Should I get a prenuptial agreement?
Tuesday, April 16th, 2019
To determine if you need a prenuptial agreement, you should first understand what it is. A prenuptial agreement is a written contract entered into by couples before a marriage to provide a disposition of assets and obligations in the event of a divorce. To obtain a prenuptial agreement in Tennessee, each party must make full […]
Read More »Child Support: What’s a IV-D application, and why’s it matter?
Tuesday, April 2nd, 2019
If your child’s other parent is not paying child support as ordered by the Court, and you want that to change, you will be required by Tennessee Child Support Enforcement Services (TCSES) to fill out a “IV-D” application. The IV-D application costs nothing to file, but it is always required for child support enforcement. You […]
Read More »Domestic Violence Series: Obtaining financial support via an Order of Protection
Friday, March 29th, 2019
In Tennessee, you may seek an order of protection that directs someone to stay away from you or refrain from certain behavior if they do come around you. Often, the defendant is someone to whom you were/are married or someone with whom you share children. If the person that is ordered to stay away from […]
Read More »Domestic Violence Series: Domestic Assault Charges vs. Orders of Protection
Friday, March 29th, 2019
If you have been attacked, threatened, or otherwise put into fear by your partner or a member of your household, you may not know where to turn. Thankfully, in Tennessee, you have multiple options to deal with this situation should you ever face it. However, you should be aware of the risks and benefits of […]
Read More »What’s an Order of Protection, and is it the same thing as a Restraining Order?
Thursday, January 3rd, 2019
An Order of Protection is an Order that either directs the defendant to stay away from you entirely and/or directs them to refrain from certain behavior if they do come around you. These are different from “restraining orders” because they only apply to certain parties and have varying levels of severity. Many people believe you can […]
Read More »3 Things to Know About Subpoenas
Wednesday, July 11th, 2018
1. What is a subpoena? A subpoena is a document requested by a party or attorney and issued by the Court where litigation is occurring. It commands a third party to provide requested documents to the attorney to be used in litigation. 2. What if I’ve been served with a subpoena? You typically have 21 […]
Read More »What do I do if I am faced with a “default judgment?”
Tuesday, April 10th, 2018
When someone files a lawsuit, the top page is called a “summons.” The first part of this document simply notifies you that you have been sued, and to whom you need to send your response. The second part of the document contains an important warning: it says that if you do not respond within 30 days of […]
Read More »Comprehensive Post-Divorce Checklist
Wednesday, March 21st, 2018
After your divorce has been finalized, you should draft a list of things that need to be accomplished post-divorce. The following list is not applicable to all divorces but a general review of the areas that you should consider in developing your own individualized post divorce list. Real Estate – Review your Marital Dissolution Agreement (MDA), […]
Read More »Why We Can’t Represent Both Parties in a Divorce
Wednesday, January 3rd, 2018
As family law attorneys, we are routinely asked if a divorce lawyer can represent both parties in a divorce action. The potential client explains that the parties agree on all issues and just need an attorney to draft the paperwork. This may seem like a simple request, but our answer is always, “No, we cannot […]
Read More »If parents don’t have a will, what happens if their child is orphaned?
Friday, December 8th, 2017
One of the first times many people think about estate planning is after the birth of a child. Whereas before you were not really concerned with who might inherit your CD collection or your vintage car, suddenly you are very concerned with what might happen to your child in the event of your death. If […]
Read More »