Dawn Coppock, Attorney at Law

01/14/2026

New blog post about a change to the Adoption Tax Credit. Graphic is from the IRS site. http://dawncoppock.com/a-tweak-to-the-federal-adoption-tax-credit-will-put-5000-into-some-adoptive-families-pockets/

01/06/2026

New blog post on notice by publication with a recommendation to contact your state legislators.

Basically, it requires that when we give notice by publication in a newspaper, we must also publish in a paid local online platform, where one exists. But the TN Press Association already has a free statewide re-publication service, which repeats the newspaper ads with no paywall, so anyone can vi...

12/31/2025

Last day for a 2025 biz exp.

In this 8th and final Edition, Dawn is more candid than ever. This bound law book comes with an electronic library of revised and expanded legal forms.

12/04/2025

NEW Blog Post: Post adopt amended birth certificates in TN and Ga too.

A child adopted abroad by Tennessee parents may obtain a report of foreign birth from the Tennessee Department of Vital Records. That is not new. Note, immigration is top of mind just now, that a Tennessee adoption of a child born abroad requires proof of the child’s lawful immigration to the Unit...

12/01/2025

If your Coppock on Tennessee Adoption Law has a black cover, it’s out of date.
The red 8th Edition is the current version. If you’ve been meaning to replace your copy, now’s a good time — it still qualifies as a 2025 business expense.
📘 Details and ordering info are at goodlawtn.com.

10/21/2025

Blog Post. Let’s think about identity docs. http://dawncoppock.com/identity-documents/

Building Families For over 30 years, Dawn has been serving Adoptive, Foster, and Birth Parents and Adoption Attorneys in Tennessee. Tennessee Adoption Attorney Accepting Attorney ConsultsAnd Mediation Only Dawn Coppock is Tennessee’s Leading Adoption Attorney. She is now retired and no longer acce...

09/29/2025

Today, Good Law launched a sharp, new on-demand platform and a broader course catalog. www.goodlawtn.com Now courses include topics of interest to most lawyers. Good Law’s foundational assumption is that we want to be good lawyers and good people, living good lives. Hence, “Good Law.”

Check out www.goodlawtn.com The course sorting function is fun to play around with. I invite you to find something of interest to you. I promise, I won’t waste your time.

Tennessee Adoption Law Seminars presented by attorney Dawn Coppock, author of Coppock on Tennessee Adoption Law, 7th Edition.

08/19/2025

I’ve recorded Adoption Law School, my 15-hour signature CLE, previously, presented only live. We still have some tech lumps to smooth out, but we’re close enough to say that registration for Adoption Law School On-Demand will open this fall! I love that folks can now watch on their schedule, while I pull weeds, kayak, and play with grandbabies. Sometimes tech is alright.

Tennessee Adoption Law Seminars presented by attorney Dawn Coppock, author of Coppock on Tennessee Adoption Law, 7th Edition.

03/10/2025

The very last TN Adoption Law School is April 2-4, 2025. It is comprehensive and great fun. If you’ve always wanted to attend or need a review, now is the time. https://www.goodlawtn.com/product/2025-adoption-law-school-in-the-mountains-options/

03/03/2025

Retiring

I know I just said I wasn’t retiring, and that was true when I said it. Now it isn’t. I started declining new cases today. By April 7th, 2025, I will be retired, except for a few outstanding cases and on-demand seminar production. I had expected to retire near my husband Kyle’s long-planned retirement date of April 1, 2026. Adoption Law School in the Mountains in April of 2026 was planned as my last big, live seminar. But that seminar isn’t going to happen.

Don’t worry. My long-time paralegal, Angi Newsome, and I and our families are fine. The quick pivot occurred due to something good, not something bad. We had just begun half-heartedly watching for the right job for Angi after I retired. But Angi is a great hire. So, after just a few preliminary inquiries, her perfect job popped right up, and it couldn’t wait. Angi is excited to begin a new job for the Jefferson County government on April 7th, 2025, and I’m excited for her.

After 30+ years together, it is hard to picture anyone filling Angi’s shoes, and I don’t really want to work with anyone else or train someone new. So, I am retiring now. We are spending March winding things down and preparing for the last Adoption Law School in the Mountains 2025, April 2-4, 2025.

If you are an existing client, you will hear from us soon. I’m personally finishing most of the cases I have right now. If your case isn’t amenable to quick resolution, I’ll make sure you land well. I’ve been writing and training for years in the hope of leaving many qualified successors. Lawyers, if you want to step into this meaningful work, now is a good time. If you need a review or to tune up your skills, I have exactly one more big, live training. For info on Adoption Law School live in April, my on-demand video courses, or to buy my law book, see www.GoodLawTN.com. The on-demand courses should be available on that site into 2027 and the book even longer.

Beyond maintaining Good Law for book sales and on-demand seminars, I haven’t considered professional diversions in my retirement yet. I may reserve time to consult with other attorneys on tough cases or find a way to reengage with foster parents. I likely have a dance or two left.

I’ll consider all that after the last big seminar and when cases are buttoned up. I apologize for not making personal calls to tell you and not being around to chat about it. I’m swamped. I hope to have plenty of time to chat and reconnect with my treasured professional friends and former clients this summer. While it is a quick decision, it feels like the right choice. I’ve had a pretty good run. By May, I expect to enjoy our mountain spring with time to smell the flowers.

Dawn

01/15/2025

The 2024 Tennessee State of the Child Report is out. I've linked to the highlights with good graphics. Policy makers, reporters, good-hearted helpers, you don't need to guess or rely on anecdotal info. This very useful data is compiled annually by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. As usual it paints a sad picture but it offers a roadmap to where to engage for change.