Family Law

When you share kids but don’t live together, creating a parenting plan can be a difficult task, especially when those kids are young, or you have longer holiday vacations to divvy up. Because older children more easily understand what’s happening, even if they don’t enjoy the situation, you at least avoid trying to explain a…

Divorce is almost never easy, no matter how much we wish it were. It can be even trickier when the separation is less-than-amicable, especially when your children are involved. Now you have divorce AND custody to worry about, never mind all the emotional work of parenting through this difficult time. What if your soon-to-be ex…

After that final divorce decree is signed and filed, both parties have the closure they need to move on with their lives. Some people want to start dating right away, some don’t want to date at all, and some aren’t sure when the time is right. All of these are valid choices, but if you…

It’s frustrating. We know. You work hard to work out a resolution of your divorce issues, including who will have the marital home so the children have a place to live. You spend a lot of time and love crafting a parenting plan that will provide the best future for your children. And then your…

The general rule in Tennessee is that the duty to support your child ends when your child turns 18 years old. Once they reach 18, they’re on their own. The amount of the support order is initially determined by the state guidelines. The guidelines establish the presumption for how much money the parent required to…

Of all the acts of love, almost nothing is better than adoption. A family becomes whole through adoption, and it is AWESOME. It can also be a little overwhelming, because there are a lot of hoops to jump through before your family can grow. If you’re thinking about adopting, and you’re a little nervous about…

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…

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…

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…