type Day of Payment Start day of Please Type Month of Payment Start, 20 Please Type last two Digits of Year.
□ directly to the other parent.
□ to the Central Child Support Receipting Unit, P. O. Box 305200, Nashville, Tennessee 37229, and sent from there to the other parent at: Please Type Address of Receiving Parent.
□ by direct deposit to the other parent at Please Type Name of Bank for deposit in account no. Please Type Account Number.
□ income assignment not required; Explanation:_______________________________.
The parents acknowledge that court approval must be obtained before child support can be reduced or modified.
*Child Support Worksheet can be found on D.H.S. website at http://www.state.tn.us/humanserv/is/isdocuments.html or at your local child support offices.
The □ mother □ father is the parent receiving child support.
The □ mother □ father may claim the exemptions for the child or children so long as child support payments are current by the claiming parent on January 15 of the year when the return is due. The exemptions may be claimed in: □ alternate years starting Type Start Date □ each year □ other: Please Type Other Information.
The □ mother □ father will furnish IRS Form 8332 to the parent entitled to the exemption by February 15 of the year the tax return is due.
IRS Forms W-2 and 1099 shall be sent to the other parent on or before February 15.
A copy of his or her federal income tax return shall be sent to the other parent on or before April 15 or any later date when it is due because of an extension of time for filing.
The completed form required by the Department of Human Services shall be sent to the Department on or before the date the federal income tax return is due by the parent paying child support. This requirement applies only if a parent is receiving benefits from the Department for a child.
The parent paying work-related child care expenses shall send proof of expenses to the other parent for the prior calendar year and an estimate for the next calendar year, on or before February 15.
Proof of continuing coverage shall be furnished to the other parent annually or as coverage changes. The parent maintaining coverage shall authorize the other parent to consult with the insurance carrier regarding the coverage in effect.
Uncovered reasonable and necessary medical expenses, which may include but are not limited to, deductibles or co-payments, eyeglasses, contact lens, routine annual physicals, and counseling will be paid by □ mother □ father □ pro rata in accordance with their incomes. After insurance has paid its portion, the parent receiving the bill will send it to the other parent within ten days. The other parent will pay his or her share within 30 days of receipt of the bill.
If available through work, the □ mother □ father shall maintain dental, orthodontic, and optical insurance on the minor child or children.
If agreed upon by the parties, the □ mother □ father □ both shall insure his/her own life in the minimum amount of $ Type Amount by whole life or term insurance. Until the child support obligation has been completed, each policy shall name the child/children as sole irrevocable primary beneficiary, with: □ the other parent □ other Type Other Information, as trustee for the benefit of the child(ren), to serve without bond or accounting.
The child or children are scheduled to reside the majority of the time with the □ mother □ father. This parent is designated as the primary residential parent also known as the custodian, SOLELY for purposes of any other applicable state and federal laws. If the parents are listed in Section II as joint decision-makers, then, for purposes of obtaining health or other insurance, they shall be considered to be joint custodians. THIS DESIGNATION DOES NOT AFFECT EITHER PARENT’S RIGHTS OR RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THIS PARENTING PLAN.
□ Mediation by a neutral party chosen by the parents or the Court.
□ Arbitration by a neutral party selected by parents or the Court.
□ The Court DUE TO ORDER OF PROTECTION OR RESTRICTIONS.
b. The parents shall use the process to resolve disputes relating to implementation of the Plan.
c. A written record shall be prepared of any agreement reached, and it shall be provided to each parent.
d. If the Court finds that a parent willfully failed to appear without good reason, the Court, upon motion, may award attorney fees and financial sanctions to the prevailing parent.
9. The right to access and participation in education on the same basis that is provided to all parents. This includes the right of access to the child for lunch and other activities. However participation or access must be reasonable and not interfere with day-to-day operations or with the child’s educational performance.
4. Statement that the other parent may file a petition in opposition to the move within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notice.
This requirement has been fulfilled by □ both parents □ mother □ father □ neither.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this ______ day of ___________, 20_____.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this ______ day of ______________, 20_____.
Note: The judge or chancellor may sign below or, instead, sign a Final Decree or a separate Order incorporating this plan.
Enter How Court Costs Will Be Taxed.
It is so ORDERED this the ________ day of ____________, 20 ____.

References: § 36
 § 36
 § 36
 § 36
 § 39
 § 39
 § 36
 § 37