Murfreesboro Family Law Attorneys

Helping Tennessee Families Navigate Complex Legal Issues

Family matters require an immense amount of care, patience, and discretion when the law is involved. At Santel | Garner, our Murfreesboro, TN family law attorneys are thorough, dedicated, and discreet. We will use our decades of legal experience in the field of family law to help you navigate difficult legal situations such as divorce with ease. Our family law team understands that such situations can be emotionally fraught and taxing, so we will do our best to navigate your case in a manner that makes you feel comfortable and produces favorable results for you and your loved ones.

Call (615) 987-0268 or contact us using our online intake form to speak with an experienced attorney about your case. All legal consultations are confidential and come with no obligation. Hablamos Español.

What Is Family Law?

Family law is a civil legal field that handles family matters and domestic relations that pertain to state, federal, and international law. At Santel | Garner, our Murfreesboro family law practice focuses primarily on Tennessee divorce and the many legal issues that come with it, such as separation, child custody, alimony, the division of assets, and more.

Our legal team can assist you with family law matters such as:

• Divorce
• Child custody
• Spousal support
• Parenting plans
• Adoption
• Marriage licenses
• Mediation
• And more

We will do our best to resolve your family law issue or refer you to another great local firm that can help in the event we cannot take your case. Just give us a call to discuss your situation during a no-obligation consultation and we will be happy to help!

Important Family Related Laws in Tennessee

Tennessee Code Title 36, known as “Domestic Relations,” dictates family legal matters in the state. The statutes cover topics such as paternity, divorce, and adoption. Our legal team is well versed in these statutes and can help you determine how they relate to your case.

For example, Tennessee law presumes that any child born to a heterosexual married couple biologically belongs to the man in the relationship. So, what happens if a straight couple has a child outside of marriage? An unmarried father must legally establish paternity before being granted custody of the child. This can be done through a court order, which can be entered either from an agreement between the mother and father or through a complaint to establish parentage.

When it comes to divorce, Tennessee child custody laws focus primarily on the child’s (or children’s) wellbeing and wishes when it comes to making such decisions. The state allows for joint custody between parents as well as grandparents' visitation rights. If the child’s parents cannot come to an agreement regarding custody, Tennessee family courts have the authority to decide who gets custody.

Recent changes to Tennessee law include:

• Contracts between adoptive parents, biological parents, and adopted children of at least 14 years of age have been made available that govern visitation, contact, and sharing information.
• When a minor child is scheduled to live with both of their divorced parents equally, the parents may agree to “a designation as joint primary residential parents or to waive the designation of a primary residential parent.”
• Also when a minor child is scheduled to reside equally with both parents, the address of either guardian may be used to determine school zoning.
• The state now requires residents to be at least 17 years of age to get married. Previously, 16-year-olds could get married with a parent’s consent.

How an Attorney Can Help Resolve Your Family Matter

When you are going through a divorce or other family law conflict, it can cause an immense amount of stress and frustration, as well as a host of other emotions. We understand the toll such events can take on a person, so we take family matters seriously here at Santel | Garner. When you choose us, we will do our best to ensure that you make it through the necessary legal processes as painlessly and victoriously as possible. Our team will be by your side every step of the way and we are willing to take client calls at all hours. We are never too busy for you.

Don’t hesitate to get the legal help you need. Contact our Murfreesboro, TN family law attorney to set up your confidential consultation today!