Franklin Family Law Attorney
Do you need trusted legal counsel for all your family matters in Franklin? Fort, Holloway & Saylor is ready to help you navigate divorce, high-asset divorce, child custody, adoption or property division. Trust our Franklin family law attorney for family mediation, trials and appeals.
Comprehensive Family Law Services in Franklin, Tennessee
Our experience in family law gives you the peace of mind you deserve, even as you navigate difficult family matters. We collaborate with you, whether it’s settling costly disputes or taking the case all the way to trial. We can represent you in negotiations or litigation and make sure your rights and interests are protected in any type of proceeding.
Choose us to handle your family law matters in Franklin, TN, including:
- Alimony
- Child custody
- Child support
- Divorce
- Divorce enforcement
- Family appeals
- Family law mediation
- Family relocation
- High-asset divorce
- Property division
- Paternity
- Prenuptial agreements
- Post-divorce modifications
Are There Alternatives to Divorce?
Sometimes one or both spouses know the marriage isn’t working, but they feel the need to stay together because their religion disapproves of or disallows divorce. Others believe the economic benefits of staying married (health insurance, single household, tax filing) outweigh the benefits of divorce. Still others hold out the hope for reconciliation and do not want to take the final step of ending a marriage that might yet be saved.
We understand divorce isn’t the only path forward. Outside of pursuing legal services from Fort, Holloway & Saylor, you can discover alternative options to divorce to protect your family and achieve the peace of mind you deserve:
- Meditation: You can work with a neutral third party to revisit your relationship, identify issues and reach mutual agreements on aspects like parenting, property division and finances. Meditation is often a faster and less expensive divorce method compared to bringing your matter to court.
- Counseling: Get help from a licensed therapist to improve communication and resolve conflict. Marriage counseling clarifies your relationship dynamics so you can make a better decision about whether to stay together or separate.
- Legal separation: You can obtain a decree of legal separation or separate maintenance that allows you to live apart while remaining legally married. The parties can draw up a separation agreement, and the court can make enforceable orders regarding child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support and property issues. Having these matters addressed by the court enables the couple to live apart for as long as necessary without dissolving the bonds of matrimony. After two years of living apart, a legal separation can be converted to an absolute divorce if the parties so desire.
A claim for legal separation or separate maintenance can be contested and decided in a hearing. In some cases, the judge has discretion whether to grant a divorce or legal separation when the parties are asking for different things.
Is Annulment an Option?
Tennessee law does recognize annulment, but only in limited circumstances. Instead of dissolving a legal marriage as divorce does, an annulment is an official declaration that a marriage was never valid or legal to begin with. Annulment is therefore only available in situations that would render the marriage voidable or void. These reasons include:
- One party was still legally married to another person at the time of the marriage
- The parties are too closely related to one another to legally marry under Tennessee law
- One (or both) of the spouses was below the legal age to marry in Tennessee
- One of the parties is impotent or infertile, which the other party did not know at the time of the marriage
- One of the parties refuses to have sexual relations or live with the other party
- A party was tricked or defrauded into marriage
- A party was coerced into marriage under duress
- A spouse was insane or lacked the mental capacity to understand the nature of marriage at the time
In some cases, parties to a voidable marriage might give up the right to seek an annulment if they continue to stay married after learning of the disabling condition. It is important to seek an annulment as soon as possible if you believe an annulment is in your best interest. Issues such as the division of property, payment of alimony, child custody and child support can all be decided by the judge when granting the annulment.
How Can a Non-Working Spouse Afford to Get Divorced?
In many relationships, one partner earns the income while the other manages the household or raises the children. Non-working spouses often feel they are in a precarious economic position and may be trapped in a marriage that isn’t working out for them. It’s important to know that marital funds can be used to pay your attorney’s fees, and you are entitled to spend these marital funds regardless of whether you specifically earned them or not.
Our Franklin family attorneys can make sure the judge enters temporary orders as soon as the divorce is filed, so you can receive support while the divorce is pending. Other matters, such as the property division and alimony, can help ensure you are adequately supported as you transition to single life. You needn’t let the issue of paying for a divorce stop you from getting out of an unhappy marriage.
When Should You Hire a Family Lawyer?
Our family lawyers offer legal guidance for those going through challenging family situations. We bring our experience and empathy to protect your best interests.
Here are some signs you need legal guidance:
- Dealing with challenging family property division
- Facing disputes over spousal support
- Negotiating fair custody agreements
- Handling post-divorce requests
- Drafting prenuptial agreements
- Presenting evidence in court
- Seeking legal remedies
Choosing the Right Family Law Attorney in Franklin, TN
Divorce, legal separation and child custody are all challenging matters with far-reaching consequences. At Fort, Holloway & Saylor, we make every effort to make the process more manageable and less stressful. You can count on our family law lawyer in Franklin to meet your needs through our:
- Extensive experience: Our family law attorneys in Franklin have a solid background in handling a wide range of cases, from divorce to alimony and child custody. We can work on complicated issues, whether dividing financial assets or modifying support orders.
- Local support: We’ve been serving families in Franklin and Williamson County for many years, helping them navigate uncertain times in their marriages and family matters. We tailor legal strategies to the unique needs of every family we represent and ensure the best interests of our clients.
- Supportive approach: Our trusted legal representatives understand the impact of family law cases on you and your children. We treat your case with the utmost respect and transparency. You’re not just another case number.
Schedule a Confidential Consultation Today
When your family is going through big changes, we know you need the right family law attorney to guide you through the legal challenges. Choose Fort, Holloway & Saylor for trusted legal representation and objective advice related to divorce, paternity or any family issues you have in Franklin or Williamson County. Our team is ready to address your needs with honesty, integrity, skill and dedication. Call us at 931-901-2300 or contact us online to discuss your family matters.