Law

Divorce in Tennessee

Paul Petersen

A great or bad facts about the federal system of government is that the laws are different from one state to another. That means you are a citizen of the United States, yet you will have to face other consequences based on the state you are in. This extends to even family laws.

So, while you are filing divorces, be aware of all the details, customs, and regulations regarding divorces in your place of residence. It also needs no saying that hires a local lawyer, better if they are someone close to your neighborhood. While resolving the conflicts, the lawyer can take advantage of your community and its condition to bring you a better deal. So, if you live in William county, search for a divorce attorney Williamson county, tn.

Types of Divorce

Based on your reason for divorce, there are two types of divorces in Tennessee.

No-Fault Grounds

This means that none of the spouses is playing the blame game or is accusing the other of their unhappiness and failed marriage. Instead, the couple has come to the understanding that they both have different needs and philosophies, and the differences can’t be mitigated. So, they are mutually seeking a divorce.

Fault Grounds

Tennessee follows the traditional US system in family law. They value the marriage as sacred, and one party can’t just divorce the spouse without any ground. To file for a divorce, the divorcing party has to have evidence of at least one of the following reasons.

  • One Spouse is impotent.
  • One party is involved in Bigamy or Adultery.
  • ·Separated or lives in desertion from each other for at least two years, and they have no minor child together.
  • One party convicted of punitive or felony crime.
  • Abusive behavior by one party.
  • Drug abuse or addiction by one party.
  • The female spouse getting pregnant by another man.
  • Abandoned the spouse and does not provide despite having the ability.

    Property Division Law

    Tennessee is an equitable distribution state. It means that the judge will agree to the marital properties distributed fairly between the soon to be ex-spouses. The term marital properties represent the assets, estates, and all properties acquired after and during the marriage. This will also include the growth of the business that was established before the marriage.

    That is, if one spouse had a business worth $1000 before marriage, and then it grew to be $3000 during the marriage, and the time of divorce, then $2000 of it is marital property.

  • The courts take several factors into consideration while deciding what is fair for each party.
  • Total Marriage time.
  • Ages of each party.
  • Current and the future earning probability of each party.
  • Debts, liabilities, and financial needs of each.
  • Contributions, Sacrifices of each party in acquiring the assets.

    Cost of Legal Proceedings

  • The highest cost for divorces is the lawyers’ fee. Now, this fee varies on many factors and situations. However, usually, the average hourly prices in Tennessee are within $230-$280, and the total lawyers’ fees amount to around $9,700-$11,700.
  • An uncontested divorce costs around $3,500-$4,200 in total. If the divorce goes to trial, then the total lawyers’ fees can be from $12,000 to as high as $20,000. You may also need the help of other experts like financial analysts. The non-lawyer costs are around $1,600, usually.