Posts by Kevin Shepherd
Is There Financial Assistance for Tennessee Adoptions?
Building your family through adoption is exciting, but it can be expensive. We know that you know that not everyone who adopts is required to be well off, and that it’s more important that a child experience a loving family than take weekly winter ski trips or attends a private school. Still, even if you…
Read MoreUnderstanding the Role of Your Guardian Ad Litem
Any time a custody dispute arises it can be a scary thing – not just for parents, but also extended family members. Facing the prospect of losing custody of your child or even having the amount of time you can see your child decided by someone else can cause a lot of stress and strain…
Read MoreTaking a Closer Look at Living Wills
The subject of estate planning tends to bring on the desire to take a long nap if you’re under a certain age. It’s typically a subject for those who have been around the block a time or two, but with coronavirus invading our daily lives, understanding estate planning basics is something we should all become…
Read MoreHandling Child Support in Tennessee
Child support, in general, is never easy. All those guidelines and what-if’s and legal battles are exhausting and complicated, and probably the last thing you need. Although the guidelines for child support are mostly formulaic, there are certain situations and exceptions of which you should be aware. What are the normal child support guidelines? Tennessee…
Read MoreThe Post-Divorce Holiday Survival Checklist You Need
Almost everyone who goes through divorce will have to deal with spending their first holiday season alone. At least as far as being a couple or family goes. For some, it can be a difficult time of year spent reminiscing, but there are ways to get through it without feeling so devastated. While friends and…
Read MoreHow Is Pain and Suffering Calculated in an Injury Claim?
In a personal injury case, the injured victim typically seeks damages from the responsible party. These damages include easily calculable losses, like medical bills, lost income, car repairs and other reimbursements. Sometimes courts also award a victim pain and suffering. However, this type of injury cannot be calculated by bills and receipts. What is pain…
Read MoreVirtual Divorce Hearings – The Pros & Cons
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Tennessee and across the country, attorneys and clients are adjusting to a new normal. Court closings and docket backups put many family law issues on hold, including separation and divorce matters. Now, with courts opening again, divorce hearings can continue, with many proceeding via conferencing technology like Zoom. Virtual…
Read MoreLegal Marijuana? Not in Tennessee
Five different states recently passed measures to legalize marijuana for recreational and/or medical use. This brings the total number of states that have reduced fines and penalties (or eliminated them outright) for the purchase and use of marijuana to 16. Tennessee wasn’t one of those states. Marijuana is still illegal here. Thus, the questions remain:…
Read MoreDating After Divorce – Tips for Parents
After a marriage ends, both parties typically work hard on moving on with their lives. Finalizing a divorce provides closure to a broken relationship. When a couple has children together, however, lines of communication must remain open and ex-spouses must stay in touch. If you are thinking about dating again, it is important to keep…
Read MoreWhen Do You Probate a Will in Tennessee?
Probate is the process by which courts oversee the distribution of a decedent’s (the person who passed away’s) estate. The individual responsible for administering the will (the executor) is required to go through probate in order to collect the decedent’s assets and property, distribute them to heirs and beneficiaries according to a will, and pay…
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