Divorce is never a simple decision. Nobody wakes up thinking, “today would be a great day to hire a divorce attorney.” Instead, divorce starts long before the court comes into play. It starts with worries, long conversations, and a growing sense that something has to change.
We’re here to help you make that change. For over two decades, Hackett Law Firm has dedicated our practice to being Memphis, Tennessee’s local divorce attorney, working towards helping families enter a new era of their lives.
Why Hiring a Divorce Attorney in Memphis, Tennessee Actually Helps
Paperwork is the least important part of the divorce process; the most important parts are strategies, timing, and knowing what not to say and to file at the wrong moment. Without an attorney, it’s easy to miss a deadline, misunderstand a temporary order, agree to terms that you didn’t fully understand, or fail to properly document income. These all can make you lose leverage before the case even really begins. By the time people realize something went wrong, fixing it can be nearly impossible or ridiculously expensive.
Having an attorney native to Memphis doesn’t just know the local laws; they know how it’s actually applied in local courtrooms. We understand how Shelby County judges approach custody schedules, how parenting plans are evaluated, and what happens when agreements are missing information.
We know exactly how to shape your outcome and future so that you determine:
Where your children will live and how often you’ll see them.
How your income, property, and debts are divided.
Whether child support or spousal support will be paid—or received.
If it’ll impact your financial stability long after the case is closed.
These outcomes don’t just fall into place; they’re created by the decisions you made early on, the paperwork that’s filed (or not), and whether you have a good divorce attorney in Memphis, Tennessee, looking out for you from the first decision to the last court order.
Our Process, Your Success
Understand your situation, goals, and worries. This is where we start to form your plan and get in communication with you on how your divorce will look going forward.
Filing the divorce. Once we have the plan ready, your spouse will be formally served the divorce papers, which officially kicks off the process. In Memphis, there’s a waiting period of 60 days if there are no children involved, and 90 if there are.
Evaluation and Negotiation. This is where we gather the facts about your life: finances, assets, debts, and any other relevant information. From there, we negotiate agreements on your behalf on property division, child support, and custody/parenting plans.
Mediation or Court Hearings. Shelby County mandates mediation, and we can be your mediator. If an agreement can’t be reached, the case moves to court, where we’ll be representing you strategically, clearly, and persuasively.
Finalizing the Divorce. Once everything is agreed upon or decided by a judge, the divorce is finalized. This is where property is officially divided, custody arrangements are set, and support orders take effect.
Services We Provide:
Divorce Filing and Strategy
Our lead attorney, Psonya Hackett, has been working in the legal field of family law for over 26 years. She has developed workable strategies that actually apply to real life, knowing how to leverage facts to her clients' benefits, predict moves before they are made, and relentlessly advocate for her clients' ideal outcome until it is reached.
Child Custody and Parenting Plans
A common misconception people have is approaching custody decisions with the “winning” mindset. Custody is not about “winning”, it’s about creating a workable, applicable plan that serves your child's well-being and will actually benefit them the most. We will prepare evidence to demonstrate your commitment to your child’s well-being, as well as negotiate custody arrangements that prioritize your child’s needs while protecting your parental rights.
Child Support
In Memphis, there are too many cases of child support orders and incomes being completely unfair. We work to ensure that the support calculations follow Tennessee’s guidelines, income is properly evaluated and documented, and support orders are 100% fair.
Property and Debt Division
Dividing property and debt isn’t just a matter of splitting things down the middle. In Tennessee, what’s fair isn’t always equal. If you miss something or don’t understand how it should be handled, you could end up giving up more than you should—or walking away with less than you deserve. We make sure all of your marital assets and debts are properly evaluated and protected so nothing gets overlooked or dismissed. That way, the final agreement reflects what’s truly fair for your future.
Alimony
Alimony (or sometimes called spousal support) isn’t automatic due to a couple getting divorced. Without the right help, it’s easy to agree to payments that are too high, too long, or not based fairly on your situation. We’ll help you understand your situation, how alimony would look, what the Shelby County courts will consider, and advocate on your behalf.
Memphis, Tennessee Divorce Attorney FAQ: Real Questions from Real People
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If you or your spouse lives in Memphis, your divorce will almost always be filed in Shelby County Chancery Court or Circuit Court. Tennessee has residency requirements, but once those are met, local court rules take over, and Shelby County does things its own way. Filing in the wrong place or missing a local requirement can slow your case down fast.
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Most divorce lawyers in Tennessee, including in Memphis, charge hourly. That includes us. At our firm, cases typically start with a $3,500 retainer, which covers initial work and is billed against as your case progresses.
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That’s a common question; divorcing couples can usually agree—until they don’t. Paperwork mistakes, unclear language, or overlooked assets can create problems long after the divorce is finalized. Even uncontested divorces benefit from legal oversight to make sure everything is done correctly the first time.
Links to Helpful Tennessee Forms and Information
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If You’re Thinking About Divorce, Now Is the Time to Get Answers
You don’t have to be “ready” for divorce to talk to a lawyer. Many people come in simply needing insights about their rights, their options, and what Tennessee law actually says.
If divorce is on your mind, or if the process has already started, speaking with a divorce attorney in Memphis, Tennessee, like our team here at Hackett Law, can give you the grounding you need to move forward thoughtfully, not reactively.
Divorce may change your life, but it doesn’t have to define it. Reach out to us today to get started, the right way.