Child Custody Attorney in Franklin

Protecting Your Time With Your Children

Custody and parenting time decisions shape where your child lives, who makes important choices, and how often you are together. When that is uncertain, it is common to feel anxious and overwhelmed. If you are looking for a child custody attorney, our team is here to help you focus on what matters most: your child’s well-being.

At Crosier Family Law, we guide parents in Franklin and throughout Williamson County through Tennessee custody and parenting plan issues. We know you are not just dealing with legal forms; you are trying to protect your relationship with your child during a difficult season of life. Our attorneys listen carefully, explain your options in plain language, and work to build a plan that reflects your child’s needs and your family’s reality.

Our firm is led by attorneys Diane Crosier and Jill Hudson, who bring decades of Tennessee family law experience. Diane is a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Mediator, and Jill has been selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars. Parents turn to our team because we combine compassionate support with assertive advocacy in and around Franklin when the situation calls for it.

Speak with a child custody lawyer in Franklin today—schedule a consultation online or call us at (615) 645-1388.

Why Parents Choose Our Custody Team

When you are facing a custody dispute, you need more than forms and statutes. You need a team that understands your child’s daily life and the dynamics in your home. We take time to understand school schedules, work demands, transportation limits, and the emotional needs of your children, then we build a strategy that fits your family rather than forcing you into a rigid template.

Our attorneys offer a dual approach that can adapt as your case evolves. We often begin by exploring negotiated solutions and mediation that can reduce conflict and keep control in your family’s hands. Diane’s work as a Rule 31 Mediator gives us valuable insight into how to structure productive discussions and craft parenting plans that courts can approve. When agreement is possible, we work to reach it in a way that keeps your child out of the middle.

Some cases require strong courtroom advocacy. In those situations, our trial-tested lawyers are prepared to present your story clearly and thoroughly to the court. Jill’s selection to Super Lawyers Rising Stars reflects years of dedicated advocacy and respect from peers. Whether your case is in settlement discussions or in front of a judge in Williamson County, we remain focused on the best interests of your child and on practical results.

We also understand that parents have demanding schedules. Our firm offers flexible meeting times and uses secure technology when helpful, so you can meet with us around work, visitation, and school. Throughout the process, we aim to keep you informed, answer your questions promptly, and make sure you know what is coming next.

How Child Custody Works In Tennessee

Knowing how Tennessee approaches custody can take some of the fear out of the process. In our state, courts use a “best interests of the child” standard. This means the judge looks at a series of factors to decide what arrangement is most likely to support your child’s safety, stability, and healthy development over time.

Legal terms can be confusing. In Tennessee, parents create a Permanent Parenting Plan that addresses both decision-making and the residential schedule. Decision-making covers major choices about education, health care, and religious upbringing. The residential schedule outlines where the child lives on school days, weekends, holidays, and vacations, and how transportation is handled.

If your case is heard in Williamson County Circuit Court in Franklin, the judge will generally consider many aspects of your child’s life. Courts often look at each parent’s role in daily caregiving, the strength of the child’s relationship with each parent, the stability of each home, and each parent’s willingness to encourage a healthy relationship with the other parent. Safety concerns, such as substance abuse or violence, are also taken seriously when supported by evidence.

Every family is different, and no single factor controls the outcome. Part of our role is to help you understand how these principles apply to your situation and what information may be helpful for the court to consider. We explain what a parenting plan includes, how it can be submitted to the court, and what to expect at hearings that may take place in Franklin.

Some common issues courts may consider include:

• Each parent’s involvement in school, medical care, and daily routines
• The child’s emotional ties to each parent and other family members
• The stability of each home environment and planned living arrangements
• Any history of abuse, neglect, or significant safety concerns
• Each parent’s ability to communicate and cooperate about the child

Steps To Take In A Custody Dispute

When a custody issue surfaces, it can feel like everything is happening at once. You might be separating, considering divorce, or facing a sudden disagreement over schedules or decision-making. Taking a few focused steps early can help protect your child and put you in a stronger position to work through the legal process.

We encourage parents to think about their child’s daily life before anything else. Who takes the child to school, helps with homework, and attends activities? What routines feel safe and familiar? Courts often look at these patterns when considering what will be least disruptive for a child. It is also wise to be thoughtful about written communication with the other parent, since texts and emails sometimes become part of the court record.

Helpful steps you can take right now include:

• Focus on your child’s routine and keep daily life as steady as possible
• Save respectful records of exchanges about schedules, school, and activities
• Gather important documents, such as school reports and medical records
• Avoid discussing adult conflict in front of your child whenever possible
• Schedule a consultation with a child custody lawyer to review your options

During an initial meeting with our team, we talk through your concerns, your child’s needs, and any court dates or deadlines that may already be set. We review your current schedule, any temporary arrangements, and your goals for a long-term parenting plan. You do not need to have every detail figured out before you contact us. Our role is to help you understand realistic options under Tennessee law and to create a plan to move forward together.

Mediation & Courtroom Advocacy For Custody

Many Tennessee family courts, including those in Williamson County, encourage parents to try mediation before asking a judge to decide custody. Mediation gives parents a structured setting to discuss schedules, holidays, and decision-making with the support of a neutral professional. For many families, this process leads to a parenting plan that both parents can live with and the court can approve.

As a Rule 31 Mediator, attorney Diane Crosier brings valuable insight into how effective mediation works. Our team uses that knowledge to prepare you for mediation sessions, help you identify what matters most, and evaluate potential proposals with your long-term goals in mind. We know that parents often want to reduce conflict for their children, and successful mediation can be an important step toward that goal.

Some situations are not suited to agreement. If there are serious safety concerns, a long history of noncooperation, or unreasonable positions from the other side, litigation may be required. In those cases, our trial-tested lawyers, including Super Lawyers Rising Stars selectee Jill Hudson, are prepared to present clear, organized evidence and arguments to the judge. We help you understand what to expect in hearings in Franklin, how to prepare for testimony if needed, and how to stay focused on your child’s best interests throughout.

Whether your case moves through mediation, contested hearings, or some combination of both, we work to keep you informed at each step. Our goal is to balance cooperative problem solving with firm advocacy, and to choose the tools that best support your child’s safety and long-term stability.

Modifications & Complex Custody Issues

Custody is not always a one-time decision. As children grow and families change, existing parenting plans may no longer fit. A new job in Nashville, a change in a child’s school needs, or a significant shift in a parent’s circumstances can all require a closer look at the current order. Tennessee law generally requires a substantial and material change before a court will consider modifying a parenting plan.

We work with many parents who already have a court order from Williamson County Circuit Court or Juvenile Court and now face new challenges. Some are considering relocation within Middle Tennessee, others are dealing with concerns about the other parent’s behavior, or a change in a child’s health. We review the history of your case, the reasons you are considering a change, and what outcomes may be realistic under Tennessee standards.

Complex cases may also involve juvenile court proceedings, allegations related to safety, or significant communication breakdowns between parents. Our team’s backgrounds in communications, mental health, and justice advocacy help us approach these matters with care. We pay attention to the language used in orders, to patterns in co-parent communication, and to the support that children may need while adults work through the legal process.

If you are thinking about changing an existing parenting plan, it is wise to speak with a child custody lawyer Franklin parents trust before you make major decisions about schedules or moving. We can help you understand potential legal consequences, discuss negotiation options, and prepare for court if a formal modification becomes necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose custody of my child?

Most parents do not lose all involvement with their children. Tennessee courts focus on the child’s best interests and typically look for ways to keep both parents involved when it is safe. We review your specific facts, explain potential risks, and work to protect your role in your child’s life.

How do Tennessee courts decide custody?

Courts generally apply the “best interests of the child” standard. Judges look at factors such as each parent’s caregiving history, the child’s emotional ties, stability, safety, and each parent’s willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent. We help you understand which factors may be most important in your case.

Can you help if we already agree?

Yes. Many parents largely agree on schedules and decision-making, and need help turning that agreement into a clear parenting plan the court can approve. We use our mediation and drafting experience to put your agreement into a detailed, practical document that reflects your child’s needs and complies with Tennessee law.

What if the other parent will not cooperate?

When cooperation breaks down, we help you document problems, explore settlement options, and, if needed, present your case to the court. Our attorneys are prepared to advocate firmly in hearings in Franklin while keeping your child’s well-being at the center of every decision.

How will your team work with my family?

We begin by listening to your story and your goals for your child. Our team communicates in clear, straightforward language and offers flexible meeting options to fit your schedule. Drawing on our family law experience and backgrounds in communication and mental health, we tailor our approach to your family’s specific needs.

Talk With Our Custody Lawyers

If you are facing a custody dispute or need to adjust an existing parenting plan, you do not have to navigate it alone. Working with a child custody lawyer can provide clarity about your rights, realistic expectations about the process, and a strategy that is centered on your child.

At Crosier Family Law, we combine decades of Tennessee family law experience with a commitment to personalized, child-focused representation. Our attorneys handle both negotiated solutions and contested hearings in Williamson County, and we strive to keep you informed and supported from the first meeting through resolution. 

Take the next step with a child custody attorney in Franklin—book your appointment online or call us now at (615) 645-1388.