Divorce is a part of life in this country. A divorce may be necessary to clear away a problem that blocks you from leading a better life. The biggest divorce I know of was when our country divorced itself from England in 1776. Divorce is not pleasant. Some divorces are more unpleasant than others. While I have lectured and worked with lawyers in many states, I am a Tennessee lawyer. I wrote this for my clients who are mostly Tennessee residents.

This website is taken from the book I give my clients. It describes many things; some will apply in your case and some will not. However, knowing those that apply will help you avoid some problems and deal better with others. It does not and cannot cover all of the issues, laws, or rules involved.

This website summarizes the law, as I understood it, when I last updated this booklet (June 2006). The law is always subject to amendment by the legislature, to reinterpretation by the courts, to different application by different judges, and to factual variation from case to case. Before acting on what you have read, talk to a lawyer in your area first—that is why they are there.

This webpage is part of -
The Complete Guide to Divorce Practice, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd editions
also written by Larry Rice.
It is reproduced by permission of
the copyright holder, the American Bar Association.

- Divorce - Prenuptial or Antenuptial Agreements - Grounds - Legal Separation - Annulment - Residence Requirements - Filing - Discovery - Separation and Reconciliation - Domestic Abuse and Violence - Injunctions and Protective Orders - Contempt - Property Division - Debts - Credit - Life Insurance - Bankruptcy - Taxes

- Alimony - Medical Insurance - Children - Custody - Visitation - Parental Kidnapping - Child Support - Records - Temporary Relief - Change of Wife's Name - Telephone - AIDS and Other Medical Issues - Dating - Snooping - Family - One Attorney for Both of You - Keeping You Informed - Cooperation - Cost and Expenses

- Attorney's Fee - Marital Dissolution Agreement - Negotiations - Mediation - Waiting Period - Uncontested Divorce - Facts - Evidence - Witnesses - Trial - Final Decree - Remarriage - Changes - Wills - Social Security - Worry - Emotions - Outcome - Conclusion

Appendices

The following are some of the statutes or forms previously mentioned.

As you are reading, you may notice that the outlining in the statutes fails to follow the proper form for outlining. This is, however, the actual outlining by the Legislature and is one of the many excuses for why the law is so confusing.

Please feel free to follow the links below. For your convenience, these sections will open in a new window:

Laws	Forms	Other
Grounds	Private Investigator	Publications (by Larry Rice)
Alimony	Divorce Incidence Report	Deposition
Custody	Expense & Income Statement
Parenting Plan	Support Account Sheet
Parental Relocation	Parenting Plan Form
Child Support Guidelines	Tennessee Child Support (Worksheet)
Child Support Chart	Tennessee Child Support (Calculator)
Property Division	Parenting Plan
Income Shares Guidelines

 

In order to view these files, you will need to install this free reader from Adobe.

WARNING

This webpage is not a substitute for a lawyer. Do not try to use this webpage as a do-it-yourself divorce guide. The information it contains may not be appropriate for your particular situation. If you attempt to use the information in this webpage instead of hiring a lawyer, you are setting yourself up for a potential disaster of epic proportions.