Child Custody Attorney in Franklin

A Rule 31 Mediator & a Super Lawyers Rising Stars Selectee, Fighting for Franklin Families

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’s common to feel anxious and overwhelmed. If you’re 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 matters. We know you’re not just dealing with legal forms; you’re 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 Diane Crosier, who brings decades of Tennessee family law experience. Diane is a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Mediator. Parents turn to our team because we combine compassionate support with assertive advocacy 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’re 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. Before we build any strategy, we take time to understand school schedules, work demands, transportation limits, and your children’s emotional needs. The goal is a plan that fits your family rather than forcing you into a rigid template.

Mediation & Litigation Under One Roof

Our attorneys bring a dual approach that can adapt as your case evolves. We often begin by exploring negotiated solutions through mediation, which can reduce conflict and keep decisions in your family’s hands. Diane’s work as a Rule 31 Mediator gives us practical insight into how to structure productive discussions and draft 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. Whether your case is in settlement discussions or in front of a judge in Williamson County, we stay focused on your child’s best interests and on practical results.

How We Work With Your Family

Our combined backgrounds in communications, mental health, and justice advocacy shape how we handle sensitive custody matters. These aren’t purely legal disputes to us; they involve real children and real families navigating some of the hardest moments of their lives.

We also know that parents have demanding schedules. We offer flexible meeting times and use secure technology when helpful, so you can connect with us around work, visitation, and school pickup. Throughout the process, we keep you informed, answer your questions promptly, and explain what’s coming next.

How Child Custody Works in Tennessee

Understanding how Tennessee approaches custody can take some of the fear out of the process. Courts use the “best interests of the child” standard, meaning the judge weighs a series of factors to determine what arrangement is most likely to support your child’s safety, stability, and healthy development over time.

The Permanent Parenting Plan

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.

Which Court Handles Your Case

Where your case is filed in Williamson County depends on your situation. If you and the other parent were married, your custody case can typically be heard in Williamson County Circuit Court or Chancery Court, both located at the Williamson County Judicial Center in Franklin. If you were never married, custody is handled by Williamson County Juvenile Court, which has jurisdiction over custody and support matters for unmarried parents. Most competing pages skip this distinction, but it matters when you’re trying to understand your next steps.

Regardless of which court handles your case, the judge can consider many aspects of your child’s life. No single factor controls the outcome. Part of our role as your child custody attorneys is helping you understand how these principles apply to your situation and what information may be most useful for the court.

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 as the legal process unfolds.

Start by thinking about your child’s daily life. Who takes the child to school, helps with homework, and attends activities? What routines feel safe and familiar? Courts often look at these established caregiving patterns when considering what can be least disruptive. It’s also wise to be thoughtful about written communication with the other parent: texts and emails can become part of the court record, and respectful exchanges can reflect well.

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 already on the calendar. We review your current schedule, any temporary arrangements, and your goals for a long-term parenting plan. You don’t need to have every detail figured out before you contact us. Our role is to help you understand realistic options under Tennessee law and chart a path forward together.

Mediation & Courtroom Advocacy for Custody

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

Diane Crosier’s background as a Rule 31 Mediator informs how we prepare you for mediation sessions, help you identify what matters most, and evaluate proposals against your long-term goals. Parents often want to reduce conflict for their children’s sake, and successful mediation can be a meaningful step toward that.

Some situations aren’t suited to negotiation. Serious safety concerns, a long history of noncooperation, or unreasonable positions from the other side may require litigation instead. In those cases, our trial-tested lawyers are prepared to present clear, organized evidence and arguments to the judge. We help you understand what to expect at hearings in Franklin, how to prepare for testimony, and how to stay focused on your child’s best interests throughout.

Whether your case moves through mediation, contested hearings, or a combination of both, we keep you informed at every step and apply whichever tools can best protect your child’s safety and long-term stability.

Modifications & Complex Custody Issues

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

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

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

If you’re thinking about changing an existing parenting plan or considering a parental relocation, speak with a child custody attorney Franklin parents trust before making 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 don’t 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’s safe to do so. 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 apply the “best interests of the child” standard, considering 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. For married parents in Williamson County, this typically plays out in Circuit Court or Chancery Court. For unmarried parents, Juvenile Court handles the matter. We help you understand which factors may carry the most weight in your case.

Can Your Team Help If We Already Agree?

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

What If the Other Parent Won’t 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 at 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 start 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 experience in family law and our backgrounds in communication and mental health, we tailor our approach to your family’s specific needs.

Talk With Our Custody Lawyers

If you’re facing a custody dispute or need to adjust an existing parenting plan, you don’t have to navigate it alone. A child custody lawyer Franklin families rely on can provide clarity about your rights, realistic expectations about the process, and a strategy centered on your child.

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

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