Family Law Attorney in Franklin, Tennessee

Whether you are contemplating a divorce or dealing with any other family law issue, the decisions you make could substantially impact your future and the future of your loved ones. That is why you may need to seek legal guidance from an experienced family law attorney to ensure that you make the right decisions.

At Middle Tennessee Family Law, our knowledgeable attorney provides clients with the personalized attention they need to protect their best interests and overcome the legal issues they face. With an office in Franklin, Tennessee, we also represent clients in other areas, including Nashville, Murfreesboro, and other parts of Middle Tennessee.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are becoming increasingly popular between fiancés and newlyweds across the United States. Prenups are written and legally binding contracts created by two people before marriage. Postnups are essentially the same as prenups, but they are created after the two people become married.

These agreements typically contain provisions that outline each spouse’s rights and obligations. Specifically, pre- and postnuptial agreements address the division of assets in the event of divorce or one of the spouse’s death. Prenups and postnups can also protect spouses against each other’s personal debt, spell out the spouses’ rights to life insurance policy benefits, as well as waive or limit their rights to future alimony (depending on state law).

There are certain things a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement cannot address. Specifically, people signing prenups or postnups cannot include provisions detailing anything illegal or decisions regarding child custody and support.

Our family law attorney at Middle Tennessee Family Law assists couples with drafting, negotiating, and signing pre- and postnuptial agreements throughout Middle Tennessee.

Divorce in Tennessee

If you are contemplating a divorce or are already going through divorce proceedings, you need to understand how the process works in your state. Some of the things to know about divorce in Tennessee include:

• Contested vs. uncontested. Under Tennessee law, the spouse filing for divorce must provide a reason or “ground” for the dissolution of marriage. If the parties agree on all issues, they can file for uncontested divorce based on irreconcilable differences. However, when spouses cannot arrive at an agreement on all the terms of the divorce, they will have to go through what is known as a contested divorce. In a contested divorce, the judge is ultimately responsible for making critical decisions for the divorcing couple.

• Alimony. Tennessee law recognizes alimony as the legal obligation of one spouse to provide financial support to the economically disadvantaged spouse after the marriage falls apart. In Tennessee, judges have broad discretion in determining whether to award alimony as well as deciding on the duration and amount of these support payments.

• Division of assets. Tennessee requires the division of assets to be in accordance with the equitable distribution rule. Under this rule, all assets owned by the spouses are broken down into separate and marital property. Any assets acquired by the spouses before entering into the marriage are considered separate property and will not be divided during a divorce. However, any assets acquired during the marriage are classified as “marital property” and are subject to Tennessee’s equitable distribution law. The same rule applies to the division of debts between the divorcing spouses.

At Middle Tennessee Family Law, we guide clients through a number of family law issues, including but not limited to divorce, alimony, adoption, division of assets, and issues affecting children. We are dedicated to helping our clients find practical and affordable resolutions to their legal issues.

Children and Divorce in Tennessee

When a divorce involves minor children, matters become more complicated. Divorcing with minor kids means the parties will need to resolve issues regarding child custody and child support:

• Child custody. Reaching an agreement on the parenting plan that allocates different rights and responsibilities to divorcing parents is rarely easy. Judges in Tennessee courts have the child’s best interests in mind when formulating a parenting plan. A judge may award either joint or sole custody. In most cases, courts prefer to award joint custody to ensure that both parents will hold shared legal and physical custody of the child after the divorce or separation.

• Child support. In Tennessee, a non-custodial parent may be required to provide financial support for their child even after the divorce or separation. However, determining who pays child support and what amount would be appropriate is almost always difficult. There are a number of factors that affect child support decisions, but an experienced attorney can help you fight for the fairest possible outcome in your case.

Our family law attorney at Middle Tennessee Family Law will take the time to understand the unique factors surrounding your case in order to develop a comprehensive legal strategy tailored to your specific needs. We believe that diligent preparation and a client-centered approach are keys to success in family law matters. We understand the sensitive nature of family law matters, which is why it is our goal to provide compassionate and effective representation.