New Tennessee bill could shift custody battles toward equal parenting time

Article here. Excerpt:

'A custody battle is brewing in Tennessee—not between parents—but in the law itself.

For years, state law has leaned heavily toward mothers in custody cases. But a new bill at the state capitol could change the starting point for custody battles, giving both parents an equal shot at raising their children.

House Bill 1131, sponsored by State Representative Antonio Parkinson (D-Memphis), proposes that judges begin every child custody case with the presumption of 50/50 parenting time, unless there’s evidence suggesting otherwise.

“We want Tennessee to recognize the fact that it is in the best interests of the child to have both parents in the child’s life,” Parkinson told FOX13 in an interview.

Right now, Tennessee law often defaults to awarding mothers full custody—leaving many fathers with limited visitation, even if they’re listed on the birth certificate.

Attorney Princess Woodard explained, “In Tennessee, by default, mothers have sole legal and physical custody of the child. And that does not simply change because you’re on the birth certificate.”'