Family Law
The Role of Mental Health in Divorce, Custody, and Other Family Law Matters
People seek divorces for many reasons. Often finances and infidelity are prime reasons. One factor that is also a possible factor in divorce is the mental health of one of the spouses. There are various challenges in using the term “mental health” when it comes to issues of divorce. A spouse or parent who seeks…
Read MoreDrug Addiction and Its Impact on Child Custody Decisions in Tennessee
The opioid epidemic continues to devastate families throughout Tennessee. According to an article in The Tennessean, the opioid crisis has killed more people in the Volunteer State than traffic accidents, as three people die from drug overdoses every day. In 2017, more than 1,090 babies were born with neonatal abstinence syndrome to mothers addicted to…
Read MoreWhat Is a Guardian Ad Litem?
There are many different types of guardians. In some cases, the guardian is a close family relative. A guardian ad litem, however, is a little different. A court, when necessary, appoints a guardian ad litem (GAL) for a child when divorce or parental rights are at stake. The guardian should be a neutral third-party, which…
Read MoreCustody and Visitation Info for Stepparents in Tennessee
There is no blueprint that shows the perfect parent. Great parents come in all shapes, colors, sizes, and genders. Many great parents are biologically related to their children. Many great parents are not. In any family law issue, the ultimate and only goal should be the interest of the children. Sometimes a marriage, or a…
Read MoreHow Social Media Can Affect Your Divorce
Most people in America use social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and others, for pleasure and business. These websites are a lot of fun when life is going well – but they came be used against you if you’re going through a divorce. Information and pictures that are posted on social…
Read MoreIncreasing Numbers of Women are Now Paying Alimony and Child Support in Divorce
As more women play the role of breadwinner in the family, when those marriages end, those women are paying alimony and child support. According to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), more than half of the 1,650 attorneys participating in their poll reported seeing an increase in mothers paying alimony…
Read MoreFrequently Asked Questions About Stepparent Adoption in Tennessee
Families fit so many diverse descriptions now. Many children have closely bonded relationships with their parent’s spouse as if that person was a legal parent. Sometimes families want to formalize this relationship through stepparent adoption. While stepparent adoptions are the most common type of adoption, it is not always the right choice for everyone. The…
Read MoreFocusing on What Matters in Your Tennessee Child Custody Case
Children can often end up as casualties when their parents’ divorce becomes a battlefield. As they sometime try to use the child to get back at the other party (even if they don’t realize they’re doing it), divorcing couples can lose sight of what is best for their child. In almost every state, the best…
Read MoreHow Virtual Visitation is Changing Co-Parenting in a Digital Age
Virtual visitation uses Internet technologies such as video conferencing using Skype, Hangouts, Face Time and other video calling apps to help keep the connection strong between parents when they live far apart. “Virtual visitation” is a way for divorced parents to communicate with their children via electronic means.” (IBLS) While Utah was the first state…
Read MoreFactors in Tennessee Child Custody Decisions
In all Tennessee child custody cases, the court encourages parents to work out a custody plan that is in the best interests of the child (children). If an agreement cannot be reached, the court will decide what solution works best. Tennessee has two types of custody. Legal custody addresses which parent will make the health…
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