Franklin Divorce Lawyers

If you’re thinking about filing for divorce in Franklin, Tennessee, the divorce lawyers at Widrig Law, PLLC are here to help. Divorce can be a difficult time, and while it might be tempting to want to file for divorce on your own, the decisions you make during your divorce can impact your financial life for years to come. You only get one chance to get your divorce right, and without proper legal guidance you could end up leaving property, assets, and even alimony on the table. Reach out to the divorce lawyers in Franklin, Tennessee at Widrig Law, PLLC today to learn more about your rights and to take the next steps.

How Do I File for Divorce in Franklin, Tennessee?

To file for divorce in Franklin, Tennessee, you’ll first need to meet Tennessee residency requirements. Under Tennessee law, to be considered a resident, you or your spouse must have lived in Tennessee for at least six months prior to filing for divorce, or the grounds for divorce must have taken place in Tennessee.

In Tennessee, there are several “grounds for divorce.” The primary “no fault” way to file for divorce in Tennessee is to cite “irreconcilable differences.” But there are also other fault-based grounds for divorce in Tennessee. These include:

• The right to annul the marriage because your spouse was married to someone else when you got married
• Impotency
• Adultery (cheating)
• Desertion
• Conviction of certain crimes or a felony with a jail sentence
• Your spouse attempted to murder you
• Your spouse got another person pregnant
• Your spouse started abusing drugs or alcohol after you got married.
• Cruel or inhumane treatment.
• Your spouse made you feel unsafe.
• If you do not have a child or children with your spouse and your spouse has chosen to live apart from you, or didn’t live with you for at least two years.

To file for divorce, you’ll need to properly fill out all divorce paperwork, cite your grounds for divorce, and file the paperwork with the courts. After you file for divorce, you’ll need to serve (give the papers) to your spouse. There are specific court requirements for how divorce paperwork must be formally served.

A divorce lawyer in Franklin, Tennessee at Widrig Law, PLLC can help you with the process of filing for divorce. Our divorce attorneys can help you properly serve your spouse the divorce paperwork and help you fill out the divorce paperwork. When filing for divorce, it’s important to ask for everything you want. If you want alimony, you’ll request it when you file for divorce. You’ll also propose how you’ll like to divide assets and debts. If you have minor children, you’ll include a parenting plan with your proposed custody plan. A divorce lawyer in Franklin, Tennessee at Widrig Law, PLLC can help you understand your rights and help you ask for what you may be entitled to receive in your divorce. If you have received divorce paperwork, you may only have a limited time to respond. The divorce lawyers at Widrig Law, PLLC in Franklin, Tennessee are here to help.

How Do the Courts in Tennessee Divide Property and Debts in Divorce?

Under Tennessee law, marital property is divided equitably. This doesn’t always mean equally. The courts will consider various factors when dividing property, including each spouse’s financial situation, earning capacity, and contributions to the marriage, among other things. Contributions can include raising children or supporting a partner through school or in their career. It can include making personal investments in a partner’s business or when a couple builds a business together.

One of the first steps your divorce lawyer will take when determining how to divide property and debts will be to distinguish between what is separate and marital property. Separate property is generally any property you owned before you were married or any separately held debts. Marital property is generally any money made while you were married or any property purchased while you were married, though the courts may also look at each partner’s individual contribution to marital property purchased or acquired during the marriage. Certain things can make it difficult to distinguish between marital and separate property. For example, sometimes couples might put their money in a shared bank account or invest separate money in a shared business venture. A divorce lawyer can review your situation and offer guidance on the next steps when it comes to dividing property and debts. The courts will also assess how to divide debts, based on who got into the debt, who benefitted from the debt, and who is able to pay the marital debt. 

Many factors can go into determining how debts and assets will be divided, and sometimes assets and debts aren’t divided 50-50. This might be true in a case where one partner has a higher earning capacity than the other or a situation where one partner has more independent wealth than the other. A divorce lawyer in Franklin, Tennessee at Widrig Law, PLLC can help you navigate these difficult questions. Our family lawyers in Franklin, Tennessee at Widrig Law, PLLC can review your situation, help you explore options for dividing assets and debts, and help you take the next steps.

What Are Some Other Things That Must Be Considered When Filing for Divorce in Tennessee?

One of the major decisions most couples will need to address when filing for divorce in Franklin, Tennessee is how to divide property. But if you have minor children, you may also need to make parenting time or “custody” decisions. And if you are leaving a violent or abusive relationship, you may want to take additional steps to protect your safety. The times when a person is in most danger of increasing violence is when leaving an abusive relationship. It’s important to have a safety plan in place. The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers free resources to individuals in this situation. A family lawyer in Franklin, Tennessee can help you take steps and help you seek a restraining order or sole custody.

In some situations, when filing for divorce, you’ll need to consider whether you’ll ask for alimony. Alimony is rarely permanently awarded; meaning until your death and is usually temporary or for a set duration. Some alimony is modifiable but other forms of alimony are non-modifiable. Yet, a family law attorney in Franklin, Tennessee at Widrig Law, PLLC can review your situation and help you take steps to secure your financial future.

If you’re getting divorced in Franklin, Tennessee, you might have many questions. The divorce lawyers in Franklin, Tennessee at Widrig Law, PLLC are here to help you. We can answer your questions and help you take the next steps. Reach out to our Franklin, Tennessee family lawyers at Widrig Law, PLLC today.

Contact a Family Lawyer in Franklin, Tennessee Today

The family lawyers in Franklin, Tennessee at Widrig Law, PLLC are here to help you navigate all aspects of your divorce. Whether you need assistance with dividing assets and debts, or need help seeking alimony or fighting for custody, our family lawyers are here to stand by your side. We work for you to help you reach the best possible divorce settlement for you and your children.