Post-Adoption Contact Agreements
Tuesday, September 15th, 2020
A court’s decision to permit an adoption is absolutely final. This leaves no room for birth parents to step back in should circumstances change. However, that doesn’t mean that birth parents don’t have options for keeping some contact with the child even after another family adopts that child. One viable option is to talk to […]
Read More »Meet Dasha Lundy, District 1’s New Commissioner
Wednesday, September 9th, 2020
Last week, Judge Robin Phillips Gunn swore in Dr. Dasha Lundy as District 1 Knox County Commissioner. When I reached out to Lundy regarding the occasion, she described it as a “historic moment.” It is undeniable that the visual of Lundy, one of the three black women ever elected to Knox County Commission, being sworn […]
Read More »How to Prepare for Divorce Before Hiring a Lawyer
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020
Most people take a long time before they finally decide to make the call to a divorce lawyer. Contemplating taking that first step in what is reputed to be a long, expensive and painful process can be overwhelming. We get that. So, here’s a list of things you can do to prepare for divorce before you […]
Read More »Sexual Harassment in the Legal Field
Friday, August 28th, 2020
In the era of #MeToo, sexual harassment in the workplace is at the forefront of public discourse. Originally coined by activist Tarana Burke in 2006, #MeToo went viral after sexual assault accusations levied against film producer Harvey Weinstein. Following Weinstein’s very public trial and subsequent conviction, employers and coworkers across the board found themselves navigating […]
Read More »Terminating Parental Rights in Tennessee
Friday, August 21st, 2020
The first stage in any adoption proceeding is terminating parental rights of the biological parents. Unless you are pursuing a stepparent adoption, you must terminate both biological parents’ rights. A court will only terminate a parent’s rights if the petitioner can prove at least one of the legal grounds to terminate. The petitioner must also […]
Read More »Social Security Benefits for Adopted Grandchildren
Friday, August 14th, 2020
At Held Law Firm, many of the adoption clients we see are grandparents seeking to adopt their grandchildren. However, many people in this group are unable to work. They rely on Social Security Retirement or Disability benefits for their income. Adopting and raising children is always a challenge, but it can be especially difficult for people living on […]
Read More »Housing Costs in Knoxville
Wednesday, August 12th, 2020
Much like the rest of the country, housing costs in Knoxville are on the rise. As of February 2020, Knoxville renters saw an overall increase of 6%. This brought the average monthly cost of renting to $1,082 for a 970-square-foot apartment. Though nearly $400 cheaper than the national average, it is important to note that […]
Read More »When You May Be Awarded Attorney’s Fees
Wednesday, August 5th, 2020
Litigation is expensive, so many people ask us how they can get the opposing party to pay for attorney fees. This is not something that occurs often. Tennessee courts follow the “American Rule,” which is that each person is responsible for their own attorney fees. However, there are instances in which the court may order […]
Read More »Can I get divorced in TN if I was married in a different country?
Thursday, July 30th, 2020
Typically, marriages which are valid and legally performed in a different country are valid in the United States. So if you were legally married in a different country, you should be able to get divorced in Tennessee. That is, as long as you meet the other requirements to file for a divorce. RESIDENCY In order […]
Read More »Harmony Family Center on the Journey of Adoption
Friday, July 24th, 2020
Guest blog by Harmony Family Center. When you hear the word “adoption,” what comes to mind? You might be surprised that adoption in the United States and here in Tennessee often doesn’t look like what you imagine — a baby brought home from the hospital by their forever family or adoption from another country. In fact, most […]
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