Blog

If you have been arrested for a misdemeanor offense, you may be thinking that this isn't a big deal since felonies are more serious. Perhaps you are considering handle the legal matter on your own. However, a crime is a crime. The criminal justice system can be quite complex, leaving you vulnera...

Now that summer is over and Daylight Savings Time is about to end, many of us will find ourselves spending more time driving when it's dark outside. However, driving after the sun goes down presents several hazards. According to a study by the National Safety Council (NSC), the rate of traffic-a...

Under the Tennessee Code, there are numerous offenses that are categorized as sex crimes. They include but are not limited to rape, rape of a child, indecent exposure, incest, criminal sexual conduct, criminal exposure to HIV, assault with the attempt to commit rape or sexual battery, aggravated ...

Alimony is money paid by a higher-earning spouse to a lower-earning or dependent spouse during or after a legal separation or divorce. While each state has established its own laws in regards to alimony or spousal support, in Tennessee there are four types of alimony, including: 1) rehabilitative...

In some divorces, one spouse will attempt to conceal or hide assets from the other spouse to avoid sharing large assets or intentionally deflating their income to avoid paying more in alimony or child support. Whether the spouse withdraws a large sum of money from the shared bank accounts or trie...

A first-time DUI arrest can be a scary, frustrating, and confusing experience. Unfortunately, a conviction can result in harsh penalties, such as jail time, fines and license suspension. Additionally, having a DUI on your criminal record can negatively affect your employment and educational oppor...

DUI checkpoints, also known as sobriety checkpoints or roadblocks, are legal in Tennessee. These checkpoints are traffic stops set up by law enforcement to detect intoxicated drivers and deter such behavior to keep the roads safe. The checkpoint locations are determined at random and are only tem...

Although the summer months are a great opportunity for Americans to enjoy the outdoors and go on vacations such as road trips, the season is also associated with the most car accidents than any other time of the year. According to an analysis of fatal crashes between 1998 and 2014 by the Insuran...

Theft crimes all have the same essential premise: someone who commits the crime takes something from someone else without permission or authorization with the intent of depriving them of that property. However, despite this similarity there are a wide variety of theft crimes with an equally wide-...

Prostitution is the crime of exchanging sexual intercourse, sexual favors, or other sex acts for remuneration, usually in the form of money. While there's a saying that prostitution is the “world's oldest profession,” the truth of the matter is it's against the law in Tennessee, and being involve...

Every June, residents from surrounding states come to join in the festivities of Bonnaroo music and arts festival. To help you stay safe and have a fun festival experience, we've come up with 5 general tips for Bonnaroo. Tip #1: Stay Hydrated. Whether you are camping for the entire weekend or d...

With summer break approaching, it is time to start thinking about your next trip to the pool. Before you jump in, take a look at a few safety precautions for swimming this summer. Never Swim Alone. Whether or not you are an experienced swimmer, it's never wise to swim alone. If a serious accide...

Divorcing couples over the age of 50 – a trend commonly referred to as “gray divorces” – are becoming more and more common across the U.S. According to the Pew Research Center, from 1990 to 2015, the rate of gray divorces jumped from 5% to 10%. So what are real differences between normal and gray...

In the event of a divorce, grandparents may fear losing the relationships they've developed with their grandchildren. To help with this, the court recognizes a number of viable reasons to grant grandparents visitation rights. However, the process can be long and complicated. Our firm tells you wh...

In order to be successful in proving negligence in a personal injury claim, a plaintiff needs to gather as much evidence as possible. The evidence needs to prove that the defendant owed some kind of duty to the plaintiff, that the duty was breached, that the breach resulted in injury, and that th...

The basis of any personal injury claim is proof of negligence, which is conduct that falls short of reasonable standards for protecting an individual from foreseeable risks of harm. Before you start negotiating your claim, it is critical to understand how to prove all the elements which prove neg...

You've probably heard reports of crimes known as “public indecency,” but what you may not know is that this is actually an umbrella term that encompasses several different acts involving either nudity or sexual activity. These actions are usually intended to shock, arouse, or offend others throug...

If a loved one has recently passed away as a result of injuries or an accident that was no fault of their own, you may have the ability to pursue damages in the form of a wrongful death claim. On this blog, we'll answer a few of the most common questions we receive about this particular type of c...

If you've never had to appear in court before, being forced to appear before a judge can be one of the most intimidating you've ever had to experience. Many people are extremely nervous in the days leading up to this initial appointment, and our clients often ask us if there's anything they can d...

Let's face it, a divorce is never easy. Long among the numerous court dates, arguments, negotiations, and other stresses is the fact that children often feel the effects of a divorce between their parents just as much as their parents do. Because this is such a confusing and stressful time, it's ...

When you are arrested and charged with driving under the influence, you are required to adhere to a blood alcohol content test by either blood, breath, or urine, depending on what's available. Can you refuse this test? The answer is no—you are required by law to submit to this test or else you wi...

Domestic violence is a serious problem that deserves to be treated with the utmost caution and care, but there's an ugly consequence of this kind of attention: false accusations. Because of the immense social stigma that domestic violence carries, those who are accused often face massive backlash...

A study conducted by the National Safety Council estimates that slip and fall accidents happen 25,000 times a day in the United Sates. According to data, 1 in 5 emergency room visits are due to a fall; while slips, trips, and falls make up 20% of all workers' comp costs. The Occupational Safety a...

It is important to know when you can stop paying child support so that you can better plan for your financial future. Typically, child support payments stop when the child reaches the age of 18. However, in certain situations, child support payments can be extended beyond the age of 18. This tend...

An annulment and a divorce are not the same thing. In a divorce, a valid marriage is terminated by one or both spouses. An annulment means that the marriage in question was never a valid one to begin with. In Tennessee, you can have your marriage annulled if there is a legal reason that proves yo...