Child Custody · Nashville Office
Child Custody Lawyer in Nashville, TN
Wise Law handles child custody cases in Davidson County and surrounding Tennessee counties, including permanent parenting plans, primary residential parent disputes, modifications, and relocation. Tennessee courts decide custody based on the child's best interests. At Wise Law, upfront flat fees range from $1,500 to $5,000. Wise Law is the Nashville office of Wise & Associates, Louisville, Kentucky.
Tennessee Child Custody: Key Facts
| Our fees | At Wise Law, upfront flat fees for custody cases range from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on how much litigation is required. Mediation, court appearances, and trial are priced separately before each begins. See pricing |
|---|---|
| Court | In Davidson County, custody issues in a divorce are heard in Circuit Court, and custody between parents who were never married is generally handled in Juvenile Court. We also handle cases in Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, and Sumner counties. |
| Standard | The best interests of the child, with each parent given the maximum participation in the child's life that is consistent with those interests |
| Key terms | The permanent parenting plan sets the schedule and decision-making. The primary residential parent has the child more than half the time; the alternative residential parent has the child less than half the time. |
| Child's preference | The court considers the reasonable preference of a child 12 or older, and may hear a younger child's preference |
| Changing a plan | Requires a material change in circumstances, and the change must be in the child's best interests |
| Relocation | A parent moving out of state or more than 50 miles away must give the other parent written notice at least 60 days before the move |
| Governing law | Tenn. Code Ann. Title 36, Chapter 6, including § 36-6-106 (best interests), § 36-6-108 (relocation), and the parenting plan statutes beginning at § 36-6-401 |
| Handled by | Paige Redd, Managing Attorney, Nashville |
Custody Cases We Handle
Permanent parenting plans
Parenting plans in a divorce, or in a custody case between parents who were never married.
Primary residential parent disputes
Cases where both parents want to be the primary residential parent.
Modifications and relocation
Changing the parenting plan after a material change, including when a parent plans to move.
Custody with orders of protection
Cases involving abuse, where the parenting plan must include limits to protect the child. Orders of protection
How a Custody Case Works in Davidson County
Free phone consultation
An attorney reviews your situation and quotes your upfront fee.
Petition or complaint
Custody is raised in a divorce complaint, or in a separate petition between parents who were never married. Parentage may need to be established first.
Service and response
The other parent is formally served and has the opportunity to respond.
Temporary parenting plan
The court can set a temporary schedule and support while the case is pending.
Parenting seminar and mediation
Parents may be required to attend a parenting seminar, and contested parenting plans are generally sent to mediation unless excused, for example where there is domestic abuse.
Agreement or hearing
Most cases end with an agreed permanent parenting plan. If not, the judge decides after a hearing.
Permanent parenting plan order
The court enters the final permanent parenting plan.
Credentials
- Paige Redd, managing attorney, Nashville: licensed in Tennessee since April 2020, practicing family law in the Nashville area for nearly her entire career. Read her bio
- Christopher Wise, founder of Wise & Associates: Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2023–2027; Louisville Business First 20 People to Know in Law, 2023 and 2026.
- Wise & Associates: Best Law Firm in Louisville, The Courier Journal Best of Louisville (reader-voted), Winner 2022 and 2023, Top 3 2025 and 2026. All awards
Nashville Child Custody Questions
How much does a child custody lawyer cost in Nashville?
At Wise Law, upfront flat fees for custody cases range from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on how much litigation is required. Mediation, court appearances, and trial are priced separately before each begins. The firm does not bill hourly, and the first consultation is free.
What is a primary residential parent in Tennessee?
The primary residential parent is the parent the child lives with more than half the time. The other parent is the alternative residential parent. Both roles are set in the permanent parenting plan.
Does Tennessee require equal parenting time?
No. Tennessee does not require a 50/50 schedule. The court decides based on the child's best interests and gives each parent the maximum participation in the child's life that is consistent with those interests.
At what age can a child choose which parent to live with in Tennessee?
A child does not get to choose. The court considers the reasonable preference of a child 12 or older, and may hear a younger child's preference, but the decision is based on the child's best interests.
Can a permanent parenting plan be changed?
Yes. The parent asking for the change must show a material change in circumstances, and the change must be in the child's best interests.
Can I move with my child after a divorce in Tennessee?
A parent planning to move out of state or more than 50 miles away must give the other parent written notice at least 60 days before the move. The other parent can object, and the court then decides.
Talk to a Nashville Custody Lawyer
Consultations are free and by phone. Book a time, then call the office at your scheduled time.
Wise Law4235 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 300, Nashville, TN 37215
(615) 208-9190
Wise Law is the Nashville office of Wise & Associates, Louisville, Kentucky.
Attorney advertising. This page provides general information, not legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.