Takes Care Of Your Case, From Start To Finish
We are a group of family law attorneys who can guide you through the legal process of a divorce. As a client-focused firm, we take into account your family’s unique circumstances and concerns to help develop a strategy that will best serve all parties involved. Legal issues are extremely time-sensitive. A lawyer can help you file the appropriate claims in a timely manner to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Our family law services include:
Property and debt division can be one of the most stressful areas of divorce. Let our team take care of the litigation for you. Tennessee is an equitable distribution state. Because any property you shared with your former spouse will be split according to what a judge considers fair rather than down the middle, a lawyer can help you get a just settlement.
Because of high tensions and emotions, it can be difficult to make arrangements with your former spouse after the dissolution of your marriage. A lawyer can help you arrange spousal support and alimony that accurately reflects your circumstances and meets both of your goals.
We can ease the burden that the divorce will have on your child by helping you file petitions for child support, child custody, and visitation rights. We help parents complete and file the Parenting Plan required by the state of Tennessee. If you are in disagreement with your former spouse or have a particularly complex plan, hiring a lawyer is essential.
Even though parenting is a fundamental right under the U.S. Constitution, fathers often face challenges and seek fair custody rights for their children. Our law firm understands the tactics that are used to portray fathers as less than fit to parent, and we know how to fight back against those misrepresentations and falsehoods.
Fathers can receive primary or 50-50 custody of their children with our help. Even when fathers are fully capable and willing to parent, outdated stereotypes can work against them in family court when those fathers do not have strong legal representation. Our firm is committed to ensuring that fathers have a fair opportunity to secure meaningful custody arrangements that prioritize the best interests of their children.
If your circumstances change post-divorce or your former spouse is not adhering to the Parenting Plan that was established, we can represent you during contempt proceedings to ensure that your child’s best interests are protected.
While the procedure involved in divorce is the same for service members as civilians, there are many distinctions and issues that may arise in a divorce action involving a service member that differ from divorces between civilians.
Often times the issue of supporting a service member’s dependents becomes an immediate and sometimes contradictory issue. Service members are subject to not only state law, but military regulations when it comes to providing support to their dependents. It is important for both service members and their spouses to be represented by an attorney who understands their rights and responsibilities and can assist their client in using the applicable regulations to their advantage.
Additionally, many service members are required to deploy overseas and/or be temporarily stationed away from home for training, as well as change duty stations periodically. Because of the irregularities in a soldier’s schedule and the unique nature of their employment, traditional Parenting Plans don’t always work and are not ideal for service members and their families. It is important to work with an attorney who regularly deals with service members and can suggest alternatives to a “cookie cutter” Parenting Plan.
Division of military retirement is another complicated issue that must be addressed properly to ensure that your rights are protected. The attorneys at Mathis, Bates, and Klinghard, PLLC service soldiers and their spouses in both Tennessee and Kentucky and have an intricate familiarity with both the military and civilian aspects of divorce and custody matters.
If you and your spouse are facing insurmountable debt, our firm can also help you determine if filing for bankruptcy would be more prudent before or after the divorce.
Not all final orders are final. Sometimes, modifying a judge’s final order is appropriate and necessary. One example would be when one parent is no longer able to work. In that case, reducing the amount of child support that parents are required to pay would be reasonable.
In other cases, child custody modifications may be needed to reflect the changing life circumstances of one or both parents. When one parent moves across the state or out of state, they may no longer be able to maintain their visitation schedule. Parents who abandon or neglect their child may have their visitation rights restricted. Our law firm can handle the court filings necessary to begin the modification process while keeping you updated on the progress.
A: The cost of a divorce in Tennessee depends in part on the complexity of the divorce and the degree to which both parties are willing to work together to come to agreements on the division of the marital estate and other important matters. Even a relatively simple, uncontested divorce can require payments for court fees and attorney fees.
A: An uncontested divorce can be less costly than a contested one. If both parties are willing to agree to the terms of the divorce, the cost of an agreed divorce could include court filing fees and the cost of hiring an attorney to draft and file the divorce paperwork. This streamlined process often results in faster resolution, saving both time and money for the divorcing couple.
A: Working with an attorney who is familiar with family law may be ideal if you are going through a divorce or anything dealing with domestic relations. Family law is just one of many areas of law that an attorney can practice. While some types of law are related, family law is unique and shares little in common with criminal law.
A: The most economical means of settling your divorce is by hiring a family law attorney who understands the state’s family court laws and is familiar with your country’s court system. Clients who hire inexperienced attorneys risk unnecessary delays that can prove to be financially costly. Prior planning can also reduce the cost of a divorce by calculating the value of the marital estate and other important matters.
Our legal support and representation do not end when your divorce is resolved in a settlement or in a trial. Our team can also assist with future legal matters in the event that your current arrangements no longer meet your needs.
During a divorce, you do not have to feel alone. An attorney can take care of the legal matters so that you can focus on your family. Schedule a consultation online or call Mathis, Bates & Klinghard PLLC at (931) 919-5060 to learn more.