Does It Matter What My Child Wants When It Comes to Child Custody?
Without a doubt, finding yourself in a custody battle can be one of the most tense and emotional parts of any divorce. The stakes are high when it comes to your children. You certainly want what is best for them, but have you ever wondered whether they have a say in the matter? Depending on…
Read MoreSchedule IV Drug Crimes in Tennessee
The federal and state Controlled Substances Acts determine which drugs are considered the most dangerous drugs and which are considered the least dangerous. Generally, Schedule I drugs are the most dangerous while Schedule V drugs are the least dangerous. Possession, manufacture, importation, use, and distribution of all Scheduled drugs are all considered crimes. The main…
Read MoreWhat Factors Affect Spousal Support in Tennessee?
Tennessee has four types of alimony. Before reviewing what issues can affect entitlement (or non-entitlement) to spousal support and the amount and length of spousal support, it’s important to understand these four types of possible alimony awards. The four types of Tennessee alimony support are set forth in Tennessee Code § 36-5-121: Rehabilitative alimony. This type…
Read MoreVehicle-Related Theft Crimes in Tennessee
If you have played a video game in the last 20 years, then you’re probably familiar with Grand Theft Auto. It has been through multiple iterations and offers a number of expansion packs, and can be played on multiple devices – a dream come true for anyone who secretly dreams of working their way up…
Read MoreHow the New Child Tax Credit Affects Tennessee Families
When parents divorce, it’s natural to focus first on which parents will have physical and/or legal custody of their children. Once the custody status is resolved, the next step is determining which parent has the duty to pay child support and how much child support should be paid. The impact of children on divorce doesn’t…
Read MoreDespite Potential Medical Uses, Hallucinogens Are Still Illegal
There have been a number of stories in the news lately regarding the potential medical use of hallucinogens, especially for combat veterans. Psychedelic drugs have the potential to treat depressions, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Unfortunately, they have hallucinatory side effects, which state governments and the federal government consider dangerous. Sci Tech…
Read MoreHow Are 401(k)s Handled in a Divorce?
Spouses who are divorcing need to address what property should be divided and how. Common assets that need to be considered are the marital home, bank accounts, cars, businesses, personal possessions, and any assets that can be sold today. Your retirement benefits, including your 401(k), may also be considered marital property, even though you can’t…
Read MoreFrom Late Fees to Felony Warrants
In a story that reminds readers of an old Seinfeld episode*, a Texas woman now has to fight felony charges due to the failure to return a VHS tape. The woman doesn’t remember the tape nor the failure to return it. Adding to her nightmare is that the company she rented the tape from ceased…
Read MoreWhat Does the Pending Divorce of Bill and Melinda Gates Say About Marriage – and Divorce?
Marriages fail for many reasons. Some marriages fail because a spouse is unfaithful. One spouse may be a poor parent, or the couple may be incompatible. In many cases, money problems lead to a divorce. Even though it’s usually less expensive for two people to live together than apart, often one spouse decides that the…
Read MoreWhen Your Child’s Healthcare Is Out of Your Control
Parenting is all about balance. You want your kids to get the help they need, but you also want to avoid overreacting to small issues that can be handled without intervention. Striking this balance is hard enough when it comes to things like education, after-school activities, choosing friends, and learning life skills. When it comes…
Read MoreMy Teenager Got a DUI; What Do I Do?
Teenagers and drunk driving are a serious problem across the country. That’s why many states, including Tennessee, provide that a driver under 21 can be charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) if their blood alcohol content (BAC) is .02 or more. (For adults, the limit is .08 or more.) The best protection for your…
Read MoreHow Do You Show That You Deserve More Parenting Time?
In Tennessee, there are two types of custody. Legal custody affects long-term health and education decisions for your children. Physical custody determines which parent the child resides with and who supervises the child. Most parents share legal custody of their children and many parents share physical custody. Tennessee law requires that the parents (if they…
Read MoreDefenses Against Aggravated Assault Charges in Tennessee Defense
Aggravated assault in Tennessee is, essentially, the intentional committing of an assault that causes serious bodily injury, causes death, or involves the use of a deadly weapon. Aggravated assault can also include strangulation, the failure of a parent to protect a child from an aggravated assault, and other definitions. Aggravated assault is defined in the…
Read MoreHow to Prepare for Your Divorce Mediation in Tennessee
Mediation is commonly used in Tennessee to help resolve divorce issues including division of your property, the custody of your children, alimony, and child support. Mediation is considered a friendlier way to resolve disputes than litigation. Mediation is also less expensive and often takes less time than litigation. The mediation sessions are run by a…
Read MoreNew Analysis Reveals Tennessee’s Growth in Life Sentences for Criminal Offenses
New state laws require life sentences for more criminal offenses. The enforcement of these laws through arrests, prosecutions, and convictions is causing a large increase in the Tennessee state prison population. According to a study by the Sentencing Project, a nonprofit based in Washington DC, the trend towards more lifetime incarcerations in Tennessee is just…
Read MoreHow to Keep Your Online Life Confidential During Divorce
Going through a divorce is not only fueled with a variety of emotions, but it is also driven by parties attempting to obtain evidence of wrongdoing to be used as leverage in settlement or at trial. Sometimes it’s spurred on by plain old anger as one party looks for anything that can cause embarrassment to…
Read MoreBusting 4 Myths About Being Arrested
Who knows where certain information comes from? You hear through the grapevine over the years that one thing or another can keep you from getting arrested if you’ve committed a crime. Unfortunately, that bad game of “whisper down the lane” can very well have the opposite result because what you’ve heard is frequently wrong. Sometimes…
Read MoreWhat Is the Fathers’ Rights Movement?
There was a time when society and courts automatically handed over child custody and essentially total control of raising a divorced couples’ children to the mother. For a long time that was the standard without question, but it is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Fathers who were taught their place was being a…
Read MoreCan I Be Arrested for Not Wearing a Mask in Tennessee?
Mandatory mask wearing has been a controversial subject for many months around the country. Some states have issued a sweeping mandate while others, like Tennessee, have refrained leaving it to individual municipalities to decide and enforce. This can make it tricky for anyone traveling around the state to know whether they risk being arrested just…
Read MoreI Need to Change My Child Support. What Do I Do?
Child support payments are to be used for your children’s benefit, to ensure that they are clothed, fed, educated, and kept healthy. While we know parents want what’s best for their children, we also know that child support can be a contentious issue. The truth is, the person who collects child support can use it…
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