When you are considering the dissolution of your marriage, the thought of sitting down with your spouse to undergo a mediation process may be overwhelming. However, mediation has shown to be a beneficial tool, and is required for contested divorces under Tennessee law. (T.C.A. 36-4-131(a)) If you are seeking a divorce in Tennessee, you must [...]

Seeking a divorce is a complicated process, and doing so with children creates another layer of considerations for families. In 2001, Tennessee enacted a law that created “permanent parenting plans” as the part of the process which sets forth access for parents to their children (TN Code § 36-6-401). What are parenting plans? Your parenting [...]

As if divorce were not already difficult enough, getting divorced when you have children can make things even more messy and contentious. Not only do you have a potential dispute about the division of marital assets, you also have a dispute about child custody and parenting time, which often only heightens the emotions involved and [...]

On this blog, we talk a lot about how difficult divorce can be. We do that because we want to be honest about the challenges a lot of couples face, so you are prepared for what is ahead. However, in the vein of that old expression, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” we would [...]

One of the thorny issues that goes along with separation and divorce when you have a child is determining who claims the child as a dependent on their taxes. The general guideline says that the parent who is receiving child support is the one who can claim the child as a dependent for tax purposes, [...]

When parents divorce, sometimes the children will end up in two different school districts after the parents separate. If both parents have joint custody, in which school district will the children be enrolled? The short answer is that most children end up enrolled in the school district of the primary residential parent. However, there are [...]

Cell phones have become so ubiquitous that almost everyone owns a mobile phone; smartphone users in particular seem to be attached at the hand to these little computers. The Pew Research Center for Internet, Science and Tech reports that a clear majority of Americans – 95% – now own a cellphone of some kind, and [...]

We are back with some more tips to help you avoid the unnecessary pitfalls that can come along with the divorce process. Divorce can be complicated and emotionally challenging, but there is no need for you to go on repeating the same mistakes that have sidetracked so many others before you. Here are some recommendations [...]

When it comes to getting accurate information about what to expect when you are going through a divorce, your coworkers and friends are not always the most accurate sources. The fact that someone you know has gone through a divorce does not mean that the same challenges or strategies will apply to you. Your smartest [...]

Given that no two marriages are alike, there can never be a single answer to a question as complicated as whether a couple should try to hold their marriage together – despite both parties being unhappy and dissatisfied – for the sake of the children. Parental relationships can help shape a child's sense of safety [...]