When it comes to custody hearings, most courts prefer to award parents joint custody. This is because it's believed to be in the best interests of the child to have a healthy, loving relationship with both parents. There are times when sole custody makes sense, and...
Which court has jurisdiction over child custody appeals?
When appealing a decision made by the court to award child custody after a divorce, you may be wondering whether to file your motion with the juvenile court or with the Tennessee Circuit Court. While the law states that the juvenile court has exclusive original...
How should I choose a health care proxy?
A health care proxy is a person who will communicate on your behalf if you’re incapacitated by illness or injury. Because a serious health issue can happen at any time, health care proxies are an essential part of all estate plans. Along with making the decision in a...
How can I overcome co-parenting obstacles?
When it comes to custody disputes, most courts prefer both parents to play a role in the life of their child. Creating a reasonable co-parenting agreement is crucial in this case, especially if you and your ex are still healing after a contentious divorce. Very Well...
Should you date while divorcing?
The divorce process is different for everyone. If the split was fairly amicable, then the couple may be able to settle everything within a few months. For more complicated divorces where each spouse possesses significant assets, a divorce could take well over a...
7 common reasons grandparents choose to adopt
You probably recognize that no two families are exactly the same. Even though you successfully parented your child into adulthood, you may have additional work to do. That is, you may need to adopt your grandchildren to ensure they have the care they need to get...
Your divorce does not need to be a war
Ending your marriage may be causing you and your spouse a lot of pain. Both of you are likely feeling some mixture of anger and sadness. You may also be dreading the thought of endless courtroom arguments. However, the belief that divorce needs to be nasty is a...
Collaborative divorce: a more amicable solution
If you and your spouse are contemplating a Tennessee divorce, it is highly likely that neither of you looks forward to a long, expensive court battle wherein the adversarial lines are firmly drawn between you. But divorce does not have to be this way. If both of you...
3 ways to help your children through divorce
Divorce is a stressful and emotionally trying time for any family, but the impact on children is especially great. Children may take on emotions of guilt or fear as they face the reality of you and your spouse's divorce, and the psychological impact can affect them in...