Family Law
Parenting Plan Making You Anxious? Time to Get Creative
Sometimes the divorce process can get the better of parents. It’s easy to lose focus, especially when you think your ex is a schmuck. It’s also easy to fall into a bit of a shame spiral, where you get yourself all twisted up thinking you’re failing your kids, and the next thing you know, there’s…
Read MoreHomeschooling for the First Time? Resources and Help for Parents
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our way of life in its entirety. The way we grocery shop has changed. Restaurants are closed for in-person dining. Schools are closed for in-person instruction through the end of the year in Knox County, which is May 21. This means that parents continue to serve as home instructors, teaching…
Read MoreGrandparents’ Rights to Adopt Grandchildren in Tennessee
There’s nothing like the bond of joy between a grandparent and a granddaughter or grandson. Grandparents add to the connections a child has with his/her roots and past. In an ideal world, grandparents are a wonderful complement to the life children have with their parents. Unfortunately, there are situations where it is necessary for grandparents…
Read MoreThe Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Divorce
Almost every student needs some type of financial aid to attend a four-year college. Even the cost of two-year colleges and trade schools can be out of reach for many students unless they get financial assistance. Some college educations, including tuition and room and board, cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Financial aid companies examine…
Read MoreThe Role of Mental Health in Divorce, Custody, and Other Family Law Matters
People seek divorces for many reasons. Often finances and infidelity are prime reasons. One factor that is also a possible factor in divorce is the mental health of one of the spouses. There are various challenges in using the term “mental health” when it comes to issues of divorce. A spouse or parent who seeks…
Read MoreWhat Is a Guardian Ad Litem?
There are many different types of guardians. In some cases, the guardian is a close family relative. A guardian ad litem, however, is a little different. A court, when necessary, appoints a guardian ad litem (GAL) for a child when divorce or parental rights are at stake. The guardian should be a neutral third-party, which…
Read MoreCustody and Visitation Info for Stepparents in Tennessee
There is no blueprint that shows the perfect parent. Great parents come in all shapes, colors, sizes, and genders. Many great parents are biologically related to their children. Many great parents are not. In any family law issue, the ultimate and only goal should be the interest of the children. Sometimes a marriage, or a…
Read MoreHow Social Media Can Affect Your Divorce
Most people in America use social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and others, for pleasure and business. These websites are a lot of fun when life is going well – but they came be used against you if you’re going through a divorce. Information and pictures that are posted on social…
Read MoreIncreasing Numbers of Women are Now Paying Alimony and Child Support in Divorce
As more women play the role of breadwinner in the family, when those marriages end, those women are paying alimony and child support. According to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), more than half of the 1,650 attorneys participating in their poll reported seeing an increase in mothers paying alimony…
Read MoreFrequently Asked Questions About Stepparent Adoption in Tennessee
Families fit so many diverse descriptions now. Many children have closely bonded relationships with their parent’s spouse as if that person was a legal parent. Sometimes families want to formalize this relationship through stepparent adoption. While stepparent adoptions are the most common type of adoption, it is not always the right choice for everyone. The…
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