Posts by Adrian Altshuler
Tennessee Appeals Court Rules Some DUI Fees Unconstitutional
In early February, the Tennessee court of appeals made a decision that could affect many people charged with driving under the influence (DUI). The ruling, State of Tennessee v. Rosemary L. Decosimo, stated that Tennessee’s law requiring that every person convicted of a DUI via blood or breath tests pay a $250 fee to the…
Read More“Bird Nesting” Child Custody in Tennessee
One of the most important and difficult issues that come up during a divorce is child custody. Divorcing parents must decide the terms for custody, whether it will be joint or sole custody, a schedule for parenting time, and they need to do it in a way that disrupts their children’s lives as little as…
Read MorePublic Intoxication at Bonnaroo
Tickets went on sale in January for this year’s Bonnaroo festival, once again held at the Farm in Manchester from June 7 to June 10. The lineup for 2018 is another group of heavy hitters, with Eminem, The Killers, and Muse as headliners. Sturgill Simpson, Bassnectar, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Sheryl Crow, Paramore, Kaskade and…
Read MoreIs Your Car a Snitch? What Your Vehicle Knows Could Get You Busted
You may have seen a true crime TV show such as Dateline or 20/20 when the authorities are able to figure out the perpetrators route of travel by pinging and triangulating the data from the cell phone towers that the person passed as they carried out their misdeeds. Sometimes this data is precise, and other…
Read MoreCourt Monitoring for Drunk Driving Cases in Tennessee
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) initiated its court monitoring program in 2006. Volunteers attend the judicial proceedings for drunk driving cases to make sure that the law is being enforced and prosecuted. Volunteers attend the judicial proceedings for drink driving cases and they document every step of the judicial process. Court monitoring is currently going…
Read More7 Missteps That Could Cost You Custody of Your Children
Not being awarded custody of your children, or losing custody of them, is easier than you think. The court’s priority is to make decisions in the best interest if the child. As a parent who desires to get custody of their child in a divorce, if you keep the child’s best interests – not your…
Read MoreWhat Not to Do at Bonnaroo if You Want to Avoid Getting Arrested
As we prepare for another season of Bonnaroo, which will kick off on June 7th through the 10th on “The Farm” in Manchester, Tennessee, we want to share some useful (we hope) tips for Bonnoroovians to help make their festival experience as memorable (in a good way) and fun as they hoped it would be.…
Read MoreIs Your Social Media Habit Crippling Your Criminal Defense?
Whether you have been charged with DUI, drug crimes, or with any other type of crime in Tennessee, while you are waiting for your court date you might wonder whether it is OK for you to continue to update your social media accounts. The answer is no in the strongest possible way. You have been…
Read MoreContested Divorce or Uncontested Divorce?
Today, we wanted to take a broad look at the differences between contested and uncontested divorce, and clear up some misconceptions you might have. A contested divorce must have grounds for why the marriage should be ended, some of which include: Adultery Abandonment Substance abuse Domestic violence Desertion An uncontested divorce is one where both…
Read MoreDo Personal Breathalyzers Prevent or Promote Drinking and Driving?
If you get pulled over by law enforcement on suspicion of drunk driving, the law enforcement officer might have you blow into a breathalyzer to see if it detects alcohol in your system. But what if you could know before you start the car, when you are ready to leave the bar or a house…
Read MoreWhat Happens If You Refuse a Drunk Driving Breath Test in Tennessee
Tennessee drivers sometimes think that refusing a breath test, blood test or urine test is a good option. In most cases, it is not. Tennessee has an implied consent law which holds that if a police officer has probable cause to believe you were driving while intoxicated, then you consent to a chemical analysis of…
Read MoreWhat are Some of the Most Common Criminal Charges at Bonnaroo?
The hardcore among you already know and are already preparing for the 2018 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. The 2018 lineup was just announced and as usual, does not disappoint. With Eminem, Future, the Killers, Muse Bassnectar, Khalid, Bon Iver and so many more set to perform this summer, the 17th annual edition of the…
Read MoreDiscovery of Hidden Assets in High-Asset Tennessee Divorces
In a divorce, a spouse with a lot of wealth may try to hide assets in order to make their income appear lower than it is, and so that these assets will not be a part of the Tennessee equitable distribution award. Experienced divorce lawyers are needed to determine what assets can be hidden, where…
Read More#MeToo Movement Chosen as Time’s “Person of the Year”
Time magazine named the “Silence Breakers,” the women spoke out publicly about sexual assault and harassment, as the 2017 “Person of the Year.” Earlier this year, the hashtag #MeToo was used across social media to encourage victims of sexual assault and harassment to come together in solidarity, and shine a light on the prevalence of…
Read MoreVirtual Visitation: How Technology Helps Divorced Parents Stay Close to Their Kids
One of the most difficult and emotionally fraught parts of a divorce is the issue of child custody. Working through the details of custody, visitation, and parenting plans can be some of the most frustrating and intense parts of your divorce agreement. However, it is important to remember that everything is for the benefit of…
Read MoreTennessee Has the 10th Highest Divorce Rate in the Nation
“Until death do us part” is a lovely sentiment, but in today’s world, not a realistic one. More people are getting divorced than they did several decades ago, for myriad reasons—we are living longer, more women are financially independent, and divorce is no longer as taboo as it once was. It is likely you knew…
Read MoreTennessee Legislators Vote in Favor of Medical Marijuana
As of this writing, recreational marijuana is illegal in Tennessee. So is medical marijuana, with the exception of a narrow bill allowing the limited use of cannabis oil for certain conditions. However, patients must obtain the oil outside of the state with doctor approval. And, if you are caught with cannabis oil without proof of…
Read MoreTips for Avoiding a DUI This Holiday
As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, we tend to start gathering for the holidays. For many, that means get-togethers, dinners, and parties with food and alcohol. It sometimes feels like a nonstop party from November to January and, unsurprisingly, DUI arrests are highest between Thanksgiving and New Year’s weekend. Thanksgiving Eve…
Read MoreNew Divorce Forms Available for Tennessee Parents
Divorce inherently comes with any number of complications and issues. Until 2017, parents in Tennessee who had come to the difficult decision to divorce were faced with numerous legal constraints that other couples were not subject to. With the publication of new forms streamlining the process for qualifying parents, divorces in Tennessee can be obtained…
Read MoreDivorce Granted to Same-Sex Couple in Controversial Custody Case
When Sabrina and Erica Witt decided to end their marriage, they didn’t expect to become national news. But when protesters and lawmakers tried to intervene in the custody of the couple’s child, conceived through artificial insemination, the simple divorce became much more complicated. Knox County Circuit Court Judge Greg McMillan ultimately changed his ruling to…
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