Paternity & Visitation

Paternity Laws

Did you know that simply being at the hospital and signing a birth certificate may not establish paternity? Paternity must often be established through the court if the child is born out of wedlock. It's crucial for the father, mother, and child(ren) to establish paternity to claim child custody and child support obligations and enforce the father's role in the child's life. Without establishing paternity, a mother is presumed to have primary custody, leaving the father with no way to enforce parental rights without a court order. Contact us today for a consultation to secure parental rights or enforce paternal obligations for your family's support.

Alimony and Spousal Support

In Tennessee, alimony is not automatically granted in a divorce and depends on several factors, including:

• Income disparity between spouses
• Length of the marriage
• Earning capacity of each party
• Age and health of each party
• Lifestyle to which each party is accustomed

With her legal and financial expertise, Attorney Larkins helps you negotiate reasonable and dependable spousal support. She assists in identifying and evaluating income sources to establish fair alimony payments, including the amount, duration, and frequency.

State of Tennessee Spousal Support Orders

Tennessee recognizes three types of alimony:

• Short-term Alimony: Established for a period to transition from two incomes to one.
• Long-term Spousal Support: Granted in limited situations where the receiving party cannot support themselves due to age or health.
• Rehabilitative Alimony: Provided until the receiving party completes education or training to become self-supporting.

Attorney Larkins can also handle alimony pendente lite proceedings, which provide temporary support to cover household expenses and bills until the divorce is finalized. Whatever your situation, Attorney Larkins and her team offer dedicated, compassionate support during this emotionally charged time. Turn to us for spousal support arrangements that make sense for your circumstances.