Pendente Lite Temporary Spousal Support in Tennessee Divorce
Marriage is typically a partnership where each partner does their part to support the other. In some situations, one spouse is the higher earning spouse and they support the receiving spouse who may be maintaining the home and caring for the children. The days of one spouse taking care of the other spouse are quickly…
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 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 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 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 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…
Read MoreCan I Be Arrested for a DUI after Passing the Field Sobriety Test?
You are driving along I-65 late on a Friday evening. You might have had a beer or two while you watched the game, but you are by no means drunk, or so you believe. The next thing you know, you see those flashing blue lights and hear the chirp of a police cruiser pulling you…
Read MoreWhat is the Process for Getting a Restricted License after a DUI in Tennessee?
If you have been convicted of DUI in Tennessee, one of the penalties is that you can lose your driving privileges for one year. That means that you would be unable to drive your car to get back and forth to work, to school if you are a college student, to the doctor’s office and…
Read MoreWhat are the Consequences of a Domestic Violence Conviction in Tennessee?
Domestic violence is a serious issue in Tennessee with significant consequences. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), 43 Tennesseans were murdered by intimate partners in 2014. Firearms were involved in 75 percent of these homicides. Tennessee law enforcement received 74,023 reports of domestic violence crimes, but many also went unreported. There were…
Read MoreWhen is it OK for a Police Officer to Search Me?
Most people understand that the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects us from having to submit to unreasonable search and seizure, but there is considerable confusion about the details. A police officer can stop you and ask you questions, but he or she is not permitted to search you unless they have probable cause…
Read MoreTips for Avoiding a DUI at Bonnaroo
Before long the 2016 Bonnaroo season will be in full swing here in Tennessee. From June 9th through the 12th, Manchester, TN will bloom into a small city with thousands of visitors who will be our guests for the four day music festival-palooza. We are going to be honest and let you know that you…
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