Driving while on the phone will soon have consequences in Tennessee In Tennessee, drivers will soon face fines for having their phones in their hands while driving. Starting July 1, Tennessee will strengthen its laws regarding drivers’ cellphone use. It is already illegal to text and drive...
Reputation, relationships among reasons to hire a local lawyer We love Murfreesboro. We can tell you the best trails to hike, the best rivers to fish, where to get a good haircut, fun things to do with the kids on a Saturday afternoon and what to order...
Family law in most states makes it much harder for unmarried fathers to have parental rights with their children and Tennessee is no different. In Tennessee, if a child is born to married parents, both parties are automatically listed on the birth certificate and given full...
Legal separation in Tennessee is like a divorce without the divorce Instead of legally dissolving their marriage, a couple can choose to be legally separated where they live apart but still retain some of the benefits of marriage. This can be done for a variety of...
What rights do fathers have about adoption in Tennessee? Fathers have two types of rights in Tennessee -- paternity and custody. While custody is the legal right to raise a child, paternity is the legal definition of who a father is. Custody includes being included in making...
Getting to know common law marriage in Tennessee The short answer to the question “does Tennessee recognize common-law marriage?” is no. But there is a little more to the concept. A common-law marriage is one in which the couple presents as married without actually registering their relationship with...
Who can access adoption records in Tennessee When entering into an adoption in Tennessee, it is important to know how adoption records are treated and governed by state law. First, Tennessee allows for three different types of adoption, as far as records are concerned, an open adoption,...
Sometimes seen as controversial contracts between prospective spouses, prenuptial agreements can be a valuable tool to use before entering into a marriage contract. Seen by some as bringing lawyers into the sacred bond of marriage, a prenuptial agreement doesn’t turn a marriage into a financial arrangement....
Paying for an adoption can comprise many details Adopting can be expensive. But there are grants, loans and tax credits available for prospective parents to help defray the cost of adoption. Tennessee, for example, offers parents up to $1,500 per child to help pay for non-recurring adoption...
Why parenting plans are important for your child In 2008, former Rutherford County Circuit Court Judge Don Ash partnered with Vanderbilt Psychologist William Bernet for “Children of Divorce: A Practical Guide for Parents, Therapists, Attorneys and Judges.” “It contains specific advice on how to achieve basic goals,...