After all these years of practicing family law in Tennessee, I can say that I’ve heard a lot of similar questions. But there are a few questions that clients don’t always think to ask that I wish they would have, because it could have saved them a lot of heartache and aggravation. So rather than give you answers to questions…
While some were celebrating the Supreme Court of the United States’ landmark ruling that declared any law prohibiting same-sex marriage as unconstitutional by getting married, others used the opportunity to get divorced. The first same-sex divorce case in Knox County was filed on July 1st by a couple that was married in New York last year. The two women cited…
If prospective adoptive parents of a child live in a different state than the one where the child is living, the law that governs this transaction is called the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children Act (ICPC). This is a uniform, statutory law in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories. Before a child who…
Paternity fraud occurs when a woman deceives a man into thinking that she is carrying his biological child, even when she knows that he is not the father. If she knows that this man is not the father and she tells him that he is and he takes on the obligation of parental responsibility and child support for this child…
You may have heard about Angela and Jeff Watts, the couple who used Facebook to find a suitable family for their unused IVF embryos. Within days, it seems, a family willing to meet the Watts family’s stipulations has come forth, and those six embryos will go to Rayn and Richard Galloway of Granville. This story went “viral” for a few…
Divorce in general is often a complicated process that attempts to dissolve the physical and financial bonds that once held a couple together. In the process, emotional bonds can also often shattered. When the stakes are high, you might be shocked at how contentious and volatile a divorce can become. Whether the dispute is about finances or children, an experienced…
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. After being inundated by news stories about athletes, politicians and musicians accused (or convicted) of domestic violence, I believe that it’s time we all took a stand and advocated on behalf of our mothers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters and grandchildren once and for all. What is domestic violence? The Tennessee Districts Attorneys General…
Life as a divorced parent or single parent can be challenging, and there are times when difficult situations show up in your life that put you in a tailspin. Maybe you lost a job or suffered a debilitating illness or accident that prevents you from working. When you are paying child support and you experience a significant variance in your…
Step parents get a bad rap in this country, and that’s unfair. They’re a vital part of an ever-changing family unit – and there are a lot of them. Don’t believe me? Nearly half of the married couples in Tennessee will eventually get divorced, if the State Department’s statistics are right. Even if only half of those couples remarry into…
As a family law attorney, I enjoy speaking at a lot of conferences and seminars throughout the year. I take great pride in my work and enjoy educating my peers and colleagues on family law topics, helping them better protect their clients’ best interests. Most of these conferences and seminars also provide CLE credits! On Thursday, July 17, I will…