Probate is a complicated legal process that takes place when someone passes away. The individual named as the personal representative of a deceased person’s estate and family members alike may have a hard time navigating the probate process. In general, there are two types of probate: testate probate and intestate probate. Each has its own characteristics and nuances that affect…
According to the Court Statistics Project, there were over 12 million incoming civil cases in the United States in 2021. Filing one of these lawsuits requires the plaintiff to serve the defendant with legal documents that detail the claim made against them and provide the date, time, and location of the court hearing in which they can defend themselves. Learn…
Airbags can save lives. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has dubbed them “one of the most important safety innovations of recent decades.” Front airbags have been required in passenger vehicles since 1999 models, but side airbags are not specifically mandated. Nonetheless, many vehicles have side airbags as well. Both front and side airbags reduce the risk of…
Dealing with either divorce or bankruptcy can be an emotionally challenging and stressful experience, and these processes unfortunately sometimes happen one after the other. If facing this scenario, it can be useful to understand the various approaches that might help these processes progress more smoothly. Read about bankruptcy and divorce, determine which one to undergo first, and discover how a…
Truck accidents are often severe. These large vehicles can cause a lot of damage to other vehicles, drivers, and passengers. Even at low speeds, crashes can result in serious injuries that will affect individuals for years to come. There are certain steps the victim of a truck accident can take after the crash to protect their legal rights. Shepherd and…
Estate planning is about taking care of loved ones after you have passed away or become incapacitated. It involves planning to distribute assets and liabilities in a way that decreases the likelihood of paying excessive taxes and still accomplishes giving and long-term legacy goals. State laws and tax regulations can be complicated, and having an estate planning lawyer help develop…
According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2021, the national marriage rate was 14.9 per 1,000 women, while the divorce rate was 6.9 per 1,000. In Tennessee, the divorce rate was 8.5 women in every 1,000. This means that in the state of Tennessee, there were 1.6 more divorces per 1,000 women aged 15 and over than the national…
Undue influence occurs when a person or group pressures someone to change their Last Will and Testament or other elements of their estate plan to benefit their best interest and usually involves financial gain. Legal matters can arise when an individual falls ill and a friend or family member steps in to provide care and becomes close to the individual,…
Child support is the financial obligation parents share to contribute to the costs of raising their children. When parents get divorced, mandatory amounts and schedules for payments will typically be established by the presiding court as part of the divorce decree; however, parents who have never been married can also seek a court order to mandate child support. Parents can…
In most situations, a smartphone is more of a distraction than it is an aid to safe driving. The circumstances that correlate with especially heavy smartphone usage at the wheel underscore the potential for distractions; the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that gig workers (like those who drive others or make deliveries) are four times more likely to use…