Nashville Legal Separation Lawyer
Protect Your Interests and Start Your New Life
What brought you to this point isn't the issue. It's how you get divorced that matters. Whether you married too young, discovered an affair or slowly fell out of love, the legal issues are largely the same. But your choice of attorney can make a world of difference.
At the law firm of Rogers, Kamm & Shea, we understand that going through divorce may be the hardest thing you ever experience. Our role is to shift focus — from the past, from your present emotions — to securing the legal and financial foundation for your future.
Contact us today to arrange a private appointment at our relaxing law office in the Wind in the Willows Mansion in midtown Nashville. We represent women and men of Davidson, Williamson, Sumner and surrounding counties.
Highly Sought Divorce Lawyers in Middle Tennessee
Our skilled and compassionate attorneys, Helen Rogers, Larry Kamm and Siew-Ling Shea, seek an amicable resolution first but are equipped to battle for your interests in court. Ms. Rogers is a Certified Civil Trial Specialist with 30 years of experience, and has tried or mediated some of the most high-profile divorces in the Nashville area. In addition to handling cases in court and through mediation, we also are one of the few firms in Tennessee handling cases through the new process of collaborative law.
Rogers, Kamm & Shea is known for its capabilities in complex property division, particularly the valuation of closely held businesses. From music celebrities to the dentist next door, we get results in divorce mediation. We also excel in resolving high-conflict divorces in which the complexity defies easy resolution or the doors to compromise are slammed shut.
We address every aspect of dissolving a marriage:
- Fair and creative division of assets
- Workable child custody and visitation
- Appropriate alimony and child support
Contact us today at 888-521-9952 to arrange a meeting.
Also see our Divorce Information Center.
Three Paths to a Tennessee Divorce
There are three ways to end your marriage under Tennessee law:
(1) Irreconcilable Differences ("No-Fault" or Uncontested Divorce)
If you and your spouse agree on all issues (property, custody, visitation, financial support), you can be divorced in 60 days after filing, or 90 days if children are involved. We can help iron out the last details and draft or review the Marital Dissolution Agreement to protect your legal interests and avoid future disputes.
(2) Contested Divorce (Fault-Based Divorce)
If you can't reach agreement or the other party objects to a divorce, you can petition the court to rule. One party must assert grounds for divorce:
- Inappropriate marital conduct (also called "cruel, inhuman treatment")
- Adultery or drug addiction
- Abandonment and nonsupport
- Living separately (without sexual relations) for two years
If the other spouse affirms the complaint or fails to answer within 30 days, a judge will rule on the filing spouse's demands. If the spouse denies the grounds or files a counter-complaint, court dates are set and a judge will eventually rule at trial on all issues. Contested divorce typically takes a year or more.
(3) Divorce by Legal Separation
After you have lived apart for two years under an Order of Legal Separation, you can be officially divorced in short order without a trial or further "cooling off period." But the calendar starts from the date you are legally separated, not the date that you or your spouse moved out. You must show grounds for separation, and property division and child custody are determined on the front end. Our attorneys can help you hash out the details of a separation agreement, or represent you in contested hearings.
Contact a Divorce Negotiation, Mediation and Litigation Lawyer
Rogers, Kamm & Shea navigates you through the emotional, financial and legal issues of divorce. We are always accessible to answer your concerns along the way. Contact us online or call us at 615-320-0600 in Nashville or 888-521-9952 to schedule an appointment. We also have an office in Franklin.
