Winchester, TN asked in Family Law for Tennessee

Q: In the state of TN does a mother have to have bedrooms for the children for privacy or can they sleep in an open loft?

Living situation: Ex-wife, mother, father, boyfriend, our two kids (9 year old girl, 10 year old boy), another girl (age 7 or 8 from another guy, not boyfriend), total of 7, in a 2 bedroom log cabin. 3 kids share an open loft with no privacy or doors. Completely open to the downstairs. Unknown, unrelated boyfriend living with ex-wife in bedroom next door to loft. Please tell me something is illegal here in TN.

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1 Lawyer Answer
Ross Matuszak
Ross Matuszak
Answered

A: Thank you for your question. From the facts you provided, it doesn't seem that anything is criminally. However, the situation that you describe is odd, and a court may find that the living situation is not in the best interest of the children.

In many parenting plans (including those that I draft), there is a provision that spouses shall not share a bedroom with a person of the opposite sex before marriage when the children are present. I would carefully read your parenting plan and see if there is a similar provision.

If you think that the living situation is not in the best interest of your children, you can always file a petition to alter the parenting plan. This will require a competent attorney, as the situation will likely be contested.

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