Reducing Life Stress, Drama, and Trauma Through Criminal Law
Family truly is everything. The bonds, memories, and lives we’ve built with those closest to us mean more than anything else.
So when that family unit comes under strain – whether from divorce or conflicts over custody, assets, or care decisions for aging parents – the sense of threat goes beyond the legal to our very stability and identities.
We know the volcanic swell of emotions and uncertainty about the future all too well. And we can tell you from hard-won experience – having an ally by your side, a Chattanooga family law attorney guiding each step with compassion and authority – can make all the difference.
Contact us today to start building the strategy, unique as your family itself, to steer through the storm into calmer seas.
Family law is a legal area that addresses and resolves all issues revolving around the family unit and domestic relationships.
When it comes to family issues, there’s a lot at stake, both emotionally and financially. That’s where an experienced family law attorney can step in and advocate for your rights.
When a marriage ends, it’s not always a simple process. Some of the most complicated divorces drag on for months or even years because the two parties can’t see eye to eye on settlement terms.
If you want to avoid the long road of a messy divorce, Chattanooga family law attorneys can help you get the most out of your settlement agreement while keeping proceedings as short as possible.
Tennessee family law mandates that divorce mediation occurs before the couple goes to trial. Exceptions are often made in cases where domestic violence has occurred.
In mediation sessions, the two parties meet with an unbiased and skilled mediator to reach a settlement agreement without going through a trial process. This is called an uncontested divorce.
A skilled divorce attorney can advocate for you throughout the mediation process to ensure you’re treated fairly and receive the settlement terms you’re entitled to receive.
Alimony can be negotiated in mediation or included in a court order in the case of a contested divorce. The purpose of alimony is to prevent one spouse from being disproportionately financially disadvantaged after a divorce.
Alimony payments are often temporary and are meant to help the spouse receiving them move toward eventual financial independence.
Marital property is typically defined as any assets acquired during the marriage.
Tennessee law does not recognize assets as marital property if they were owned before the couple was married or if they are excluded from divorce proceedings by a prenuptial agreement.
Property division can be negotiated during mediation or determined by a jury in a divorce trial.
Once a divorce decree is issued—whether it’s based on an out-of-court settlement agreement or the ruling of a trial judge—both parties are required to comply.
In some cases, you can make modifications to the divorce order after the fact, but this is only the case if either party’s circumstances have changed drastically.
Our Chattanooga family law firm can help you navigate the process for both post-judgment modifications and enforcement.
One of the most significant factors in many divorces is how and where the children will live. This makes both custody and child support orders challenging to agree on.
There are two types of child custody in Tennessee: legal and physical. Legal custody is the right to decide things like education and healthcare for the child. Physical custody refers to where the child will be living on a daily basis.
Parents can come to a child custody agreement in mediation or outside of court if possible. If no agreement can be made, a judge will decide the custody based on the child’s best interests.
Tennessee courts use an income-shares model to determine each party’s child support obligations. The established amount paid is based on the combined income of the parents, as well as how many children are being supported.
The most significant benefit of a family law attorney is that you’ll have legal experience and expertise on your side as you navigate the legal process. This ensures that your rights are protected in a complex family law matter.
Some situations that would be best faced with the help of a family lawyer include the following:
Family law matters are always a bit complex. You don’t have to do it alone if you’re overwhelmed by the prospect of going through legal proceedings.
Take the next step. Contact us.
Your next step is to meet with an attorney to learn what’s at stake, protect yourself, and move forward to a place of safety. Contact a Chattanooga family law attorney so you can find some peace on the road of legal proceedings ahead of you.
Our primary goal is to get you to a better life as quickly and painlessly as possible. We are skilled in the art of navigating the legal system to do just that. We know the recipe for success and will guide you toward it with communication and aggressive representation.
Our Intake Team Will Review The General Factors In Your Case So We Know How To Serve You Best
We Will Review Options and Set Goals Together To Step You Through This Difficult Time Into A Better Life
We Have Your Back And Will Negotiate, Advocate, And Litigate If We Must!
And Know We Are Here In Your Corner If And When You Ever Need Us. Your Peace Of Mind Is Our Passion!
I am so thankful I chose Sam Byrd to represent me in my divorce. From the very first meeting two years ago I knew that I had exactly who I needed to guide me through all the legal parts of my divorce. He has always been and continues to be honest, willing, and understanding of my
After reading some really positive reviews I came to Sam Byrd to help me in a custody matter. I was looking for someone I could trust to help me and my daughter through a very emotional and difficult process. I definitely found that with Sam and Brittany! I can’t express enough gratitude for all …
Mr. Byrd was recommended to me through a friend of a friend. I was very impressed with his office. Everyone I spoke with was extremely professional, courteous and my calls and emails were returned. At my first meeting with Mr. Byrd, I …
Sam and his office provided excellent service, demonstrating professionalism and personal attention to all details of my divorce. Sam’s attitude to the work he does, helped me to avoid emotional divorce complications and got me through it in a timely manner.
Sam Byrd was the right choice for me when I needed a defense attorney. He was available for all my questions and concerns prior to court and was committed to the best interest for my family. He took the time to get witness accounts and details which was above and beyond other …
The question we hear most often from new clients at our Chattanooga office isn’t about money...
Law Office of Sam Byrd was build on the back of aggressive, proactive legal guidance for clients who are looking for a creative and innovative attorney to get them through some of the hardest times of their lives. Often riddled with fear, anxiety, and pain, Sam and his team have been able to deliver results for people and families in desperate need of something different – instant relief through aggressive and appropriate representation.
Because you are seen as a HUMAN, not a line item on an accounting report or a case number on a court docket. We believe you deserve to be served with diligence and integrity – giving you our best through your worst times to provide the best possible experience from the beginning.
Divorce in Tennessee can cost anywhere from $300 to over $10,000. The total cost of a divorce depends on how complex your divorce will be, the outcome of divorce mediation, and whether minor children are involved.
Tennessee courts do not actively favor the mother over the father. Instead, they look at the child’s best interest when determining both legal and physical custody.
Some things a judge may consider in custody hearings are:
Keep in mind that it would violate constitutional rights for a judge to favor one gender over another when establishing custody orders.
If a mother is married at the time of a child’s birth, the mother’s husband is automatically considered to be the child’s legal father. When a child is born and the parents aren’t married, paternity needs to be established.
There are two ways to establish paternity:
Note that establishing paternity does not automatically establish custody. Once paternity is confirmed, the parents can proceed to child custody and child support hearings to establish court orders for both.
You need a second chance to get your life back on track after a regretful mistake
Your drunk driving charges are endangering your livelihood and risking the future for you and your loved ones
You’re facing the legal consequences of a rageful moment and need help getting past it – fast.
You’re struggling under the weight of snowballing and unfair domestic charges
You’re up against burglary or theft charges and need legal representation to get a fair chance
Possession or other drug-related charges are looming and you need legal help to reduce their impact on your life
Your child is facing charges for unwise decisions whose consequences could disproportionately threaten their education, their employment, and their future
You’re up against federal charges for fraud or embezzlement that could quickly snowball into big consequences
You’re facing charges after a violent incident, and the consequences could steal away your freedom and your safety
Over the years it has been gut-wrenching to see how better representation would have changed the lives of those charged with criminal offenses in Chattanooga. I have been in courtrooms where someone felt they had done nothing wrong so they did not get representation because they thought the facts would be enough to maintain their freedom. Although the Tennessee criminal justice process might seem straightforward, it rarely is. The law is complicated and has many small nuances that can create big impacts. Knowing how to navigate the legal system and having an experienced and aggressives criminal defense attorney on your side, and in your corner, is the difference that changes the dynamic in your criminal defense case.
Both criminal charges and drunk driving charges can sometimes be resolved by one of the following:
