January is Considered National Divorce Month

Deciding to divorce is difficult enough for couple, especially those with children. For this reason, many couples choose to postpone their divorce until after the holidays have passed, which makes January a month with some of the highest divorce rates in Tennessee, according to ABC News. But getting divorced in January may not be the…

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College Funds and Divorce: The 529 Investment Plan

Divorce can often be hardest on your children. When you are drafting your divorce settlement, it is a good idea to provide for your children’s educational future in order to avoid conflict and confusion further down the road. In Tennessee, contributions to a college fund must be specified by a court order and voluntarily agreed…

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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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How Long Will My Divorce Take?

Once you’ve made the difficult decision to divorce, you may wonder just exactly how long the whole divorce process will take from start to finish. That is a good question, but one for which there is no uniform answer. Many different factors can speed up or slow down a divorce. Some of those factors are…

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Telling Your Children You Are Getting a Divorce

The end of a marriage is always difficult, even when the two parties involved have come to a mutual agreement. For children, however, the news can lead to unexpected responses, so it is understandable that parents may feel nervous or reluctant to speak with them. When the time comes to tell your children, there are…

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Tips for Successful Co-Parenting

When parents separate and divorce they remain connected through their children. Most parents retain a strong desire to remain active in the lives of their children even when the marriage ends. It is not always easy to co-parent with a former spouse, but doing so is in the best interest of your children. Here are…

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Looks Like Arizona’s Bill Had an Impact on Tennessee Couples, Too

When Jan Brewer vetoed a bill that would allow businesses to deny service to same-sex couples based on the business owner/operator’s beliefs, a lot of people breathed a collective sigh a relief – though not for collective reasons. Now it appears that Tennessee lawmakers have jumped on that bandwagon, postponing the debate over Senate Bill…

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Factors the Court Considers When Dividing Marital Property

Is your marriage coming to an end? Before you and your spouse can part ways, certain issues must be addressed, including custody, alimony and the division of marital property. If you and your spouse are able to cooperate during your divorce, you can divide your assets however you see fit. However, if you are unable…

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Social Media, Detrimental to Your Marriage and Your Divorce

Social media sites are being blamed for breaking up many marriages.  A recent study revealed that one-third of all divorce filings in the year 2011 contained the word “Facebook.” While this is a startling statistic, it’s important to keep in mind that social media can have just as big an effect on your divorce as…

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Toughing Out the Transition During and After Divorce

While the legal process involved in a divorce can be lengthy and stressful, the effects of divorce away from the settlement table can be even worse. After filing for divorce, you may mourn the loss of a spouse and companion as you struggle to adapt to a new lifestyle. After the final divorce decree is…

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That’s Mine! Division of Assets During Divorce

One of the greatest sources of conflict in a divorce is the division of assets between spouses. In Tennessee, courts are concerned with the equitable distribution of property in a divorce. As such, property is divided equitably between spouses according to factors in the Tennessee Code. Equitable division does not necessarily mean that every marital…

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Knowing Your Options: Legal Separation vs. Divorce

In Tennessee, couples have two options: divorce or legal separation. Which option is best? The decision between divorce and legal separation depends on your personal situation. In a divorce, all marital rights are terminated. A divorce is only declared on grounds or irreconcilable differences (known as no-fault divorce). There are many grounds available including: Abandonment…

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Who Gets Rover?

John and Jane Doe have decided to amicably split up. They have simply grown apart, have no children, and thought their divorce would be easy. They both failed to consider, however, their spouse’s undying love for their dog, Rover. Pet custody is one of the hottest topics in divorce law, and disputes over pets have…

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Why Divorce Mediation May Work For You

When you’re considering getting a divorce in Tennessee, you may be surprised to discover that divorce mediation is required in most instances. But is divorce mediation right for you? Anyone who has gotten a divorce can tell you that they can be expensive and time-consuming; however, divorce mediation can lessen those impacts. Divorce mediation is…

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