It is not uncommon for married couples who have separated for the wife to have children from a father who is not the husband. Unfortunately, this creates problems when the parties want to get divorced. In Tennessee, because if the parties are still legally married,...
Tennessee has two kinds of no-fault divorce. The first kind is Irreconcilable Differences, which is often referred to as an agreed divorce. This is found in T.C.A. Section 36- 4-101(a)(14). This requires that the parties enter into an agreed Marital Dissolution...
In the absence of child abuse and neglect issues, a person seeking to modify a child custody order or Permanent Parenting Plan must file a Petition to Modify the Order or Permanent Parenting Plan in the court where the original order occurred, and show as a threshold...
There are more older couples getting married now than there has usually been in the past. Often, both parties to the marriages have substantial assets and have had children from earlier marriages. A prenuptial agreement can offer some control over the assets they...
In Tennessee, when a child is born out of wedlock, initially the mother is the custodial parent by operation of law. The biological father has to establish himself as the legal father before he can get court ordered visitation/co-parenting rights. Unless he has signed...
If you are paying child support you may be entitled to a modification to lower your payment if your income has decreased, you have additional children or you are spending more overnights with your children. The legal test in Tennessee is whether there is a fifteen...
When there is an agreement between a stepparent or relative and the child's biological parent or parents that an adoption of the child or children should occur, a Petition for Agreed Stepparent Adoption can be filed. This is far easier, less expensive and quicker than...
Many people seeking divorces do not know where their spouse is, particularly if they have been separated for a long time. What is the solution? How do you serve your spouse the divorce pleadings? You can serve the spouse by publication in the newspaper. It has to run...
Many people in Tennessee who have put off legal action in family law cases because of the pandemic are now pursuing cases in court .Divorce filings are increasing in many areas since many were put off during quarantines and business shutdowns. Unfortunately, in some...
Many married couples have children from prior marriages. Often, the stepparent of the children acts as the children's real parent. Naturally, the Stepparent in this situation frequently would like to make the situation permanent and become the children's legal parent....
