Immigration Matter

United States Supreme Court declined to hear appeals regarding anti-immigrant laws finding that the issues of immigration are a matter for federal agencies, not local governments, to regulate. Hazleton, Pennsylvania and Farmers Ranch, Texas attempted to enact housing and employment rules directly aimed at people in the country illegally. Such rules included fining landlords who rented to people living in the county illegally, denying businesses permits who gave jobs to persons in the country illegally and requiring prospective tenants to register with City Hall for a rental permit.

Mother's Request for Relocation Denied

In this case, a parent sought to relocate to Wisconsin with her new husband and her two children. The paternal father of the children opposed the relocation. The trial court concluded that the relocation did not have a reasonable purpose and could be harmful to the children.

Read the full case here.

Case on Grandparent Visitation

This recent case from the Tennessee Court of Appeals, McGarity and McGarity v. Jerrolds and Jerrolds deals with the issue of whether paternal grandparents whose son voluntarily surrendered his parental rights and allowed a step-father to adopt will be granted visitation under the Tennessee Grandparent Visitation Statute. Judge Stafford delivered with Judges Highers and Farmer joining. The case gives an incredibly thorough analysis of the law regarding grandparent visitation and the standards that must be met. In addition, the Court looks at the issues of attorney-submitted proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law and the issue of raising evidentiary objections at the appellate level but not at the trial level.

To read the full case, click here.

Child Custody and Property Division

In the case of Terri Ann Kelly v. Willard Reed Kelly, Terri Ann Kelly ("Wife") was awarded 1000% of the marital assets by the Trial Court. She had sued Willard Reed Kelly ("Husband") for divorce after 18 years of marriage and was awarded custody of the parties' son, Will. She was also awarded attorney's fees. The Court of Appeals, though, modified the Trial Court's division of the marital estate and alimony to Wife, giving her 300%.

The full case can be found here.

ROBERT TREY WOOD, III v. JENNIFER ROSE WOOD

The following is an appeal from Chancellor Maloan who presides over Obion and Weakley Counties. His ruling was upheld. 

Court of Appeals of Tennessee at Jackson:

The parties, Appellee Robert Trey Wood, III (“Father”) and Appellant Jennifer Rose Wood (“Mother”) were married in 2007 and a child was born to them the same year. The parties separated in the fall of 2010, with Mother taking the child from the parties’ home in Union City, Tennessee and moving to Jackson, Tennessee. As a result of the separation, Mother initiallydenied Father visitation with the child. Father filed for divorce on November 12, 2010. On the same day, Father filed a motion to designate a temporary residential parent for the minor child. On November 17, 2010, Mother filed a response to the motion, seeking to be named the primary residential parent. Mother later filed a response and countercomplaint to Father’s divorce complaint. The parties eventually entered into a consent order in which Mother was temporarily named the primary residential parent and Father was awarded reasonable visitation. After Mother was named primary residential parent, sheenrolled the child in a college preparatory private school at her own expense...click here to read more.

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