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A Tennessee court’s decision ends a brief parentage dispute involving Miley Cyrus and confirms existing legal records for the family.
A Tennessee judge has dismissed a civil lawsuit brought by Jayme Lee, a woman who alleged she was the biological mother of Miley Cyrus and claimed she entered a private adoption arrangement with Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus in the early 1990s.
The lawsuit, filed in May and amended in June, sought DNA testing and asserted several civil causes of action.
Court filings referenced in public reporting state that the case was dismissed with prejudice on December 5, closing the matter.
The action drew attention because it named high-profile individuals and centered on claims that conflicted with long-standing state records.
This development is significant because parentage challenges require substantial evidence and strict compliance with state adoption laws.
Tennessee statutes governing adoption procedures have been in place for decades and mandate judicial approval, validated consent, and formal records.
The case shows how courts assess unverified claims against established documentation.
For the public, the ruling clarifies how evidentiary standards, privacy rules, and procedural safeguards work when a parent-child relationship is questioned long after birth.
Court documents confirm that the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, preventing the plaintiff from refiling the same claims.
The order followed earlier judicial decisions, including a denial in October of a requested trial and compulsory DNA testing.
Publicly available information indicates that Miley Cyrus’ 1992 birth was recorded in Tennessee, where birth certificates act as primary evidence of parentage unless formally amended by court order.
Tennessee’s adoption framework requires termination of parental rights, documentation of consent, and a judge’s formal approval.
These requirements are outlined in Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-101 et seq., which has been in place since before Miley Cyrus’ birth.
The absence of any adoption-related filing in the state’s public indexes informed the court’s view that the claims lacked evidentiary support.
The final order also granted Billy Ray Cyrus recovery of reasonable attorney’s fees, a standard outcome when courts determine that claims cannot proceed. Existing records remain unchanged.
Billy Ray Cyrus’ attorney confirmed the dismissal and the award of legal fees.
The statement reiterated that the allegations were unfounded. Representatives for Miley Cyrus and Tish Cyrus have not released public comments.
No federal agencies or state departments issued statements because the matter involved civil claims between private parties.
Public reaction centered largely on understanding how courts verify parentage claims rather than on the merits of the case.
Social media discussions referenced similar instances where courts required documented evidence before ordering DNA testing in long-standing family relationships.
Online engagement was brief and largely procedural in tone.
The ruling illustrates how courts handle parentage claims that arise decades after a child’s birth.
For families, it reinforces that state records—vital statistics, certified birth documents, and court-ordered parental rights determinations—carry significant legal weight.
These records cannot be altered without substantial evidence and court authorization.
The case also highlights privacy protections. Tennessee restricts access to adoption-related documents to protect the identities and rights of involved parties.
Those limitations apply equally to public figures and private individuals. Similar protections appear in many states, including Kentucky and Georgia, which maintain sealed adoption records unless a judge authorizes disclosure.
For the public, the decision underscores that long-standing parentage records are rarely reopened unless credible documentation or new evidence emerges.
Tennessee Department of Health guidance identifies birth certificates as primary legal proof of parentage, and amendments require verified evidence or a court order.
Adoption procedures under state law require a written surrender, a judicial hearing, and adherence to mandated timelines.
These steps are consistent with national data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which notes that most contested adoptions occur shortly after birth rather than decades later.
Studies published by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges show that courts typically deny DNA testing requests in older cases when claimants cannot provide initial evidence indicating that existing records may be incorrect.
The court’s decisions in this case align with those national trends.
Following a dismissal with prejudice, the primary remaining step is the submission and approval of documentation associated with attorney’s fees awarded to Billy Ray Cyrus.
That process is routine and handled at the trial court level. There are no additional hearings scheduled, and no related cases are pending in the public court docket.
If an appeal is filed, the Tennessee Court of Appeals would review the procedural record rather than reconsider factual claims. Absent an appeal, the matter is closed.
The ruling illustrates how courts depend on official records and statutory requirements when addressing parentage challenges involving private citizens and well-known families.
It underscores the role of documented evidence and judicial oversight in adoption matters, as well as the privacy protections built into state law.
The decision also shows that long-established legal relationships are not revisited without credible, verifiable information.
For the public, it offers a clear example of how family law ensures accuracy and stability in parentage determinations.
