Select a city or county to find Tennessee Divorce lawyers near you
1922 Exeter Road, Germantown, TN 38138
625 Market Street, Suite 700, Knoxville, TN 37902
809 Market St., Chattanooga, TN 37402
800 South Gay Street, Suite 1650, First Tennessee Plaza, Knoxville, TN 37929
2205 State Street, Nashville, TN 37203
810 Broadway, Suite 305, Nashville, TN 37203
6223 Airpark Drive, Ste. 105, Chattanooga, TN 37421
231 Public Square, Suite 300, Franklin, TN 37064
400 Sugartree Ln., Ste. 520, Franklin, TN 37064
222 2nd Avenue South, Suite 1700, Nashville, TN 37201
551 East Spring St., Cookeville, TN 38501
112 Glenleigh Court, Suite 1, Knoxville, TN 37934
530 Oak Court Drive, Suite 360, Memphis, TN 38117
5958 Snow Hill Rd, Ste 144-171, Ooltewah, TN 37363
211 Donelson Pike, Ste 204, Nashville, TN 37214
A legal separation is a court order that mandates the legal rights and duties of a married couple while they are living apart. A divorce is the legal end of a marriage. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. There are many things to consider when contemplating legal separation vs. a divorce, including:
The divorce process can vary, according to the state you live in and the specific circumstances for seeking a divorce. Some general steps that are commonly included in the divorce process are:
The legal theory underlying annulment is that the marriage was never valid to begin with, meaning that the marriage never existed in the eyes of the law. In legal terms, marriages subject to annulment are classified as "void" or "voidable," and are sometimes called "nullified" marriages. Annulment is distinct from divorce in that a divorce terminates a previously valid marriage.
There are several legal implications individuals should examine when considering divorce. While state laws and individual circumstances vary, common areas to be aware of are:
FindLaw's Lawyer Directory is the largest online directory of attorneys. Browse more than one million listings, covering everything from criminal defense to personal injury to estate planning.
Detailed law firm profiles have information like the firm's area of law, office location, office hours, and payment options. Attorney profiles include the biography, education and training, and client recommendations of an attorney to help you decide who to hire.
Use the contact form on the profiles to connect with a Tennessee attorney for legal advice.
A no-fault divorce allows a court to enter a divorce decree without one party having to legally prove the other party did something wrong in the marriage. Instead, one spouse may simply allege that the marriage has broken down and there's no reasonable hope it can be preserved, and a divorce can be granted with or without the other spouse's consent. Every state in the United States, including Tennessee allow "no-fault" divorce, though the requirements to apply for and obtain such a divorce can vary by jurisdiction.
Though divorce is quite common, those who are filing for divorce for the first time may not be familiar with the process.
The first step in divorce proceedings is for one spouse to file the divorce petition, the contents of which — as well as the general eligibility to file in the first place — may be dictated at the state level. Broadly speaking, the divorce petition must contain an affirmation that the filing spouse is eligible to make a legal divorce petition, the grounds for the divorce and any other particulars required by each jurisdiction.
Next is requesting any temporary orders concerning custody (legal or physical) and any necessary economic or housing support that is applicable during the divorce proceedings. Status quo orders concerning payments of financial support monies, property restraining orders protecting a shared estate from being looted by one partner or another prior to the split, and other such temporary orders may be requested by the filing spouse and judged in court.
The filing spouse must serve papers to the receiving spouse, along with proof of having done so. Once that's happened, it is the receiving spouse's responsibility to respond, including any disputes (particularly in the case of a fault divorce, versus a no-fault divorce) within a timely manner.
Any negotiations or settlements that can be laid to rest before a trial are then typically worked out, particularly when both sides have retained legal counsel. A trial ensues over the remainder of the disputed items if necessary, and then a judgment is rendered.
Make informed decisions with useful legal information.
Learn About the Law articles clearly explain what you need to know about a wide variety of legal issues. You'll also find answers to common legal questions and case summaries to explore.
Read about choosing and retaining legal help with FindLaw's Guide to Hiring a Lawyer.
Our Guide to the U.S. Legal System explains legal basics including federal and state court systems.
Browse options in our legal directory of over 1M firms
Enter information in one or both fields. (Required)