Great news for parents who are exercising joint time! A new bill is pending and as of July 1, 2019, parents exercising joint parenting time will be able to elect to list both parents as joint custodians. What does this mean? If you get to list both parents as joint custodians for the plan and for federal purposes, these parents will now be able to elect which school district the child attends. This is going to be huge for parents exercising equal time in Nashville, as one of the biggest issues when determining primary parent in Nashville divorces is school district. Many times parents are being forced to sell a home or remove a child from private school as a result of the financial changes that come from losing joint incomes.

This will provide for more flexibility for the parents to decide the school district but also make it so a parent does not essentially become trapped in a school district or county with higher expenses. For example, the parties may decide to negotiate a child support deviation so long as one parent remains in school district, allowing the other parent to move to a lower cost of living school district and benefiting both parents (and especially the minor child) overall.

If you already have a parenting plan in place and this may help you, contact an attorney about potentially entering into an agreed parenting plan modification to take advantage of this new law.

For more information, see below:

Introduced Session:111th General Assembly

Bill Summary: As enacted, permits a designation as joint primary residential parents or a waiver of the primary residential parent designation upon agreement of the parents when the child is scheduled to reside an equal amount of time with both parents; allows the address of either parent to be used to determine school zoning when the child is scheduled to reside an equal amount of time with both parents. – Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 36.
Bill Subjects:Child Custody and Support

Sponsors (1):
John Stevens (R)*
Last Action:Pub. Ch. 83 (on 4/9/2019)
(1 Companion Bill)

Official Document:http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0402&ga=111

Will the new Tennessee divorce change allowing a joint primary residential parent or waiver or residential parent apply to you, either in an upcoming divorce, current divorce, or in a potential post-divorce modification? We may be able to help. Contact Nashville Tennessee Divorce Lawyer Morgan Smith, a 10 Best divorce attorney, using the contact form below or by calling us at (615) 620-5848 to discuss your options.