Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-314
This is the official text of Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-2-314, part of Tennessee’s Code Ann — part of the compiled statutory law of Tennessee, published by the state as "Code Ann." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
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Expedited hearings and appeals in contested child custody cases involving unmarried parties
Official statutory text
(a) In all contested custody cases involving unmarried parties and where a paternity test by an accredited laboratory is known to exist or has been requested of or by the court, the court shall, consistent with due process, expedite the contested custody proceeding by entering such scheduling orders as are necessary to ensure that the case is not delayed, and such case must be given priority in setting a final hearing of the proceeding and must be heard at the earliest possible date over all other civil litigation other than contested adoption and termination of parental rights cases pursuant to § 36-1-124 and child protective services cases arising under title 37, chapter 1, parts 1, 4, and 6. (b) In all contested custody cases involving unmarried parties that are appealed from the decision of a trial court, the appellate court shall, consistent with its rules, expedite the contested custody case if a paternity test by an accredited laboratory is a part of the record, by entering such scheduling orders as are necessary to ensure that the case is not delayed, and such case must be given priority over all other civil litigation, other than contested adoption and termination of parental rights cases pursuant to § 36-1-124 and child protective services cases arising under title 37, chapter 1, parts 1, 4, and 6. (c) It is the intent of the general assembly that the permanency of the placement of a child who is the subject of a contested custody proceeding involving unmarried parties and a paternity test by an accredited laboratory not be delayed any longer than is absolutely necessary consistent with the rights of all parties, but that the rights of the child to permanency at the earliest possible date be given priority over all other civil litigation other than adoption and termination of parental rights cases pursuant to § 36-1-124 and child protective services cases arising under title 37, chapter 1, parts 1, 4, and 6. Added by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1028, s 1, eff. 5/11/2022.
(a) In all contested custody cases involving unmarried parties and where a paternity test by an accredited laboratory is known to exist or has been requested of or by the court, the court shall, consistent with due process, expedite the contested custody proceeding by entering such scheduling orders as are necessary to ensure that the case is not delayed, and such case must be given priority in setting a final hearing of the proceeding and must be heard at the earliest possible date over all other civil litigation other than contested adoption and termination of parental rights cases pursuant to § 36-1-124 and child protective services cases arising under title 37, chapter 1, parts 1, 4, and 6.
(b) In all contested custody cases involving unmarried parties that are appealed from the decision of a trial court, the appellate court shall, consistent with its rules, expedite the contested custody case if a paternity test by an accredited laboratory is a part of the record, by entering such scheduling orders as are necessary to ensure that the case is not delayed, and such case must be given priority over all other civil litigation, other than contested adoption and termination of parental rights cases pursuant to § 36-1-124 and child protective services cases arising under title 37, chapter 1, parts 1, 4, and 6.
t by an accredited laboratory is a part of the record, by entering such scheduling orders as are necessary to ensure that the case is not delayed, and such case must be given priority over all other civil litigation, other than contested adoption and termination of parental rights cases pursuant to § 36-1-124 and child protective services cases arising under title 37, chapter 1, parts 1, 4, and 6.
(c) It is the intent of the general assembly that the permanency of the placement of a child who is the subject of a contested custody proceeding involving unmarried parties and a paternity test by an accredited laboratory not be delayed any longer than is absolutely necessary consistent with the rights of all parties, but that the rights of the child to permanency at the earliest possible date be given priority over all other civil litigation other than adoption and termination of parental rights cases pursuant to § 36-1-124 and child protective services cases arising under title 37, chapter 1, parts 1, 4, and 6.
Added by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1028, s 1, eff. 5/11/2022.
(a) In all contested custody cases involving unmarried parties and where a paternity test by an accredited laboratory is known to exist or has been requested of or by the court, the court shall, consistent with due process, expedite the contested custody proceeding by entering such scheduling orders as are necessary to ensure that the case is not delayed, and such case must be given priority in setting a final hearing of the proceeding and must be heard at the earliest possible date over all other civil litigation other than contested adoption and termination of parental rights cases pursuant to § 36-1-124 and child protective services cases arising under title 37, chapter 1, parts 1, 4, and 6.
(b) In all contested custody cases involving unmarried parties that are appealed from the decision of a trial court, the appellate court shall, consistent with its rules, expedite the contested custody case if a paternity test by an accredited laboratory is a part of the record, by entering such scheduling orders as are necessary to ensure that the case is not delayed, and such case must be given priority over all other civil litigation, other than contested adoption and termination of parental rights cases pursuant to § 36-1-124 and child protective services cases arising under title 37, chapter 1, parts 1, 4, and 6.
t by an accredited laboratory is a part of the record, by entering such scheduling orders as are necessary to ensure that the case is not delayed, and such case must be given priority over all other civil litigation, other than contested adoption and termination of parental rights cases pursuant to § 36-1-124 and child protective services cases arising under title 37, chapter 1, parts 1, 4, and 6.
(c) It is the intent of the general assembly that the permanency of the placement of a child who is the subject of a contested custody proceeding involving unmarried parties and a paternity test by an accredited laboratory not be delayed any longer than is absolutely necessary consistent with the rights of all parties, but that the rights of the child to permanency at the earliest possible date be given priority over all other civil litigation other than adoption and termination of parental rights cases pursuant to § 36-1-124 and child protective services cases arising under title 37, chapter 1, parts 1, 4, and 6.
Added by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1028, s 1, eff. 5/11/2022.
Status: in_force
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