Juvenile Court — Tennessee Lawyers

Tennessee juvenile courts handle a number of legal matters involving minor children and teens. Kizer & Black, Attorneys, PLLC, provides effective legal representation in juvenile court cases involving dependency and neglect proceedings as well as cases involving unruly and delinquent minors faced with underage consumption charges, truancy or other concerns.

At Kizer & Black, Attorneys, PLLC, juvenile court matters are handled by attorney Elizabeth Maxey Hackworth. She offers our clients the compassion and legal support they need through difficult juvenile court matters. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation with Ms. Hackworth.

Juvenile Dependency and Neglect

Dependency and neglect proceedings may be brought when a child is being abused or neglected by a parent or caretaker. Often, dependency and neglect proceedings are initiated by the state Department of Children's Services (DCS), but they are also commonly brought by grandparents or other relatives. The court may only grant a third party's request for custody over the objection of a parent if a child has been found to be dependent and neglected. When a child is removed from a parent's home by the Department of Children's Services, a child's grandparents or other close relatives may come forward in pursuit of temporary or permanent child custody. In many cases, this can benefit the child significantly by providing the child with some form of normalcy in a very stressful and otherwise unfortunate situation.

At Kizer & Black, Attorneys, PLLC, we can represent the parents, grandparents and other family members in third-party custody cases. We are available to guide clients through the legal process, whether it is initiated by the removal of a child by DCS, or by a concerned family member seeking third-party custody.

Kizer & Black, Attorneys, PLLC, is also available to represent parents in proceedings involving the termination of parental rights.

Unruly and Delinquent Minors

Raising a teenager can be challenging. Despite your efforts to guide them in the right direction, teens can make poor decisions and get into serious trouble. We offer legal advice and counsel to minors and their parents when the minor is involved in the legal system due to unruly or delinquent behavior, such as shoplifting, disobedience, truancy, underage drinking/consumption, running away, minor drug possession, vandalism or other juvenile crimes.

At Kizer & Black, Attorneys, PLLC, we advise parents who are dealing with these difficult situations and work closely with them to get their minor child the help the child needs to stay out of trouble.

Contact Us in Maryville or Lenoir City, Tennessee

If you would like to discuss a juvenile court issue involving dependency and neglect, third-party custody or an unruly or delinquent minor, contact Kizer & Black, Attorneys, PLLC, to schedule an appointment with juvenile court lawyer Elizabeth Maxey Hackworth.