Judge approves temporary family-law arrangement in Braden case including custody, support and counseling terms

A Sumner County court approved a set of temporary orders Friday in Braden v. Braden resolving multiple long-pending motions concerning custody, support, and property use.

Key provisions the court approved: Mrs. Braden will have exclusive possession of the marital residence; the husband may retrieve personal items during a limited period; the father will pay a $2,500 retroactive child-support amount at $100 per month and prospective child support of $681 starting May 1, 2025; and a temporary spousal-support payment of $444 per month will begin in April to reimburse certain bills the wife had been paying on the husband's behalf.

Custody and parenting time: the court awarded temporary primary residential custody to the mother for both children. Visitation for the 15-year-old daughter is reserved pending counseling; the father will begin alternating weekends with the 9-year-old son starting this weekend. Exchanges are to occur at the U.S. Bank parking lot in Pleasant View.

Counseling and conduct provisions: the judge emphasized that the daughter and father should pursue joint counseling if possible; the court will reach out to the daughter's current counselor about pair sessions or to recommend a provider such as the Eden Center. The court also entered a mutual restraining-order provision requiring both parties to refrain from derogatory remarks about each other in front of the children.

Why it matters: the orders resolve eight pending motions and establish a temporary parenting and financial framework while the case continues. The court stressed these are temporary measures subject to modification and instructed counsel to prepare a written order for signature.

Next steps: counsel will file the written orders. The court advised that the temporary arrangements take immediate effect because the parties affirmed them under oath on the record.