Whitney H. Raque, Attorney at Law

09/29/2026

These are the factors that the court is to consider when determining or modifying a parenting plan known as the best interest factors.
36-6-106

(1) The strength, nature, and stability of the child's relationship with each parent, including whether one (1) parent has performed the majority of parenting responsibilities relating to the daily needs of the child;
(2) Each parent's or caregiver's past and potential for future performance of parenting responsibilities, including the willingness and ability of each of the parents and caregivers to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship between the child and both of the child's parents, consistent with the best interest of the child. In determining the willingness of each of the parents and caregivers to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship between the child and both of the child's parents, the court shall consider the likelihood of each parent and caregiver to honor and facilitate court ordered parenting arrangements and rights, and the court shall further consider any history of either parent or any caregiver denying parenting time to either parent in violation of a court order;
(3) Refusal to attend a court ordered parent education seminar may be considered by the court as a lack of good faith effort in these proceedings;
(4) The disposition of each parent to provide the child with food, clothing, medical care, education and other necessary care;
(5) The degree to which a parent has been the primary caregiver, defined as the parent who has taken the greater responsibility for performing parental responsibilities;
(6) The love, affection, and emotional ties existing between each parent and the child;
(7) The emotional needs and developmental level of the child;
(8) The moral, physical, mental and emotional fitness of each parent as it relates to their ability to parent the child. The court may order an examination of a party under Rule 35 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure and, if necessary for the conduct of the proceedings, order the disclosure of confidential mental health information of a party under § 33-3-105(3). The court order required by § 33-3-105(3) must contain a qualified protective order that limits the dissemination of confidential protected mental health information to the purpose of the litigation pending before the court and provides for the return or destruction of the confidential protected mental health information at the conclusion of the proceedings;
(9) The child's interaction and interrelationships with siblings, other relatives and step-relatives, and mentors, as well as the child's involvement with the child's physical surroundings, school, or other significant activities;
(10) The importance of continuity in the child's life and the length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment;
(11) Evidence of physical or emotional abuse to the child, to the other parent, or to any other person, including the child's siblings. The court may, where appropriate, refer any issues of abuse to juvenile court for further proceedings;
(12) The character and behavior of any other person who resides in or frequents the home of a parent and such person's interactions with the child;
(13) The reasonable preference of the child if twelve (12) years of age or older. The court may hear the preference of a younger child upon request. The preference of older children should normally be given greater weight than those of younger children;
(14) Each parent's employment schedule, and the court may make accommodations consistent with those schedules;
(15) Whether a parent has had custody or parenting time reduced or restricted in the past and if so, the reasons custody or parenting time was relinquished;
(16) Whether a parent has failed to pay court-ordered child support;
(17) Without creating any presumption as to parenting time, the extent to which the parenting schedule proposed or ordered provides each parent with meaningful opportunities to participate in the child's life, consistent with the child's best interest; and
(18) Any other factors deemed relevant by the court.

09/22/2026

I have 5 extra hats! If you are a current client and have left a google review, come get one!

08/26/2026

Probably a first of many: unsolicited advice from a 10 year-old a.k.a. advice from Anna. This is not actual advice, just for fun. We are going to skip over being nice, respectful, and communicating with your spouse. 😂

07/14/2026

Now Hiring: Front Desk Receptionist / Legal Assistant

We’re looking for a friendly, dependable, and organized person to join our law firm! This is a great opportunity for someone interested in gaining experience in the legal field. No legal experience is required—we’re happy to train the right person.

Responsibilities include:

* Greeting clients and creating a welcoming environment
* Answering and directing phone calls
* Scheduling appointments and managing attorney calendars
* Opening new client files and assisting with client intake
* Preparing, organizing, scanning, and filing legal documents
* Reviewing discovery
* Managing incoming and outgoing mail
* Maintaining an organized and professional reception area and conference rooms
* Assisting attorneys and staff with general administrative tasks
* Other office duties as needed

We’re looking for someone who is:

* Friendly and professional
* Organized with strong attention to detail
* Dependable and punctual
* Comfortable using computers and learning new software
* Eager to learn and work in a fast-paced environment

This is an entry-level position with entry-level pay, making it an excellent opportunity for someone looking to gain valuable experience in the legal profession.

To apply, please send your resume and a brief introduction explaining why you’d be a great fit.

[email protected]

06/18/2026

Our office will be closed on Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. We will resume normal business hours on Monday.

06/05/2026

If you find yourself being a putative father, keep in mind your rights could be terminated based on the following:

Initiation of termination of parental or guardianship rights may be based upon any of the grounds listed in this subsection (g). The parental rights of a person who is not a legal parent at the time of the filing of a petition to terminate parental rights of such person, or if no such petition is filed, then at the time of the filing of a petition to adopt a child, is the putative father of the child, may also be terminated based upon any one (1) or more of the following additional grounds:
(i) The person has failed, without good cause or excuse, to make reasonable and consistent payments for the support of the child in accordance with the child support guidelines promulgated by the department pursuant to § 36-5-101;
(ii) The person has failed to seek reasonable visitation with the child, and if visitation has been granted, has failed to visit altogether, or has engaged in only token visitation, as defined in § 36-1-102;
(iii) The person has failed to manifest an ability and willingness to assume legal and physical custody of the child;
(iv) Placing custody of the child in the person's legal and physical custody would pose a risk of substantial harm to the physical or psychological welfare of the child; or
(v) The person has failed to file a petition to establish paternity of the child within thirty (30) days after notice of alleged paternity, or as required in § 36-2-318(j), or after making a claim of paternity pursuant to § 36-1-117(c)(2);

Send a message to learn more

06/04/2026

Tennessee law is wild sometimes. Have you heard of a Putative Father's Registry? Well save me a future headache..

Had a one-night stand? Register.
Got ghosted by your girlfriend and suspect she might be pregnant? Register.
Have no idea whether a child was ever born but don't want to lose potential parental rights? Believe it or not... register.

The Putative Father Registry: because Tennessee doesn't recognize "I thought she'd text me."

Why is it important? So you can receive advance notice that your biological child is about to be adopted by someone.

For Alleged or Putative Fathers Are you trying to establish your paternity of a child in Tennessee, or receive advance notification if your biological child is ever to be adopted by someone else? Are you an attorney who needs to clear the putative father registry? This page offers answers and links....

05/20/2026

Free summer meals for kids are back! ☀️

MCS Feeding Sites begin Monday, June 1, offering free food for all children 18 and under. Please note: school-based locations will be closed June 29–July 3.

This year, we’re excited to partner with our Communications & Family Engagement team to bring even more to our community. MERV (Mobile Educational Resource Van) is joining CHOW (Combatting Hunger on Wheels) and CHEWY (Cultivating Healthy Eating with Youth) and will be out weekly, and all three mobile food vehicles will feature fun, themed activities for kids.

Come eat, learn, and have some fun with us this summer!

02/27/2026

I’ve built my practice around serving local families, so being able to support our schools feels full circle.

Our kids deserve strong schools and strong communities. Proud to do my small part. ❤️

02/26/2026

Every case stays with me — especially the hard ones.

A while back, I represented someone charged with a truly serious offense. The kind of case that keeps you up at night, constantly debating the evidence and how it would play out, and reminds you exactly why this work matters. A week before trial, we had a crossroads: take it to a jury or resolve it. I believed in trying the case based on the proof and experts we had. But he was staring down the reality of 15–25 years if things went sideways.

Sometimes courage looks like fighting. Sometimes it looks like choosing certainty.

He chose the guarantee.

Today, he walked back into my office — free. A second chance in his hands. He didn’t come to talk about the past. He came to say thank you.

Moments like that ground me. This job isn’t about headlines or perfect outcomes. It’s about standing beside people when the stakes are everything, helping them navigate impossible decisions, and believing that a life is more than its worst chapter.

I’m grateful he trusted me then. And grateful he gets a future now.

Second chances matter.