Facts: As part of his divorce settlement, Father agreed to pay for Children’s college expenses. Son went to DePaul University in Chicago. Daughter declined a…
This is the case that will not die. It went from the trial court up to the Court of Appeals then up to the Supreme…
Facts: While cohabitating with Appellant, Mother gave birth to Child, and shortly thereafter, Appellant acknowledged paternity in a Consent Order in Juvenile Court. Several years…
Facts: The Court of Appeals summarized the relevant facts as follows: In June 2008, Mother became pregnant with the Child. Several months before the Child…
Facts: Parents had equal parenting time with Child. Trial court found “joint custody did not work for the parties and they did not communicate, and…
Recent news of the separation of Al and Tipper Gore after more than 40 years of marriage has drawn attention to a modern sociological trend…
Facts: During the divorce litigation, Mother temporarily had primary residential custody of Child in Tennessee. Father, a veterinarian in Missouri, had regular visitation. Mother…
Facts: Parties entered into Marital Dissolution Agreement that was approved by the court. Several weeks later, Husband changed his mind and filed a petition to…
The recent case of Matthews v. Matthews illustrates an example of when obtaining a formal legal separation would have made sense. Facts: Husband had a…
According to the Annual Report of the Tennessee Judiciary, Tennessee trial courts disposed of 298,107 cases from July 2008 through June 2009. Of those, 60,320,…
Facts: Husband owned the marital residence prior to the marriage. During the three-year marriage, three mortgage payments were made from parties’ joint account before Husband…
In order to modify a parenting plan, a parent must first prove a material change of circumstances affecting the child that was not reasonably foreseeable…
Facts: Mother filed for divorce in 2003 but dismissed that action after the parties reconciled in 2005. In 2006, Mother was arrested for prostitution. Father…
Facts: Parties were married 12 years but separated after seven. While parties were together, Wife contributed as a homemaker, stepparent, and was supportive of Husband’s…
As the recent decision in State ex rel. Rickard v. Holt explains, the answer is “no.” Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-5-501(a)(1) provides, in pertinent part:…