Family Law

Going through a divorce is a trying, challenging, and often frustrating experience. It can be hard to know what to expect, how to work through the separation process effectively, and how to adjust to this new normal. Further, many separating spouses have very real financial questions, leading them to ask, How long do you have to be married to get…

Children benefit significantly from having a relationship with both parents, regardless of the parent’s relationship with each other. While a mother’s rights in Tennessee are automatic, a father must establish paternity to have any legal rights to the child. Perhaps you didn’t establish paternity immediately after birth, or you only realized you are the child’s father years after the child…

Before Tennessee courts grant a divorce, the law requires parents to draft a parenting plan. Parents must agree on and approve a parenting plan in Tennessee and then legally abide by its parameters. Sometimes though, circumstances change. Even the best-laid plans can be upended. In some cases, a dispute arises, or an arrangement’s original scope changes. In those cases, a…

As a grandparent, you very quickly develop a close relationship with your grandchildren. Unfortunately, major life events can interfere with these relationships—not necessarily between grandparent and grandchild, but between grandparents and their grandchildren’s parents. While grandparents’ rights in Tennessee are much more limited than parents’ rights, grandparents have options to protect their relationship with their grandchildren. And if the parent…

The Christmas season is a time to spend with family. However, if you have children and are in the process of divorce, the holidays can turn into an incredibly tense time. Given the stress that already accompanies the holiday season, it may be worth the time and effort to create a parenting plan for the Christmas holidays. Doing so not…

In some Tennessee divorces, the topic of alimony is important. An award of alimony can severely impact the financial health of either party for many years to come. Consequently, one spouse may consider alimony a necessity that is worth fighting for, just as the other spouse may view alimony as a curse that must be defended against. But alimony award…

When couples divorce, part of the final order for dissolution of marriage includes a child custody arrangement. Unmarried parents can also have a judge order custody for their child or children. It is best if parents can work out the terms of the custody arrangement together. But if they cannot agree, a judge will dictate the terms. Once a judge…

Americans have now been living through the COVID-19 pandemic for over a year. And as we all know, this unprecedented event has altered how we live our everyday lives. Something as simple as running to the store for groceries has become much more complex over the past 12 months. And even though everyone has high hopes for the near future…

When a couple with children gets divorced, time with their children is typically a top concern. This issue evokes strong passion, and emotions run high as couples attempt to agree on a parenting plan. Some couples can work together long enough to hammer out the details. But others find that amicably working it out is impossible. If one or both…

Decades ago, it was common for married women to spend their lives taking care of children and homemaking. Dad built his career and went to work every day while mom handled the homestead. But over the last few decades, that cultural norm has experienced a massive shift as more and more women choose to pursue careers while raising children. As…