Custody

Family reunification therapy is a process meant to fix or stabilize a relationship between a parent and a child that has been damaged or destroyed. A judge may order this type of therapy in a custody or divorce case to try to reestablish a family bond that is the subject of the court case.¹ 

In Tennessee, there are limits to when reunification therapy can be required. If the abusive parent has done any of the following, the judge can only order reunification therapy if the judge finds it to be in the best interests of the child:

1. “willfully abandoned” the child for an extended period of time;
2. substantially refused to perform parenting responsibilities;
3. committed physical or sexual abuse or a pattern of emotional abuse against the child, you, or another person living with the child;
4. been convicted of:
   1. incest;
   2. sexual exploitation of a minor;
   3. aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor;
   4. especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor;
   5. rape or aggravated rape;
   6. sexual battery or aggravated sexual battery;
   7. statutory rape;
   8. sexual contact with a minor; or
   9. indecent exposure;
5. been found to be a sexual offender; or
6. committed severe child abuse.²

An order of reunification cannot end contact between you and the child, and the judge cannot restore contact between the child and the abuser unless the judge believes the child will not suffer any additional abuse or harm.³  

¹ American Bar Association, Reunification: What Is It, What Is It Not, and What Does It Involve?  
² Tenn. Code § 36-6-703(b)
³ Tenn. Code § 36-6-703(b), (c)