Custody & Support

Protecting the Best Interests of the Child

Children all too often become the innocent victims of a divorce. After parents become enmeshed in a divorce, children's interests deserve consideration. When divorces involve children, you and your spouse must establish a permanent parenting plan that protects your children. If considering child custody and support, contact the Law Office of Joseph A. Livesay, Sr., in Memphis, Tennessee, for a free initial consultation about representation at a reasonable cost.

Child Support Guidelines

Your children deserve to enjoy the same lifestyle they did before your divorce. One way the court achieves this goal is to award adequate child support. Child support is governed by the Tennessee child support guidelines. Lawyer Joseph A. Livesay, Sr., will guide you through the court process that determines child support.

Under Tennessee law, child support is determined by the shared income model. Under this model, support is determined by adding up both parents' income and factoring in such things as other children, medical insurance, daycare cost, and the amount of time the non-custodial parent visits the child.

Problems arise when parents disagree about their income levels. Especially with parents who are self-employed and a business owner, calculating income is difficult. Attorney Joseph A. Livesay, Sr., will determine the income of your spouse by subpoenaing employment records, business records, and bank statements.

Child Custody Awards

Parents must agree upon parenting plans that set out their rights and obligations under the law. These plans define which parent is the primary residential parent, and the rights of the other parent. It is important to draft this agreement with enough specificity to guide you and your spouse, while at the same time providing enough flexibility to change over time. The court uses the best interests of the child as its overarching standard in child custody disputes.

If your divorce involves children, contact us at the Law Office of Joseph A. Livesay, Sr., to set up a free initial consultation. We represent families throughout Tennessee, including those in Shelby County and Fayette County.