A Shelby County, Tennessee, divorce lawyer from Rice Law is here to help spouses and their families through each phase of their divorce. As you walk through our doors, you’ll understand that we are a law firm dedicated to helping families throughout Tennessee during these emotionally draining times. We promise that you are not alone. Contact Rice Law today to learn more about the divorce process and how our firm can help you.
Divorce Lawyer Serving Shelby County, Tennessee | Helping Families Through Tough Times
Divorce has become a part of life in this country. It may be necessary to clear away a problem that blocks you from leading a better life. The biggest divorce we know of was when our country divorced itself from England in 1776. Divorce is neither pleasant nor easy, and some are more unpleasant than others.
Our website describes many aspects of divorce; some will apply to you, and some will not. However, understanding which aspects apply to your case will help you avoid and prepare you for dealing with upcoming problems. Rice Law is an award-winning legal team, and we are on your side. With over 75 years of combined legal experience, we are prepared to walk you through each phase of the divorce process and look out for your best interests every step of the way.
Our Legal Services
At Rice Divorce Law, we can provide sound legal counsel in cases involving all aspects of divorce, including the following:
- Alimony
- Business Valuation
- Divorce Depositions
- Divorce Grounds
- High Net Worth Divorce
- Military Divorce
- Property Division
- Uncontested Divorce
- Divorce Mediation
Valid Reasons for Divorce in Tennessee
You may file for divorce based on either fault-based or no-fault-based divorce. For a no-fault divorce, you would only need to claim that there are “irreconcilable differences” between the two of you. The marriage has reached a point where you can no longer continue living as a married couple. You do not need to allege that your spouse did something “wrong” that led to its demise.
Additionally, you would need to fulfill these requirements:
- You and your spouse have lived separately and apart for at least two or more years
- You have not been living as a married couple during these two years
- You do not share any minor children
- You will also need to wait at least 60 days after filing your divorce claim before the judge can issue a final decree on your divorce if you have any children under 18. If you have any further questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact Rice Law today.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Divorce in Tennessee
As you can imagine, there are various actions you can take (or not) that may drastically impact the outcome of your divorce. Just some of the most important things to keep in mind during and after your divorce are as follows:
Computers, Internet & Social Media
First, you must set up a new email account to communicate only with your new attorney. Do not communicate with your attorney on a company email or shared email account, as this could waive your attorney-client privilege. Do not send emails through your employer’s server or employer-provided devices. Make your attorney aware of your employer’s company policies, such as your employee handbook, regarding using company servers and devices.
Close all social media accounts as soon as possible, and hopefully before litigation begins. As a layperson, you may not realize how an attorney can twist information. It is far better to release information through your attorney, whether informally or through the formal discovery process.
Do not install any keystroke or monitoring software on any computers. Do not place tracking devices on anyone’s car or person. Your attorney will discuss the vehicle title with you and the possibility of legally placing a tracking device on a vehicle.
Technology Use: Passwords, Texts, & Computers
Identify all computers, tablets, and smartphones you and your spouse use. Discuss turning these devices to your attorney, primarily privately owned ones, for forensic evaluation. Make sure to identify which, if any, are owned by a company or other third party.
Let your attorney know immediately of any shared passwords or known passwords used by your spouse. Change all of your passwords immediately. Based on your computer ownership and knowledge of passwords, your attorney should know whether these electronic devices can be evaluated immediately or if you will need to request permission from the court.
Do not attempt to guess passwords. Your spouse may have told you his or her password. Do not exceed the scope of the permission that was granted to you. By way of example, let’s assume your husband gave you his Netflix password to watch movies. You can use the password to watch Netflix, but you cannot use it to access other accounts, such as Facebook.
After a discussion with your attorney, you may find that the scope of your permission allows you to access your spouse’s emails, text messages, and other messaging functions or apps. However, only review emails and messages previously opened and reviewed by your spouse. Reviewing an unopened email or message would be an interception of a communication, which creates a wiretapping issue. Reviewing previously opened emails and messages would not be an interception.
Hiring Private Investigators
Private investigators are professionals who are paid to investigate and testify. In Tennessee, they are licensed professionals. They can be the key to success or an expensive dead end. It is essential to give them all the help that you can. The more information you give them the less they have to find out and the less it will cost you. We have a list of information for private investigators in the Private Investigators Appendix.
You may be on the other end. Your spouse may have hired an investigator to follow you. If you are not doing anything wrong, do not worry. If you are, quit it.
One woman looked upon the investigators who followed her as her private security guards. She brought them snacks and told them where she was going so they would not get lost. They followed her to her grandmother’s house, which was not in a good part of town. She told them how much more secure she felt when they were with her in that neighborhood. After a few reports like this from the investigators, the husband called off the investigators, and the wife quietly picked back up with her boyfriend.
Work With the Author of the Guide to Divorce Practice
In its 25th-anniversary edition, Attorney Larry Rice wrote The Complete Guide to Divorce Practice: Forms and Procedures for Lawyers. It is considered the national standard for divorce and family lawyers throughout the United States.
Attorney Rice is a Certified Family Law Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. This is no easy achievement–he is one of two in Memphis, and here are a total of 12 in the state of Tennessee. He has received the Top 10 Attorney Award for Tennessee from the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys. Memphis Magazine has recognized him as The Face of Divorce Law for the last four years. With his guidance, Rice Law is ready to help you with your divorce case. Read more about divorce on our website, and contact us if you have any questions.
Contact a Shelby County, Tennessee Divorce Lawyer
Divorce can be scary, but with an experienced Shelby County, Tennessee, divorce lawyer on your side, it doesn’t have to be. Rice Law is dedicated to fighting for the well-being of our clients, and we are ready to put our decades of experience to work for you. We proudly serve clients in Memphis, Shelby County, and throughout Tennessee, including Tipton County, Fayette County, Bartlett, Germantown, Lakeland, and Millington. Contact Rice Law today to schedule your initial consultation with our legal team.
