What Happens When a Step Parent is Abusive or Problematic in Tennessee?

Stepparents have been a fixture in family dynamics for centuries. An estimated 30% of American families have a step-relative, like a stepparent or stepchild, in their family. However, their roles and influences on children have garnered renewed attention in recent years. While not all step-parenting situations are filled with difficulties, the term “evil stepmother” or…

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Do Gifts Count Toward Child Support?

Imagine this: your child is in need of new shoes for school, because kids ALWAYS need new shoes for school; their feet grow so fast! You planned on making the purchase this weekend, after you picked up your kid from an overnight stay at his mother’s. When you get to the door, your child comes…

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Can Living with My New Partner Affect Child Support?

Getting back into the dating game after a divorce can be hard. It takes some folks a long time to learn to trust people with their hearts, so finding someone who makes you feel safe, secure, and loved can be a big step. When you have children, though, there are new challenges to consider. Will…

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Do I Have to Pay Child Support for My Stepchildren?

Divorces can be complicated. And they can quickly become even more complex when there are children involved. Child support is often a hot topic during the divorce process because there are so many factors that must be taken into consideration. But say your marriage doesn’t work out and your spouse has children from a pervious;…

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Can I Get My Child Support Arrears Dismissed?

Parents are legally required to support their children, even if they do not live with the child in question. If one parent feels their co-parent is not doing a great job of financially supporting their child, they can file for child support. If child support is granted, the other parent is then required to provide…

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Can You Pay for Child Support in Advance in Tennessee?

Paying child support is typically done by withholding agreements on the payer’s check. Tennessee courts can also withhold tax return payments if a person falls behind on child support. While this is the norm, not everyone has a weekly or bi-weekly paycheck. Some individuals work for themselves and are not paid weekly, while others work…

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Even Celebrities Fight Over Child Support

Nothing is guaranteed in life other than death and taxes, right? Your job — whatever that may be — is not exempt from that rule. Success isn’t a single goal, and what it means for you and the life you lead can and probably will change several times over the years. Whether you simply decide…

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Can I Get More Child Support?

As a parent, you can personally testify about how the pandemic has affected your household’s finances. Your grocery bill may be a little steep because your children are learning remotely and home all the time. Maybe you were one of the millions of workers whose hours were severely reduced, and it’s difficult to keep up…

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I 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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When Can You Appeal a Decision in a Family Law Case?

One of the great hallmarks of the United States judicial system is the ability to file an appeal after receiving a criminal or civil ruling in court when mistakes or errors occurred during a trial. However, an appeal is not a trial redo. The purpose of an appeal is to demonstrate that the trial court…

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Sharing Custody and Remote Learning: Avoiding the Pitfalls

In many ways, parents had a tougher job in many ways throughout the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with many families experiencing increased financial pressures, parents also have to make difficult decisions about handling their child’s schooling. Many states and local school districts are allowing students to return in person full-time. However, others are…

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What to do When Your Ex Denies Your Visitation Rights

During the divorce process you and your former spouse sat down and ironed out a parenting plan agreement, which contains a schedule for visitation for the parent who did not get primary residential custody. The Court reviews this document and refers to it when it issues the final custody order. The Tennessee Court as with…

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What Does “Contempt of Court” Actually Mean?

If you watch police procedurals or legal-based TV shows, you’ve probably heard a judge say “You’re out of order, Counselor” (or something along those lines) and then fine the attorney or the client for being in “contempt.” As a general rule, however, these types of shows don’t get the nuances of legal proceedings right, so…

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