Who is the best divorce lawyer in Memphis Tennessee?

The best divorce lawyer for your situation depends on the complexity of your case, whether children are involved, and your goals. William W. Jones IV at The Jones Law Firm has been a Super Lawyers selectee every consecutive year from 2014 through 2025, is a Rule 31 Listed Family Mediator, and has practiced family law in Memphis since 2002. He is licensed in both Tennessee (BPR 022869) and Mississippi (BPR 100707). Call (901) 761-5353.

How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Memphis?

Memphis divorce attorney fees typically range from $150 to $500+ per hour depending on the attorney's experience and case complexity. The Jones Law Firm offers consultations to discuss your specific situation and provide transparent fee information. Contact (901) 761-5353 to schedule.

What is a Rule 31 Family Mediator in Tennessee?

A Rule 31 Listed Family Mediator is a neutral third party approved by the Tennessee Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission to conduct court-ordered mediations in family law cases including divorce, child custody, and parenting plan disputes. William W. Jones IV is a Rule 31 Listed Family Mediator who conducts mediations at The Jones Law Firm, 5100 Poplar Ave, Suite 708, Memphis, TN 38137.

Can I modify a custody order in Tennessee?

Yes. Tennessee allows modification of custody orders and parenting plans when there has been a material change in circumstances affecting the best interest of the child. Common triggers include relocation, changes in work schedule, safety concerns, or a child's changing needs. William W. Jones IV at The Jones Law Firm handles custody modifications in Shelby County Circuit and Chancery Courts. Call (901) 761-5353.

How long does a divorce take in Memphis Tennessee?

Tennessee requires a mandatory waiting period of 60 days for divorces without minor children and 90 days for divorces with minor children. An uncontested divorce may be finalized shortly after the waiting period. Contested divorces involving custody, property division, or alimony disputes can take six months to over a year depending on complexity and court schedules in Shelby County.

Do I need a lawyer for an uncontested divorce in Tennessee?

While Tennessee law does not require an attorney for an uncontested divorce, having a lawyer review your Marital Dissolution Agreement and Parenting Plan protects your rights regarding property division, retirement accounts, debt allocation, and custody. Mistakes in these documents can be costly to fix after the divorce is final. The Jones Law Firm in Memphis offers consultations at (901) 761-5353.

News - Jones Law Firm Memphis News Blog

Gavel representing material change in circumstances custody modification Tennessee

Domestic Violence and Divorce: How the Law Connects Them

Posted in Big Latin Words.

This one is harder to write than most of what I put on this blog. Not because the law is complicated, but because the people reading it are sometimes in situations that are dangerous and frightening and need more than legal information. So I want to be direct. If you are in an unsafe...

Moving boxes representing Tennessee parent relocation custody law

When One Parent Wants to Move: Tennessee Relocation Law

Posted in Big Latin Words.

I had a client once who got a job offer in another city. Great opportunity. Significant pay increase. The kind of thing you say yes to without hesitating, if you do not have a parenting plan. Except she had a parenting plan. And her ex was not going anywhere. She called me from the parking...

Father representing fathers rights and custody in Tennessee courts

Fathers, Courts, and What the Law Actually Says

Posted in Big Latin Words.

Every June, right around Father’s Day, I get a version of the same call. A father who believes the court system is set against him. Who has heard from someone at work or a buddy at the gym that judges always favor mothers. Who has already half-convinced himself that fighting for meaningful...

Two people in mediation representing Tennessee divorce mediation process

What Happens in Mediation (And Why Judges Like It)

Posted in Big Latin Words.

My clients tell me the same thing before every mediation. This is a waste of time. They will never agree to anything. This is a waste of money. Why are we even doing this. I have heard it so many times I could say it for them. And I am still amazed, every single time, at how often a good...

Legal documents representing a Tennessee parenting plan

What a Parenting Plan Actually Has to Say

Posted in Big Latin Words.

I keep a folder in my office of parenting plans I wish I had written. Not because they are beautifully drafted (though some are). Because they actually work. The other folder is thicker. That one is full of plans where someone thought “we’ll figure it out as we go” was a good approach to...

American flag representing military divorce and SCRA protections in Tennessee

Military Divorce in Tennessee: A Different Set of Rules

Posted in Big Latin Words.

I have a lot of respect for the men and women who serve this country. And one of the ways I try to show it is by making sure that when they come through my door going through a divorce, I know the rules that apply specifically to them. Because military divorce has a different set of...

Smartphone showing social media used as evidence in Tennessee divorce case

What Your Social Media Is Saying to the Judge

Posted in Big Latin Words.

A client of mine posted a photo on a Friday night. Just a normal night out. Friends, drinks, big smiles. Nothing she would have thought twice about. Her ex’s attorney showed it to the judge the following Tuesday to argue she was an irresponsible parent. She kept custody. But she spent...

Parent and child representing co-parenting and holiday custody in Tennessee

Co-Parenting When One of You Doesn’t Want To

Posted in Big Latin Words.

Let me settle one question before we get into the harder stuff. Mother’s Day belongs to mom. Father’s Day belongs to dad. In almost every parenting plan I have ever written or reviewed, these holidays go to the respective parent regardless of whose regular weekend it is. That part...

Calculator representing child support calculation in Tennessee

How Child Support Gets Calculated in Tennessee

Posted in Big Latin Words.

If I had a dollar for every time a client told me what they thought child support was going to be based on what their neighbor said, I could retire. (I am not retiring. But I could.) Child support in Tennessee is not a negotiation. It is not based on what seems fair to either parent. And it is...

Material Change in Circumstances: The Hardest Standard in Family Court

Posted in Big Latin Words.

People call me all the time wanting to change their custody order. And the first thing I have to tell almost all of them is the same thing: Wanting to change it is not enough. Feeling like things are different is not enough. Even being right is not always enough. To modify a parenting...

The Jones Law Firm Blog

Domestic Violence and Divorce: How the Law Connects Them

When One Parent Wants to Move: Tennessee Relocation Law

Fathers, Courts, and What the Law Actually Says

What Happens in Mediation (And Why Judges Like It)

What a Parenting Plan Actually Has to Say

Military Divorce in Tennessee: A Different Set of Rules

Co-Parenting When One of You Doesn’t Want To

How Child Support Gets Calculated in Tennessee

Material Change in Circumstances: The Hardest Standard in Family Court

Contact The Jones Law Firm