Divorce and Narcissism
Monday, November 2nd, 2020
What is Narcissism? We, as a society, are becoming more aware of the relationship between mental illness and the destruction of marriages; in particular, the Narcissistic Personality Disorder. This Personality Disorder has a difficult combination of symptoms. Sustaining a marriage with a narcissist is problematic and it becomes a very complicated problem when it’s time […]
Read More »Mediation, Divorce, and Orders of Protection
Thursday, October 22nd, 2020
Mediation and Orders of Protection Mediation is a process using a trained third party, usually an attorney, to facilitate the settlement of a case without having a trial. In Tennessee, mediation is required in most divorce cases; however, in domestic violence situations, mediation may be excused. If a spouse has an Order of Protection (OP) […]
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 »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 »COVID Divorces: What You Need to Know
Monday, July 20th, 2020
COVID-19 is not just impacting how we co-parent. It’s having undeniable effects on the divorce process. Social distancing and isolation measures have put an unusual degree of strain on marriages. The inability to see extended family, to have a drink with friends, or even just spend some time alone can create tension in the happiest […]
Read More »An Open Letter to Mental Health Professionals
Wednesday, July 15th, 2020
Dear Mental Health Professionals: I am a family lawyer. For the last 25 years, I have represented families in crisis. I have read reports, deposed and examined psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed clinical social workers and mental health professionals more times than I can count. The questions I get the most from folks in your field are, […]
Read More »Should I Record My Children or Spouse for Evidence?
Monday, July 6th, 2020
Maybe you know your spouse is lying. Maybe your kids want to live with you and just don’t want to tell the other parent. Maybe your partner is verbally abusive when no one is listening. Maybe your spouse has admitted something that will help you in court. You have your phone in your pocket, ready to […]
Read More »Service by Publication: What if I Can’t Find My Spouse?
Friday, June 5th, 2020
People sometimes leave their spouses for reasons that lead to separating for a long period of time before filing for divorce. During that time, you may not have any contact with your spouse. This is often the case if that spouse was abusive, an addict, or in jail. The good news is that, in a […]
Read More »Rule 53 and the Rise of Collaborative Law
Wednesday, May 27th, 2020
People who come to our office looking to start the divorce process are often surprised to learn that there are alternatives to litigating in court. For clients who can maintain a good working relationship with their spouse and have no history of domestic violence in their current marriage, one of those alternatives could be collaborative […]
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