Thomas W Coupé
Experienced Attorney with a specialty in Juvenile and Child Welfare Law.
I am a committed legal professional with a deep-seated focus on child welfare law, juvenile justice, and family law. Currently, I serve as the Administrator of the Child Welfare Division at the Juvenile Court of Memphis & Shelby County. In this role, I manage essential services concerning dependency, neglect, custody, and foster care, safeguarding the welfare of over 1,500 children in foster care. I also oversee legal teams, including the Office of Non-Custodial Advocate and the Office of Guardian ad Litem, which provide crucial support to children and families involved in the legal system.
My previous positions include Court Improvement Attorney at the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts and Assistant General Counsel for the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. In these roles, I spearheaded legal research, policy development, and educational efforts to enhance child welfare systems. I have also represented the state in intricate cases related to the termination of parental rights and child abuse, while upholding procedural fairness as a Special Hearing Officer for TennCare disenrollment hearings.
I am deeply passionate about promoting child welfare law through education, advocacy, and systemic reform. As a Certified Child Welfare Law Specialist and former State Coordinator for the National Association of Counsel for Children, I have conducted over 25 CLE sessions and engaged in numerous trainings on juvenile and family law topics, ensuring that professionals are equipped to advocate effectively for children and families in crisis.
I am always eager to connect with professionals and organizations dedicated to enhancing legal services and outcomes for children and families within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
- Juvenile Law
- Family Law
- Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father's Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law
- Tennessee
- Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee
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- English
- Administrator-Child Welfare Division
- Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County
- - Current
- ADMINISTRATOR, 10/2007-current JUVENILE COURT OF MEMPHIS & SHELBY COUNTY --Memphis, TN Currently serve as ad hoc Magistrate for dependency and neglect, custody/visitation, and foster care dockets at Juvenile Court. Supervise the Judge’s Action Center, which serves as a liaison between the public and the Court to provide helpful and timely answers for people who have questions or concerns involving Juvenile Court and child welfare related issues. Supervise attorneys the Office of Non-Custodial Advocate, which assists pro se litigants in cases involving child support and custody/visitation. ? Supervise the Office of Guardian ad Litem, Court Appointed Special Advocate, Foster Care, and Child Support as part of my Administrator duties at Juvenile Court. Serve as part of Juvenile Court’s Senior Leadership Team Conduct legal research and analysis regarding child welfare issues.
- Court Improvement Attorney
- Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts
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- Developed, planned and implemented educational seminars for judiciary, foster care review boards, and attorneys in the areas of child dependency and termination of parental rights. Conducted primary research for the 2007 Court Improvement Legal Advocacy manual. Provided technical assistance to judges and attorneys; worked with courts and other governmental agencies in improving procedures in foster care cases.
- Assistant General Counsel
- Tennessee Department of Children's Services
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- Represented the State in termination of parental rights and dependency & neglect cases in Juvenile, Chancery, and Circuit courts as the sole attorney for Rutherford and Williamson Counties. Provided legal advice to case managers regarding removal and placement issues. Drafted, wrote, and submitted all petitions, motions, and orders involving termination of parental rights and dependency & neglect cases for Rutherford and Williamson Counties. Served as the Department’s representative at Child Protective Investigation Team (CPIT) meetings involving severe abuse cases.
- Special Hearing Officer
- Tennessee Department of Human Services
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- Served as a temporary Administrative Law Judge for the State presiding over TennCare disenrollment hearings pursuant to procedures contained in the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act . Administered oaths, questioned witnesses, listened to testimony, recorded hearings, analyzed and evaluated pertinent facts on each appeal. Prepared written decisions based on verbal and documentary evidence and applied departmental policies, procedures, rules and regulations with respect to Federal and State laws.
- Assistant General Counsel
- Tennessee Department of Children's Services
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- Represented the State in dependency and neglect cases in Juvenile, Chancery, and Circuit Courts. Provided legal advice to case managers regarding removal and placement issues. Managed approximately 200 cases at any given time. Was sole attorney responsible for representing the Department in all permanency plan ratifications and hearings.
- Southern Illinois University School of Law
- J.D. (2003)
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- Honors: Order of Barristers Dean's List-Spring 2002
- Activities: Moot Court Board Student Council Vice-President
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- Child Welfare Law Specialist
- National Association of Counsel for Children
- Memphis Bar Association
- Member
- Current
- Activities: Family Law Section
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- National Association of Counsel for Children
- Member
- - Current
- Activities: Certified Child Welfare Law Specialist State Coordinatior
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- State Bar of Tennessee
- Member
- - Current
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- The Nuts and Bolts of Practicing in Juvenile Court, Family Law Mid-Year CLE, Memphis, TN
- Memphis Bar Association
- Presenting an overview of juvenile law basics for practitioners who are new to juvenile court.
- A View from Court Administration, Juvenile & Children's Law Virtual 2021, Virtual
- Tennessee Bar Association
- Survey of practices and procedures among the juvenile courts in Tennessee's three grand divisions.
- Child Welfare Law Specialist
- National Association of Counsel for Children
- Q. How can I contact my daughter who has blocked me despite our parenting plan?
- A: That is a difficult situation which sometimes arises as a child nears adulthood--the question of how to "make" a child visit with a parent. Obviously, the first course of action is to reach out to the other parent to ask if they can assist with encouraging the child to visit. Perhaps request short phone or virtual talks instead of going straight t in person meet ups. Ask if it's ok to send a letter. if that doesn't work, you may need to go back to court to request that visits take place. Perhaps recommend joint counseling sessions, or for the child to attend counseling.
- Q. How to pursue relocation if I am the custodial parent of 2 boys?
- A: The custodial parent is free to move without the court’s approval if that move is less than 50 miles from the other parent. If that parent wants to move further or out-if-state, the law requires the parent to provide a written notice to the courts and the other parent.
The notice must meet specific requirements and be provided by certified registered mail no later than 60-days before the date of the proposed move. The other parent has 30-days after receiving the notice to file a Petition in Opposition to Move with the court. If no objection is filed with the court within the 30-days, the parent may move with the children.
The written notice must include:
A statement of intent to move. ... Read More
- Q. What happens in court for first time on a child neglect case
- A: It depends on each court, but if DCS is involved it normally means DCS will file a petition for dependency and neglect and state in that petition why they believe a child is in danger. If DCS believes it is an emergency, they may file a Protective Custody Order (PCO) and remove the child from the home. The court will hold an emergency hearing to determine if the child(ren) should remain out of the home. Any parent who cannot afford an attorney can have one appointed and all children will receive a Guardian ad Litem (an attorney to represent the child).
