If you're searching for a divorce attorney in Germantown, you're probably already past the point of wondering whether something needs to change — you're trying to figure out what happens next. Psonya Hackett Law represents Germantown residents through divorce, custody, and support cases, and we're ready to talk through where you stand.
Psonya Hackett has practiced family law for over 26 years, 13 of them running her own Memphis-based practice. She holds a JD/MBA and is a CDC-Certified Divorce Coach, and she's licensed in both Tennessee and Mississippi.
What We Handle for Germantown Clients
Divorce Filing and Strategy
Whether your divorce is contested or uncontested, we start by understanding your situation, your goals, and what you're worried about, then build a plan around that. Germantown falls within Shelby County, so your case is filed and heard at the Shelby County Courthouse in downtown Memphis — the same court we appear in regularly for clients throughout the area.
Custody and Parenting Plans
When children are part of the picture, Tennessee law requires a parenting plan covering custody, visitation, and decision-making. If keeping your kids enrolled in their current school matters to you, that's something we build into the plan from the start, not an afterthought. We also handle grandparent visitation and modifications when circumstances change after the divorce is final.
Property Division and Support
From the marital home to retirement accounts and business interests, Tennessee divides property under an equitable distribution standard — fair, not automatically 50/50. We work through what's marital versus separate property, whether alimony applies, and how to document what you and your spouse agree on so it holds up later.
Mediation and Negotiation
We lead with mediation and negotiation whenever it can get you a fair result without the cost and delay of a courtroom fight. Shelby County courts often encourage this route in contested cases, and it's frequently the faster, less expensive path — but we won't push you into an agreement that shortchanges you just to avoid a hearing.
What Tennessee Law Requires Before You Can File
A few things determine whether and when you can file in Tennessee:
Residency. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-104, if the grounds for divorce arose in Tennessee, there's no separate waiting period; if they arose out of state, one spouse must have lived in Tennessee for six months before filing.
Grounds. Tennessee recognizes irreconcilable differences as a no-fault ground, plus more than a dozen fault-based grounds under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-101, including adultery, cruel and inhuman treatment, and abandonment. Which ground you file under can affect strategy and, in some cases, alimony — it's not just a formality.
Waiting period. A case must be on file for 60 days before it can be heard if there are no minor children, or 90 days if there are.
Parenting seminar. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-408, parents entering a permanent parenting plan must each complete a 4-hour parent education seminar before the divorce can be finalized.
These numbers shift depending on your specific facts, which is exactly why we look at your situation before telling you what to expect.
How Working With Us Works
Consultation. You tell us what's going on — no legal terms or organized paperwork required.
Plan and strategy. We lay out your options and what each path looks like for your goals and your budget.
Filing and negotiation. We lead with mediation and negotiation where possible, and prepare to litigate when the other side won't be reasonable.
Resolution. We stay with you through the waiting period, hearings, and final decree.
Why Germantown Families Work With Psonya Hackett
Psonya started as a Guardian Ad Litem in Memphis juvenile courts, advocating for children before she ever represented a divorcing spouse — that instinct still shapes how she approaches custody cases today. Her JD/MBA means she reads a case for both its legal exposure and its financial reality, which matters when a divorce involves retirement accounts, business interests, or other assets that need to be valued correctly, not just divided. As a CDC-Certified Divorce Coach, she's also trained to help clients manage the stress of the process itself, not just the paperwork. She's handled divorces throughout the Memphis area of every size for Germantown clients, from straightforward uncontested cases to contested disputes over property and custody, and she brings the same plan-first approach no matter which one you're facing.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
No. Germantown sits within Shelby County, so your divorce is filed and heard at the same Shelby County Courthouse that serves Memphis and its other surrounding areas — you're not dealing with a separate court system.
-
At minimum, 60 days from filing if you have no minor children, or 90 days if you do. Contested cases involving disputes over property or custody typically take longer.
-
Even when spouses agree on most things, Tennessee still requires specific forms and a compliant parenting plan if children are involved. We can review what you've worked out together and make sure it's enforceable before you file.
-
If you and your spouse agree on everything — property division, custody, and support — your divorce is uncontested. If there's a dispute over even one issue, it's contested, and typically carries a higher retainer and a longer timeline.
-
Not necessarily. If your divorce is uncontested and your paperwork is in order, many Shelby County cases are finalized without a court appearance. Contested cases are more likely to require one, especially if custody or significant assets are at stake.
Talk to a Divorce Attorney Serving Germantown Today
You don't have to sort through Tennessee's filing requirements on your own. Call 901.290.0650 or contact Psonya Hackett Law to schedule a consultation and find out where you stand.