Martelia “Marti” Crawford Parenting Coordination · Rule 31 Family Mediation · Parent Education
Notice

Marti Crawford is not offering services as an attorney through this website. Nothing on this site creates an attorney-client relationship, and nothing here is legal advice. Her separate law practice is at mtcrawford.com, (931) 528-8442.

Required · T.C.A. § 36-6-408

Parent educational seminar

Where a permanent parenting plan is or will be entered, each parent shall attend a parent educational seminar as soon as possible after the filing. The requirement is a minimum of four hours in the aggregate, and it may be met in more than one session. Minor children do not attend.

Required
T.C.A. § 36-6-408
Parent education seminar
Both parents, as soon as possible after filing.
Four hours in aggregate. Children do not attend.
You are here
Required
T.C.A. § 36-6-405
Rule 31 family mediation
Before a contested hearing in a custody dispute.
Exceptions apply, including domestic violence.
Required
T.C.A. § 36-6-404
Permanent parenting plan entered
The court enters the plan that governs from here.
Only a judge can change it once entered.
When ordered
By order or agreement
Parenting coordination
Discretionary, and only after a plan exists.
Fixed term, authority limited to the order.

The four hours

HOUR 1
What the court is deciding, and what a parenting plan is
Residential schedule, decision-making, the primary residential parent designation, child support as a separate matter, and how modification works later.
HOUR 2
How children experience separation, by age
What is typical at each developmental stage, what conduct causes lasting harm, and the specific effects of a child carrying messages between parents.
HOUR 3
Communication that survives the case
Written communication practices, exchanges and handovers, shared calendars, and what to do when the other parent does not respond.
HOUR 4
The road ahead, and where help exists
Mediation and what it will ask of you, parenting coordination if the court appoints one, and local and statewide resources including domestic violence services.

The seminar is educational. It is not group therapy, it is not a place to argue your case, and nothing said in it is reported to the court beyond the fact of attendance.

Format, cost and certificate

Formats offered
One four-hour session, or two two-hour sessions, in person in the Upper Cumberland or by secure video statewide. Parents in the same case are scheduled into separate sessions on request, and always where a protective order or safety concern is noted.
Cost
A flat per-parent fee, charged to each parent individually. Fees are published in full on the fee terms page. Where a party is indigent and the case qualifies, the seminar is billed to the Divorcing Parent Education and Mediation Fund under Supreme Court Rule 38 at no cost to that parent.
Certificate of completion
On completion of the full four hours a certificate is issued in your name and filed with the clerk in the county where your case is pending, with a copy sent to you and to your attorney if you have one. The certificate records attendance and hours only. It contains no assessment of you as a parent.
Accessibility
Materials in large print, captioned video sessions, and interpreter arrangements on request. Ask at registration so it is in place before the session rather than after.
Certification status

Parent education providers are certified by each individual judicial district. Districts in which certification is held, and districts in which application is pending, are listed on the For Attorneys page with dates. Confirm the district of your case before registering.

Upcoming sessions

Thursday 10 September09:00–13:00In person · Cookeville · one four-hour sessionOpen
Saturday 19 September09:00–13:00Secure video · one four-hour sessionOpen
Tuesday 29 September17:30–19:30Secure video · two sessions, 29 Sept and 6 OctOpen
Thursday 8 October09:00–13:00In person · Cookeville · one four-hour sessionOpen
Saturday 24 October09:00–13:00Secure video · one four-hour sessionWaitlist

Sessions are added monthly. If none of these dates work, register anyway and note it; you will be placed on the next scheduled date and told the date by telephone or by a notice email.

Seminar registration

Register for yourself only

This form asks about you. It does not ask for the other parent's name, address, telephone number or email, and you should not supply them. The other parent registers separately.

Do not describe your case here. Registration is a scheduling step and the form is not the place to raise anything about the dispute.