Family Law
I offer quality legal representation to persons needing a lawyer for either
a contested or uncontested divorce, post-divorce hearings involving child
custody support, or a contested or uncontested (step parent) adoption.
Additionally, I represent juveniles charged with either delinquent or unruly
acts and families facing dependency and neglect charges in all counties except
Blount (where I serve as Juvenile Court Referee and therefore cannot serve as
a lawyer).
The cost of handling family law cases is dependent upon the amount of time
that it will involve. This is determined by the parties, the complexity
of the issue and the experience of the attorney handling the
matter.
I handle both contested and uncontested divorces. Usually, the
parties are in agreement that a divorce is inevitable. The hard part is
setting up a plan for co-parenting minor children, and equitably dividing the
parties' assets and debts. While I try to assist my clients in
reaching an amicable settlement of these issues, I am willing to try any case
and allow the judge to determine the issue(s).
Unfortunately, sometimes after a divorce one of the parties' fail to live
up to their obligations to either provide financial support or to help parent
their child(ren). When this occurs it is important for the aggrieved
party to seek the assistance of an attorney as soon as possible.
Handling adoptions is one of the most satisfying experiences I have.
Sometimes a step-parent desires to adopt a child for whom they have been a de
facto parent. If all parties are in agreement this can often be done
very quickly. Sometimes people who are providing care for a child have
to fight the birth parents to terminate their parental rights and to adopt the
child. Other times, a birth mother and father recognize that another person or
persons can best parent their child. In any event, it is essential to
have an attorney who recognizes the complexity of adoptions.
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