Custody

Non-Custodial Parents' Bill of Rights

Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-110 provides the non-custodial parent the following rights:

• The right to unimpeded telephone conversations with the child at least twice a week at reasonable times and for reasonable durations
• The right to send mail to the child which the other parent shall not open or censor
• The right to receive notice and relevant information as soon as practicable but within 24 hours (24) of any event of hospitalization,major illness or death of the child
• The right to receive directly from the child's school upon written request which includes a current mailing address and upon payment of reasonable costs of duplicating, copies of the child's report cards, attendance records, names of teachers, class schedules, standardized test scores and any other records customarily made available to parents
• The right to receive copies of the child's medical records directly from the child's doctor or other health care provider upon written request which contains a current mailing address and upon payment of reasonable costs of duplication
• The right to be free of unwarranted derogatory remarks made about him or her or his or her family by the other parent to or in the presence of the child
• The right to be given at least forty-eight (48) hours notice, whenever possible, of all extra-curricular activities, and the opportunity to participate or observe, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) School activities; (ii) Athletic activities; (iii) Church activities; and (iv) Other activities as to which parental participation or observation would be appropriate.
• The right of access and participation in education, including the right of access to the minor child or children for lunch and other activities, on the same basis that is provided to all parents, provided the participation or access is reasonable and does not interfere with day-to-day operations or with the child's educational performance.
• The right to receive from the other parent, in the event the other parent leaves the state with the minor child or children for more than two (2) days, an itinerary including telephone numbers for use in the event of an emergency.

These rights may only be denied upon a finding by the court that such denial is in the best interests of the child. An unlikely event.