Family Law
Factors the Court Considers When Dividing Marital Property
Is your marriage coming to an end? Before you and your spouse can part ways, certain issues must be addressed, including custody, alimony and the division of marital property. If you and your spouse are able to cooperate during your divorce, you can divide your assets however you see fit. However, if you are unable…
Read MoreProtecting College Funds From Divorce
Many parents have college funds set up for their children where they contribute money each month to head off the overwhelming costs of college when the day comes. But you may wonder what happens to a college fund upon divorce. Can your spouse cash out your child’s plan early without your consent? College savings plans…
Read MoreQDROs: What You Need to Know
In many marriages, the retirement accounts that the spouses own are some of the largest financial assets in their portfolio. When the couple divorces, numerous questions arise as to how to equitably split up the retirement accounts and, in fact, whether it can be done at all. The answer is that the retirement accounts can…
Read MoreDoes Tennessee Examine Religious Preferences in Determining Child Custody?
When couples divorce, it is often due to the normal sources of conflict — money, child rearing, politics, and religion. If you and your spouse disagree over your children’s religious upbringing, a whole host of conflict can erupt. But can a court take religious preferences into account when determining custody? According to a recent article…
Read MorePaternity in Tennessee
Establishing paternity, or identifying the legal father of a child, is very important to all parties involved: the child, the father, and the mother. It can give rights and benefits to all of them. From the father’s point of view, establishing paternity allows him to participate in his child’s life and obtain visitation or custody…
Read MoreBuying The House Before The Ring
You may have heard the old adage: first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Mary with a baby carriage. And, after marriage, comes the house — that’s the order everyone is used to. According to a recent study by Coldwell Banker, the order of old has been upended. Many couples in serious relationships now…
Read MoreToughing Out the Transition During and After Divorce
While the legal process involved in a divorce can be lengthy and stressful, the effects of divorce away from the settlement table can be even worse. After filing for divorce, you may mourn the loss of a spouse and companion as you struggle to adapt to a new lifestyle. After the final divorce decree is…
Read MoreKnowing Your Options: Legal Separation vs. Divorce
In Tennessee, couples have two options: divorce or legal separation. Which option is best? The decision between divorce and legal separation depends on your personal situation. In a divorce, all marital rights are terminated. A divorce is only declared on grounds or irreconcilable differences (known as no-fault divorce). There are many grounds available including: Abandonment…
Read MoreWhat Rights Do Fathers Have in Tennessee?
As a father, you have a right to remain in the life of your child. Numerous laws exist to protect the rights of fathers in Tennessee, as in many other states. These rights spring into existence in Tennessee when a child is born and can only be taken away from a father by a court…
Read MoreA Little Tennessee Nail Salon Called Alimonys
Pretty much everyone in Knoxville is familiar with the University of Tennessee’s former basketball coach Bruce Pearl’s ex-wife opening up a nail salon called “Alimonys” after their divorce. And rightly so, because when a couple is divorcing, the big “A” word is on everyone’s mind. Alimony — how much will I get? How much will…
Read MoreWhy Divorce Mediation May Work For You
When you’re considering getting a divorce in Tennessee, you may be surprised to discover that divorce mediation is required in most instances. But is divorce mediation right for you? Anyone who has gotten a divorce can tell you that they can be expensive and time-consuming; however, divorce mediation can lessen those impacts. Divorce mediation is…
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