Repeat DUI Offenders—How the New Law in Tennessee Will Affect You
Tennessee drivers who seem to be in the habit of drinking and driving might want to rethink that, as the penalties for repeat DUI offenders just got even more severe. Tennessee already has strict consequences for DUI offenders, and in this new group of laws that went into effect in 2016, they legislature took calculated…
Read MoreWhat is the Process for Terminating Parental Rights in Tennessee?
If you are a parent, just the thought of having your parental rights terminated could be a frightening thing, but in other cases it could be the first step to a whole new life for a child who has not had the love and care they deserve from their birth parents. Terminating a parent’s rights…
Read MoreProbation Violation and the Possible Penalties in Tennessee
Probation is a type of sentencing that allows those who have been convicted of a crime to receive a somewhat lenient penalty, or it can be used as one part of a jail sentence for more serious crimes. Probation is sometimes given to first-time offenders, or those who have committed non-violent crimes. In some cases,…
Read MoreWhat to Do When Your Child Fights Visitation with Your Co-Parent
Your young child has not handled the separation and the ensuing divorce very well. Now that you and your ex are living in separate homes, your four-year-old daughter does not want to spend time at her father’s home. When it is time to get ready to spend the weekend with her father, she creates a…
Read MoreCan the Police Use the Data in Your Fitness Tracker as Evidence in a Crime?
Wearable fitness tracking devices such as smart watches and devices that clip to the wearer’s clothing has become one of the hottest fitness trends. People believe that these devices can help promote a healthy lifestyle, and they are willing to give up their privacy in exchange for the ability to keep track of their steps,…
Read MoreTips for Communicating with Your Child about Divorce
Getting a divorce might be one of the most difficult things a person will go through in their lives, but if it seems difficult for you as an adult, imagine what it must feel like for a child. If you are a parent who is going through a divorce, then you are going to have…
Read MoreDebunking False Positive Readings with Tennessee Ignition Interlock Devices for DUI
Tennessee has required ignition interlock devices for those convicted of DUI with a BAC of 0.08 percent or greater since 2013, and then in July 2016 a new law went into effect that, “Revises the interlock law to make an ignition interlock device required unless the judge makes specific findings that the person seeking the…
Read MoreWearable Electronic Breathalyzer Skin Patch Syncs with an Ignition Interlock Device
In August 2016, a group of engineers at the University of California San Diego came up with a sensor that you can wear on your skin that is capable of measuring a person’s blood alcohol level from their sweat. This small skin patch then transmits that information wirelessly to a smartphone, laptop or even an…
Read MoreRecognizing the Rights of Biological Fathers in Adoption
When an unmarried woman gives birth to a child and then she wants to place that child for adoption, she has a legal obligation to obtain consent from the child’s other biological parent before doing so. Unmarried fathers have legal rights which, by law, must be recognized and taken into consideration before allowing the child…
Read More5 Benefits of Divorce Mediation in Tennessee
As we have said so many times, divorce is basically the breaking of a contract. If there were a way to separate the high level of emotion that the divorce transaction stirs up, it would probably be a faster, easier process to work through. But divorce is not just about breaking a contract. Marriage represents…
Read MoreCriminal Justice Reform in Tennessee: New Laws Mean Changes for Violation of Parole Penalties
In July 2016, the Public Safety Act of 2016 went into effect as a part of the state’s effort to reduce crime and improve public safety. One of the major changes brought about by the new law is in the way violations of parole will be addressed. Of the 12,588 people who entered the state…
Read MoreChild Support Enforcement in Tennessee: Liens for Child Support Arrears
There are many ways in which the payment of child support can be enforced, and federal law has created some uniform guidelines for enforcing child support payments. Tennessee’s statutes for child support enforcement can be found here: T.C.A. § 36-5-901, and the Department of Human Services (DHS) is the state agency that is responsible for…
Read MoreCreepy Clowns Causing Fear and Paranoia as Halloween Approaches
Clown sightings are being reported in several places from the mid-Atlantic to the Southern United States. People are getting “creeped out” about it, and local police do not find it funny. Antioch and Glencliff high schools were placed in lock down in September after a reported clown threat. Four people were cited in Portland after…
Read MoreCo-Parenting Amid the Chaos: Navigating Life and Kids’ Schedules with Grace
Your divorce may have ended your marriage, but it did not end your relationship with your former spouse if you have young children together. The nature of your relationship will change, of course because now you are only partners in parenting your children. Family courts use the, “best interests of the child” rule to guide…
Read MoreCriminal Citation in Lieu of Arrest in Tennessee—Yes it is a Big Deal
If you have been accused of a misdemeanor criminal offense in Tennessee, the law enforcement officer has the latitude to issue you a citation in lieu of arrest, rather than hauling you off to jail. Do not make the mistake of thinking that it is not a big deal because you did not get arrested.…
Read MoreJudicial Diversions and Criminal Record Expungement in Tennessee
You made a mistake and you have learned your lesson. The thought of going to jail and having a criminal record is going to ruin all of the dreams and plans that you have for your life. You know that you made an error in judgement, and now you wish there was a way that…
Read MoreShared Parenting in Tennessee Child Custody Cases
Family law evolves and changes as families in the United States evolve and change – albeit at a much slower pace. In the past, judges leaned more toward granting sole custody of the child to the mother and visitation to the father. As times change and the way families are structured with regard to…
Read MoreHaving a Conversation with Your Child’s Teacher about Your Divorce
Telling your child’s teacher that you are going through a divorce might not be high on your list of priorities, but it should be. Whatever happens in your home has an impact on your child. If your family is going through a rough patch, your child may display behavior at school that is inconsistent with…
Read MoreHow Might the New DUI Laws in Tennessee Affect You?
In the summer of 2016 (July 1, 2016, to be exact) there were four new DUI laws that took effect in Tennessee. One of those laws, which was intended to change the age group to which the offense of underage driving while impaired from ages 16-21-years-old, to ages 16-18-years old, and it was to give…
Read MoreGifts and Asset Division in Divorce—It’s Complicated
Depending on how long a couple has been married, they will likely accumulate various different kinds of property during the marriage. From homes and cars to boats and vacation properties, jewelry and investments. Property and assets that the couple acquires after the wedding and to which they are joint owners is marital property. Marital property…
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