Family Law
Phillips & Ingrum is honored to have assisted countless families with completing or expanding their families through adoption, as well as assisting birth parents in making the decision to place their child for adoption. Absent very specific circumstances, before an adoption can take place, the parental rights (or potential rights) of one or more people must be terminated or surrendered. In addition to adoptions, our attorneys have experience both pursuing and defending termination of parental rights.
We have represented adoptive parents and birth parents in stepparent adoptions, grandparent and other relative adoptions, adult adoptions, and those circumstances where no prior legal relationship exists. In recent years, Tennessee has also formalized the use of Post Adoption Contact Agreements, which is a way to effectuate what parties commonly refer to as “open adoption” and something we are able to negotiate for any party involved.
Termination of parental rights and adoptions are procedurally complex, and our attorneys can help you navigate the options that best suit your circumstances with a consultation.