Families can be complicated and, often, parents are not the sole caregivers to their children. Grandparents often have a special relationship with their grandchildren and, in many cases, might function as a parent or legal guardian to a child for some or most of their lives. In Tennessee, there are three specific statutes of family [...]
When you've been drinking, you know it’s unsafe and not smart to get behind the wheel. Most people who imbibe know they should never drive after alcohol-related festivities. To be sure, many law abiding Tennesseans have done their best during a night of drinking: they have enlisted a designated driver, or decided to stay in [...]
When you are going through a divorce in Tennessee, spousal support or alimony is sure to be part of the proceedings. It is common for lawyers to cite spouses’ need and ability to pay alimony as critical reasons and components for mandating it in a divorce. When you are trying to establish a reason for [...]
When you and your spouse are seeking a divorce in Tennessee, you may be worried that it will be prohibitively expensive. Realistically, some couples can seek a frugal divorce, but there must not be much legally contested property, complicated child custody battles, or other adversarial actions. The average divorce in Tennessee costs $12,600, with almost [...]
In June of last year, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that mandatory warrantless blood draws at DUI stops are unconstitutional and too intrusive. Although police can still mandate onsite breathalyzers without a warrant, warrantless searches are generally only intended for extraordinary circumstances. Blood draws at DUI stops do not fall under this [...]
Divorce can be the hardest thing you'll ever go through, or a blessing in disguise. Some divorces are completely amicable, with each spouse going their own way, able to co-parent and enjoy their life after marriage. Others, however, can be more difficult. When two spouses cannot arrive at a consensus, during mediation or otherwise, about [...]
Great music, great people, and good times—that's what Bonnaroo is known for nationwide. People flock to Coffee County and Middle Tennessee each year to enjoy themselves and experience one of the country’s premier music festivals. In recent years, however, Bonnaroo’s patrons have been under increasing scrutiny from law enforcement officials looking to make quick arrests [...]
Prenuptial or antenuptial agreements are quite common in marriages and are, at their core, a negotiated document signed by both members of a couple prior to marriage. These documents typically lay out ownership of property, monies, and assets. In Tennessee, these agreements are binding in court. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-3-501, the law stipulates [...]
No one likes to see flashing lights in their rearview mirror when driving on the highway. And if you’ve been speeding, or have disobeyed some traffic law, you can feel even worse. But what happens when an officer asks if you’ve been drinking? It can be alarming to hear the words, “Step out of the [...]
If you are planning to enjoy the infamous music festival of Bonnaroo this June, you’ll be traveling through Middle Tennessee and Coffee County. If you’re planning to enjoy Bonnaroo with substance use or under the influence of alcohol, however, you might be in for a bad time with the Coffee County police. If you find [...]
Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in Tennessee can mean complicated legal battles, negotiation with authorities, and even some mandatory punishments. If you’ve had previous DUIs, you know there are associated fines, other penalties, and mandatory jail time (the length of which can depend on your blood alcohol content at the time of arrest). DUI offenses [...]
If you are the non-custodial parent in a Tennessee divorce case, you do have rights when it comes to the welfare of your kids. At the outset of your divorce, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 36-6-106 governs which parents will play what role. A parenting plan written and agreed to in good faith should be established [...]
Bonnaroo is one of the country’s most beloved music festivals, and it’s a great economic boom for Middle Tennessee. Year after year, Columbia criminal defense lawyers are retained as counsel for festivalgoers that receive various criminal charges at, around, or near Bonnaroo. As with most large-scale music festivals, the most common criminal charge by far [...]
Once you’ve finalized your divorce in Tennessee, you will have the final order from the court that governs the terms of your separation from your former husband or wife. Crucial to this process is a credible and experienced Columbia divorce attorney that will advocate on your behalf to ensure your divorce decree is the most [...]
Drivers have a civic responsibility and a legal obligation to stop and render aid if they have caused or become involved in a traffic crash. Leaving the scene of an accident is illegal in Tennessee. If there are injuries and property damage the penalties are significant. Whether it was a minor fender or an accident [...]
Despite Tennessee's strict penalties for DUI for drivers who are caught drinking and driving, drinking is perfectly legal for passengers. There are ten states in the United States that allow the consumption of alcohol inside of a vehicle, and Tennessee is one of them. These states allow passengers to drink from open containers of alcohol [...]
Divorce seems to bring out the wise guru in everyone. There are certain times in life when you are moving through a big life transition when it seems like everyone around you is full of advice. Divorce is one of those times. You may get some good advice, and you may get suggestions that are [...]
As the opening day for Bonnaroo 2017 approaches, we wanted to share a bit of information about our local music festival, along with some tips that will help those who attend the festival make the most of their visit. First, let's start with the basics. The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival will take place June [...]
You are driving along late at night and suddenly you see the dreaded flashing blue lights in your rear-view mirror and then the quick chirp of the siren signaling you to pull over. Your mind begins to race as you wonder why you are being stopped. And then you realize that you just passed through [...]
Most Americans are familiar with their right to protection against unreasonable search and seizure if not from high school civics class, then at least from a good TV crime drama. Let's say you find yourself in the position of being pulled over by a police officer when you are driving on I-65 in Franklin on [...]
