The First Step in Divorce
August 26, 2023
Divorce is an unfortunate but sometimes necessary legal proceeding. Choosing the right divorce attorney is critical for you to not only protect yourself but also achieve the best possible outcome. Your lawyer will be fighting for you, your custody rights if you have children, your assets, and the amount of financial support you’ll owe or will receive depending on the case.
The first step you should take is to seek advice. If you know anyone who has been through a divorce, ask them about their lawyer. You probably know someone who has been through it. Ask them what they liked about their attorney and what they didn’t. Ask them how they came to choose their attorney.
Once you have input and hopefully a list of possible divorce lawyers from colleagues and friends, it’s time to do research. If the lawyers on your list have websites, visit each one of them. Look for testimonials to see if others were satisfied. Look for online reviews. Do as much research on your list of attorneys as you can. You’ll most likely begin to narrow that list down as you get a feel for each lawyer on the list and if you like them or not.
Once your list is narrowed down, you should move on to consultations. Call the law offices of each attorney on your narrowed-down list and schedule a consultation. Understanding how much your divorce can cost you in Tennessee is critical. Ask your attorney about no-fault divorce in Tennessee, legal separation in Tennessee, father’s rights in Tennessee, Tennessee divorce laws for adultery, annulment time limits, or other specific divorce-related questions. Make your list of questions and contact your Lebanon TN lawyer today.
Before you attend the consultations, you need to prepare. You should outline the history of your marriage, any complexities you think might come up during your divorce, and what your ultimate outcome goal is. Are you after money? Are you seeking to minimize losses? Do you want full custody of your children? Do you seek certain assets? Are you trying to protect certain assets? What is the cost of an uncontested divorce? What is a default divorce in Tennessee? How do I file for separation in Tennessee? Is alimony taxable? What is the no-fault divorce law in Tennessee? What are Tennessee divorce laws regarding adultery? What is the cost of a divorce in Tennessee without a lawyer? These are important questions, and you should seek clarity during your divorce consultation. Seek the best family practice lawyer near you with experience in divorce, alimonies, annulments, and other areas of Tennessee family law.
After you’ve been to multiple divorce lawyers’ consultations, you should know the TN divorce attorney you’d like to hire. At Hagar and Phillips, we handle divorce and family law as one of our specialties. You can call us at 615-784-4588. Once you hire a lawyer, the first phase of your divorce case is complete; unfortunately, this is usually the smoothest part.
There are two options for the next phase. The court case begins, or you enter divorce mediation with your spouse. In some states, mediation is required before the divorce is seen before a court.
Family Mediation is a good way to avoid the expenses of court cases. Typically both parties sit down with an independent third party who helps mediate a deal between the two divorcing parties. Family Mediation covers all topics, from the dividing of assets to child custody or visitation. If a deal can be agreed upon, a legally binding agreement is written and signed by both parties. This document can be upheld by the courts. If an agreement cannot be met, then the case goes before a court.
If you are going through a divorce, contact the Lebanon TN Divorce lawyer team at Hagar and Phillips to discuss your legal options. You may have questions about your divorce or annulment in TN. We support all regions of Middle Tennessee, including Lebanon, Gallatin, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Watertown, Spring Hill, Mt. Juliet, Cookeville, Crossville, Jackson, TN, and many more of our great local MTN cities. Call today. Use our Tennessee Divorce Lawyers Contact Form or call 615-784-4588. Please feel free to call if you need directions to Lebanon, Tennessee.
