Middle Tennessee Legal Blog
How is a property’s rise in value handled during a divorce?
Property division is the most difficult part of many Tennessee divorces. This is especially true in a high-asset divorce where there is property of significant value. The law is clear as to how marital property and separate property are defined. However, people might...
What happens to stock options in a divorce?
Tennessee law dictates that parties divide assets in a divorce in a way that meet standards of fairness. Many assets are relatively simple to divide, such as a joint savings account. If both parties agree to a settlement, the parties will divide and close the account....
What is a ‘target letter’ and how worried should I be?
Here is a hypothetical scenario. You receive a letter in the mail from the Tennessee U.S. States Attorney's Office. You open the envelope, and the letter says you have been summoned to testify before a grand jury. Perhaps the letter also says you are under...
How body language myths complicate white-collar investigations
Responsibility for white-collar criminal offenses often comes down to a combination of impact, intent and knowledge. Those committing fraud or embezzlement may create fake paper trails to cover their tracks or may involve others in their schemes so that it is harder...
Valuing your business’s goodwill during a divorce
Divorce is rarely easy, and property division is one of the most complex aspects of most divorces. Property division becomes even more complicated if you are a business owner. Your business is considered a marital asset, and since you are most likely the one keeping...
Parental alienation violates a non-custodial parent’s rights
It is normal to feel angry after a divorce, but you should not let this anger affect your child’s relationship with their other parent. Some custodial parents wrongfully act on this resentment and will, through deceit, encourage the child to refuse to visit or speak...
The road to embezzlement allegations
Theft is presumed to be someone breaking into a residential home or pointing a gun at a victim to take their money and other possessions. Another form of stealing exists that does not require illegal entry into a dwelling or showing a weapon in a threatening manner....
Do your professional practices cause risk of kickback charges?
Talking about white-collar criminal charges often conjures images of a sneaky accountant who embezzled from their employer for years or a business owner fraudulently manipulating investors to trick them into partnering with their company. The professionals involved...
Temporary alimony in high-asset divorces
Among the important issues which must be dealt with in any divorce, spousal support can be a source of confusion. Will it be necessary? If so, how much and for how long? When we think of spousal support, we tend to think of its long-term implications. But there’s also...
Can a victim decide to drop federal criminal charges?
When you face federal criminal charges, you know it is serious. The weight of the United States government is aimed directly at locking you up. As such, many people look for any way they can escape the clutches of the government. Sometimes, this leads the accused to...