Tax Changes and Divorce Planning
Saturday, November 10th, 2018
We’re entering a “new era” of divorce planning because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017. Rose Swanger, CFP®, RICP®, CDFA®, EA explains, “for new divorces that are finalized after Dec. 31, 2018, all alimony payments will be treated like child support payments, which are not deductible. Before, the alimony payor could deduct the amount of their alimony […]
Read More »What’s Our Firm’s Success Rate at Trial?
Friday, November 9th, 2018
We often get asked what our success rate is, or how many cases we win versus lose. It is a complicated question for any lawyer to answer. Here’s why. We first have to define what it means to “win” a case. Many people define a “win” as getting everything they asked for. But a divorce, […]
Read More »Defining “Light” in Lightly Contested Divorces
Friday, November 9th, 2018
As an attorney that practices in the area of contested family law issues, I encounter varying degrees of acrimony (or bitterness) between parties. However, there are times when there is minimal acrimony and the parties arrive at a mutual decision that divorce is the best option. This does not mean that the parties agree on […]
Read More »First in Adoption Law Changes
Friday, November 2nd, 2018
Only a few months ago, the governor signed Tennessee’s First in Adoption bill resulting in several key modifications pertaining to adoptions and termination of parental rights in our state. The first major change is an entirely revamped surrender form. A surrender is what parties execute in order to voluntarily terminate their parental rights to a […]
Read More »TN Supreme Court Honors Margaret Held
Sunday, October 21st, 2018
In recognition of Attorney Margaret Held’s exemplary pro bono service in 2017, the Tennessee Supreme Court has honored her with the title of 2018 Attorney for Justice. Last year, Margaret provided more than 50 hours of pro bono service to clients who couldn’t afford the fees associated with legal services. Held Law Firm is committed […]
Read More »What is a Primary Residential Parent?
Friday, September 28th, 2018
What does being named the “Primary Residential Parent” really mean? In every divorce and custody case, the Court is required to enter a Permanent Parenting Plan, which spells out the schedule for the time the children will be with each parent, how parenting decisions will be made, and how the children will be supported financially. […]
Read More »Positively Putative: Fathers and Adoption
Friday, September 28th, 2018
Adopting a child, as rewarding as it can be in the end, can also be fraught with frustration and confusion throughout the enduring process. One cause of this is the over forty applicable legal rules that can make crafting an adoption petition a meticulous task, yet one often overlooked rule regarding putative fathers can derail […]
Read More »Important Questions for your Divorce Lawyer
Monday, September 17th, 2018
Choosing your divorce lawyer is one of the most important decisions you will make as you proceed through a divorce. There are several things you should ask prospective lawyers, and when you ask them make sure you get a thorough answer. How are retainers and legal fees handled for divorces? You are entitled to a […]
Read More »How Open Adoption Helps Children
Monday, September 17th, 2018
In Tennessee alone, there are more opioid-overdose deaths occurring on a daily basis than there are traffic fatalities – quite an alarming statistic, as most local readers are familiar with the treacherousness that is I-40 (1). Yet while most people can conceive of the variety of ways that opioid addiction wreaks havoc on a victim’s […]
Read More »Mediation at Held Law Firm
Friday, September 14th, 2018
Held Law Firm is proud to announce that our family law attorney, Melanie Hogg, is now also a Rule 31 Listed Family Mediator. Melanie, who is also trained in Collaborative Law, has been a licensed attorney for over twenty-five years and practiced in five states. Melanie is trained to assist parties reach a resolution through […]
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