How can I get sole custody of my child in Tennessee?

As a parent who has a spouse who it may or may not be in the best interests of the child to be around, you are involved in a difficult situation.  Perhaps you are afraid that your spouse does not take care of the child, or perhaps you merely wish to spend more time with your child and have more influence on his life.  Whatever your reasons, the best way to do this in a divorce situation is to seek sole custody of the child.  The rules for sole custody are strict and difficult to meet, because the courts act in the best interests of the child, which is typically presumed to be that they will have contact with both parents.  So, under child custody Tennessee rules, how can you get sole custody? 

• It is particularly difficult to get sole custody in Tennessee unless the parent you are trying to take custody from has proven that he or she cannot or will not co parent effectively with you.  
• This is typically reserved for cases of domestic abuse, or where one parent has a drug or alcohol problem that causes them to not be able to be trusted around the child, or that might put the child’s life in danger.

If you believe you need sole custody of your child, you need to contact a lawyer for help proving this to the court.