FAMILY LAW
Family Law
The areas of
Family Law are as varied and complex as the individuals and families served. They may include such issues as divorce, custody and visitation, child support, alimony and spousal support, division of marital property, adoption and paternity, parental rights, post-divorce modification, mediation and more.
Robert Wilkinson assists clients in all of these legal areas and does so with a compassion and concern that goes above and beyond the call of duty. Mr. Wilkinson's goal is to represent his clients with the best legal assistance available. He has been meeting that goal for more than 40 years throughout East Tennessee.
Divorce
Regardless of the reason for separation or divorce, the process is typically a painful one. Dividing a home and family requires an understanding of human nature and feelings as well as an understanding of divorce law. Robert Wilkinson has both.
For the past 40 years, Mr. Wilkinson has been assisting his clients in divorce. He is committed to providing competent legal care and representation along with a healthy dose of compassion that he realizes clients need as they work through this stage in life.
Custody and Visitation
There are many factors involved in determining custody of a child. These may include the age and gender of the child, the physical and mental health of the parents, the lifestyle of the parent or guardian, the child's prospective environment, or the child's preference after the age of 12, among other things.
Robert Wilkinson understands the legal, moral and emotional issues surrounding child custody and visitation and will work with you to ensure the process moves as smoothly as possible considering the emotions and feelings typically involved.
Relocation of Children and Visitation
Few aspects of divorce are simple and Relocation of Children and Visitation can be one of the most complicated. Several Tennessee laws and statues affect a divorced parent's relocation when minor children are involved. You need an attorney who understands these concepts and who can help you navigate the legal implications of a distant move. Robert Wilkinson is just such an attorney.
Mr. Wilkinson is familiar with the facets of child relocation and visitation issues after a divorce. He can explain the applicable laws and help you determine how best to proceed in the event you need to move away from your present home or out of state.
Child Support
When a family is divided by divorce, their financial situation can often change dramatically. For newly single parents, adequate child support ensures their children have the money needed to provide for their healthcare, education costs, daily living expenses and other essentials.
Many factors affect the amount of child support the court may award. These include the gross income of each parent, daycare costs, health insurance costs, how many days a child is with each parent and more. Mr. Wilkinson is well versed in these and other Tennessee Child Support guidelines. As such, he will work tirelessly to help you receive fair and equitable child support to meet your children's current and future financial needs.
Alimony and Spousal Support
When a couple divorces, one spouse may often be awarded Alimony or Spousal Support depending on the specific circumstances. While there is no clear-cut formula for assigning such support, the goal is to ensure both spouses are able to maintain a reasonable standard of living, even if one requires financial assistance to do so. Robert Wilkinson understands that there are many factors affecting how and when the court awards spousal support. He can assist you in determining which of these factors apply to your situation and in best presenting your needs to the court.
Alimony may be awarded to a spouse who hasn't worked, or who earns less than the other spouse, to a spouse who may need to return to school or complete a college degree, or to a spouse who received less property than the other in the divorce settlement. The length of the marriage may also affect spousal support, as well as how much each partner contributed to the marriage among other things. Thankfully, Mr. Wilkinson can help you navigate the muddy waters of alimony and spousal support, and can help you receive the compensation you're due based on your individual lifestyle and circumstances.
Division of Marital Property
When a marriage ends, the Division of Marital Property is often one of the most controversial aspects of the divorce settlement. Determining who gets what can be a cause for tremendous stress and conflict. Robert Wilkinson can assist you in mediating a fair and equitable property settlement and can help ensure the division of property is properly recorded to eliminate questions later on.
Tennessee typically awards separate property—assets, cash and physical property owned by each spouse before marriage—to the one who originally owned it. Joint property and property acquired during the marriage is divided fairly between the couple. Determining "fairly" is where many issues arise. As such, the expertise of an experienced attorney like Mr. Wilkinson is essential in coming to an agreement that is acceptable and amenable to both parties involved.