Murfreesboro Family Lawyer
Family Lawyer Murfreesboro, TN
If you are dealing with a family law issue in Murfreesboro, whether it involves divorce, a custody dispute, a child support question, or something else entirely, you need an attorney who handles these matters regularly. Family law touches some of the most personal and consequential parts of your life. The stakes are high, and the decisions made now will affect you for years.
Patterson Bray PLLC has represented Tennessee families in domestic relations cases for more than two decades. Our Murfreesboro, TN family lawyer is prepared to help you work through whatever you are facing, from a straightforward agreement to a contested trial.
Why Choose Patterson Bray PLLC for Family Law in Murfreesboro, TN?
An Attorney Who Leads Our Family Law Practice
Austin T. Rainey is a partner at Patterson Bray and leads the firm’s family law division. Austin handles divorce, child custody, alimony, property division, and related matters across Middle Tennessee. Before attending law school, he earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Clemson University in 2009, a background that gives him an analytical edge when breaking down complex financial and property issues that often arise in family cases.
Austin earned his J.D. from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2012. He holds bar admissions in Tennessee and Mississippi, along with the United States District Courts for the Western and Middle Districts of Tennessee and the United States Courts of Appeals for the Sixth and Eighth Circuits. He has been named to the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys Top 10 Under 40 in both 2017 and 2018. He also received the 2017 Tennessee Supreme Court Attorneys for Justice Pro Bono Service Award.
Austin has been recognized by the 27th through 32nd Editions of Best Lawyers in America, and he is a member of the Memphis Bar Association and the Tennessee Bar Association.
Recognized by U.S. News & World Report
Patterson Bray has been recognized as a Tier 1 law firm by U.S. News & World Report. That recognition reflects consistent quality across the firm’s practice areas, including family law. When you hire Patterson Bray as your family attorney in Murfreesboro, TN, you’re working with a firm that takes your case seriously.
Client Feedback That Speaks for Itself
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I recently reached out to Patterson Bray PLLC with a few questions. I was extremely impressed with how quickly Rachel Meadows, one of their attorneys, got back to me, and how thorough, empathetic, detailed, and kind she was.” — Mary Henderson
Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Types of Family Law Cases We Handle in Murfreesboro
Our firm covers the full range of family law matters for Murfreesboro, TN clients. Below is what that looks like in practice.
- Divorce. Whether contested or uncontested, we handle every stage of the process. Tennessee recognizes both fault-based and no-fault grounds, and the approach we recommend depends on your circumstances.
- Child custody and parenting plans. Tennessee requires a Permanent Parenting Plan in every case involving minor children. We draft plans that cover residential schedules, decision-making authority, holiday arrangements, and dispute resolution procedures.
- Child support. Tennessee uses an income shares model to calculate child support. The calculation accounts for both parents’ gross income, the number of parenting days each parent has, and expenses like healthcare and childcare. We make sure the numbers are accurate and fair.
- Alimony and spousal support. Tennessee courts can award several types of alimony. The amount and duration depend on factors like the length of the marriage, earning capacity, and each spouse’s financial needs.
- Property division. Tennessee is an equitable distribution state. The court classifies assets as marital or separate and divides marital property fairly based on statutory factors.
- Adoption. Whether you are pursuing a stepparent adoption, private adoption, or agency adoption, we handle the legal process from petition through finalization.
- Orders of protection. If you or your children are in danger, we can help you obtain an order of protection through the Rutherford County courts. Safety comes first, and we act quickly when needed.
- Post-divorce modifications. Life changes after a divorce. If you need to modify custody, child support, or alimony, Tennessee law allows modifications when there has been a material change in circumstances.
Tennessee Legal Requirements for Family Law
Tennessee family law is governed primarily by Title 36 of the Tennessee Code Annotated. Here are the requirements that come up most frequently.
For divorce, at least one spouse must have lived in Tennessee for six months before filing, under T.C.A. § 36-4-104. Once a complaint is filed, mandatory waiting periods apply: 60 days if there are no minor children, and 90 days if there are.
Tennessee uses the best interest of the child standard for all custody determinations under T.C.A. § 36-6-106. Courts evaluate 17 statutory factors, including the strength of each parent’s relationship with the child, each parent’s past parenting performance, the child’s need for stability, and the mental and emotional fitness of each parent. There is no presumption favoring either parent based on gender.
Every divorce or custody case involving minor children must include a Permanent Parenting Plan under T.C.A. § 36-6-404. The plan must set out a residential schedule, allocate decision-making authority for education, healthcare, and religion, and include a dispute resolution process. If parties cannot agree on a plan at least 45 days before trial, each must file their own proposed plan with the court.
Property is divided under T.C.A. § 36-4-121, which requires courts to classify all property as marital or separate and divide marital property equitably. Equitable does not mean equal. The court considers each spouse’s contributions, the duration of the marriage, the economic circumstances of each party, and other statutory factors.
Alimony is governed by T.C.A. § 36-5-121. Courts can award transitional alimony, rehabilitative alimony, alimony in futuro, or alimony in solido, depending on the facts. The type and amount depend on factors like the length of the marriage, each spouse’s earning capacity, the standard of living during the marriage, and the requesting spouse’s need versus the other spouse’s ability to pay.
Important Aspects of a Family Law Case in Murfreesboro
Custody Is Decided by What Is Best for the Child
Parents often approach custody with the assumption that the court will favor one parent over the other. Tennessee law does not work that way. There is no presumption for or against joint custody. The court starts from what serves the child’s best interests and works from there. The parent who has historically done more of the day-to-day caregiving may have an advantage, but every factor is considered. We help clients present the strongest possible case for the custody arrangement they are seeking.
Child Support Follows a Formula, But Details Matter
Tennessee’s child support guidelines use the income shares model. Both parents’ incomes are combined to determine the total support obligation, and then each parent’s share is calculated proportionally. The number of overnights each parent has directly affects the amount. Health insurance premiums, work-related childcare costs, and extraordinary educational expenses are also factored in. Getting the inputs right matters because even small errors in income reporting or parenting day calculations can change the monthly obligation significantly.
Alimony Is Not Guaranteed
Not every divorce results in an alimony award. Tennessee courts consider whether the requesting spouse has an actual need and whether the other spouse has the ability to pay. For shorter marriages, transitional or rehabilitative alimony is more common. Longer marriages are more likely to result in alimony in futuro, which continues indefinitely or until a specific event like remarriage. We evaluate your situation realistically so you know what to expect.
Mediation Is Often Required
Tennessee courts routinely order mediation before a family law case goes to trial. In many Rutherford County cases, the court will require the parties to attempt to resolve their disputes through a qualified mediator before scheduling a trial date. Mediation can save time and money, and it gives the parties more control over the outcome than a trial would. We prepare our clients thoroughly for mediation so they enter the process informed and ready to negotiate from a position of strength.
Modifying Existing Orders
Custody, child support, and alimony orders are not permanent if circumstances change materially. A job loss, a relocation, a change in the child’s needs, or a former spouse’s move out of state can all justify a modification. But you cannot just stop complying with an existing order because your situation has changed. You must petition the court. We help clients navigate that process correctly.
Protecting Your Children During the Process
Divorce and custody cases are stressful for everyone, including children. Tennessee courts can appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the child’s interests in contested custody proceedings. We advise parents on how to minimize the impact on their children and how to present themselves as the stable, involved parent the court wants to see.
Contact Patterson Bray PLLC
If you need a family law attorney in Murfreesboro, TN, Patterson Bray PLLC can help. We handle divorce, custody, child support, alimony, and every other family law matter that Rutherford County families face. Whether your case can be resolved through negotiation or requires a courtroom, we are prepared for both.
Contact us to schedule a consultation. We serve clients throughout Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, and the greater Middle Tennessee area.