State representatives in Tennessee have introduced a bipartisan bill that make joint custody, or shared parenting, the presumption in custody disputes. In Tennessee, when spouses divorce, decisions need to be made about which parents will have legal and physical custody of the children. Legal custody decides who will make decisions about the child’s health, education, [...]

The ability to obtain divorce records varies depending on the year you were divorced. Most recent divorce records from 1949 through 2019 can be accessed at the following office: Tennessee Department of Health Office of Vital Records 1st Floor, Central Services Building 421 5th Avenue, North Nashville, TN 37243 The records are kept in a [...]

Separations are a middle ground for most Tennessee couples. This means the spouses do recognize that that marital relationship isn’t working, but they aren’t ready to terminate the marriage. Separations generally require that the spouses live apart. Tennessee may resolve some issues such as child custody and child support at the time of the legal [...]

Divorces are traumatic experiences for most people. If there are children of the marriage, divorces are even more stressful. There are normally many issues that must be resolved in addition to the divorce. These extra issues include property division and alimony. For kids, child custody and child support issues must be resolved. One of the [...]

Have you ever been in such a relationship where you want to end things as quickly as possible? With today’s technology it is easy to break things off with your significant other if you aren’t married. You can send out an email, shoot them a text, or even simply leave a voicemail for them to [...]

In all our years of helping clients and families, we’ve lost track of the number of people who have told us they wished they could have “stuck it out, for the sake of the children.” The truth is, yes – divorce can cause problems for your children, but in many cases, a bad marriage can [...]

Spouses who are considering a divorce or negotiating a divorce need to understand how the recent federal tax law, signed in December 2017, affects their taxes. The main change in the tax law affects the payment and deduction of alimony. The new law also affects how businesses are valued which, in turn, affects the equitable [...]

Going through a divorce during any season is traumatic. It is especially difficult for spouses and children during the holiday season, when so much attention is on spending time with family. During the winter holidays, parents are accustomed to taking family photos, spending time with relatives, sharing the joys of parenthood, reflecting on the past [...]

According to an article in Psychology Today, about three million domestic violence cases are reported each year. What’s not often reported is how emotional abuse is often horrible in itself and how emotional abuse is often a strong indicator that physical abuse will follow. Emotional abuse can be hard to recognize for several reasons. Often, [...]

One of the hardest difficulties for spouses is admitting that your marriage isn’t going to work. It’s especially hard when there are children involved. Most spouses try go the extra mile before deciding that divorce is the right choice. The extra mile usually means reviewing your marital difficulties with family and friends. Sometimes, it means [...]

For many spouses and children, the love for a family pet is almost as much as the love they have for each other. The loss of a Frodo, Spot, Muffins, or any pet can be a traumatic experience. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, in 2012, more than 43 million households had a family [...]

A recent post in the Bangor Daily News in Maine discussed how business partnership contracts usually focus just on the partners – not their spouses. Under Tennessee divorce law, spouses going through a divorce generally have claims against their spouse/partner’s business interests. This interest can create many problems for the other owners. In some cases, [...]

Divorce is the process of ending the marriage contract. It may sound simple, but divorces are rarely easy. Getting divorced is the second most stressful experience--with the death of a spouse or loved one being the first—a human being can endure. Given that roughly half of the marriages in the United States end in divorce, [...]

With the rise of the Internet, many people and organizations saw creating an online ministry ordination business as a way to make money and help people get married. USA Today reported a story about an easy way to terminate a marriage – show that the marriage was never valid in the first place. The story [...]

A recent Huffington Post article reviewed why marital relationships fail. Our divorce lawyers represent spouses and parents who are struggling with their marriage. Some marriages can be saved with communication and work. When the marriage can’t be saved, we guide wives and husbands through the divorce process. Often divorce disputes can be settled amicably – [...]

It's true that when your Tennessee divorce is complete, it's “finalized,” but in day to day life, things change. And with major life changes, you may need to change your divorce agreement along with them. As you both move on with your lives, either your or your ex-spouse's circumstances may suddenly change, and certain things [...]

A divorced couple is battling in Pittsburgh family court over whether or not their 17-year-old son should be allowed to play high school football, despite his history of concussions. John Orsini shares custody of his youngest son with his ex-wife, Janice Orsini, and is arguing that his son should no longer be allowed to play [...]

Today, we wanted to take a broad look at the differences between contested and uncontested divorce, and clear up some misconceptions you might have. A contested divorce must have grounds for why the marriage should be ended, some of which include: Adultery Abandonment Substance abuse Domestic violence Desertion An uncontested divorce is one where both [...]

In a divorce, a spouse with a lot of wealth may try to hide assets in order to make their income appear lower than it is, and so that these assets will not be a part of the Tennessee equitable distribution award. Experienced divorce lawyers are needed to determine what assets can be hidden, where [...]

One of the most difficult and emotionally fraught parts of a divorce is the issue of child custody. Working through the details of custody, visitation, and parenting plans can be some of the most frustrating and intense parts of your divorce agreement. However, it is important to remember that everything is for the benefit of [...]