Best Divorce Lawyers Memphis
Jimmie B. Strong
Divorce Lawyers
Jimmie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Morehouse College (Valedictorian) and a law degree from Harvard Law School. Jimmie believes that the highest and best use of any educational degree is using it to serve others. Jimmie’s life degrees are caring friend to many, family member who shows up and steps up, devoted husband, and a loving father. It is only fitting that Jimmie use his educational degrees to help families, and that’s why he’s managing The Family Law Firm.
We at The Family Law Firm know just how impactful any change in the family structure can be. We view assisting people in times of need as so much bigger than documents, negotiations, and cases. Family law matters are about the people involved, and we know that our value is the impact of our work on the ultimate outcome for you and your family.
We carry an understanding of the importance of the work we do to the people we serve into every will or trust we draft, into every custody battle, into every divorce, and into every adoption. When you’re going through one of life’s most difficult situations, the last thing you need is a hard time with anything. The Family Law Firm is accessible, meets your where you are, tells you the truth, and steps in to guide you through the legal aspects of your journey and connect you to counseling resources for the psychological aspects of your journey.
We look forward to counting you amongst our family at the Family Law Firm and promise to provide you stellar legal representation, responsive communication, and compassion for you and your case.
LARRY RICE
Divorce Lawyers
Larry, known formally as George Lawrence Rice, III, is the senior partner at Rice Caperton Rice PLLC in Memphis, Tennessee. This firm has been selected as the Best Law Firm by The Commercial Appeal for three years in a row.
Larry is certified as a Family Law Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Larry is one of two Family Law Specialist attorneys in Memphis and 12 in Tennessee.
He has been named one of the Mid-South Super Lawyers each year since 2008. Super Lawyers also named Larry to the list of Top 100 Lawyers in Tennessee for all fields of practice, as well as to the Top 50 Lawyers in all fields in Memphis. Larry has an Avvo Rating of 10.0 Superb—the highest possible score. He is also a Top 100 National Trial Advocates Matrimonial and Family Lawyer.
Larry received the Top 10 Attorney Award for Tennessee from the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys. He also received the Client Satisfaction Award from the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys and has been recognized as The Face of Divorce Law, with his son Nick, by Memphis Magazine each year since 2013.
Widely recognized as the best CLE speaker on divorce practice, Larry has lectured at more than a dozen American Bar Association conventions and to lawyers from Massachusetts to Hawaii and Canada to the Caribbean, on topics ranging from Law Office Management to Ethics to Trial Practice to Alternative Dispute Resolutions.
He is the author of several articles and books, including Divorce Practice in Tennessee; The Effective Ethical Lawyer; and The Complete Guide to Divorce Practice: Forms and Procedures for Lawyers, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th (30th Anniversary) editions. The Complete Guide to Divorce Practice is recognized as the national standard for Divorce and Family lawyers throughout the country.
Larry was the founding Chairperson of the Divorce and Family Law Section of the Memphis Bar Association and co-founder of the Family Law Section of the Tennessee Bar Association.
He holds a B.A. in communication arts and history; was a British Studies student at University College, Oxford, England; and completed the American Trial Lawyer Association National College of Advocacy.
Alicia A. Howard
Divorce Lawyers
For the first 3 years of her practice, Attorney Howard served as a compliance manager and in-house counsel for TPI Restaurants, Inc. In that position, Attorney Howard worked closely with company personnel to assure OSHA compliance and compliance with labor laws. She also worked in the area of employment discrimination defense.
In 1992, Attorney Howard went to work for the City of Memphis as an Assistant City Attorney. In that role, Attorney Howard handled various tort claims involving the City of Memphis as a party. In addition, Attorney Howard handled civil service appeals and employment discrimination disputes and provided legal opinions for the City’s administrative leaders.
In 1997, Attorney Howard decided to go out on her own to serve the community’s people. In the earlier years of her private practice, Attorney Howard provided services in many different areas- auto accidents, bankruptcies, civil litigation, criminal defense, divorce, employment law, family law, and so on.
In 2004, Attorney Howard decided to focus her practice primarily in the area of divorce and family law. Since then, Attorney Howard has continued to devote the majority of her practice to divorces, custody cases, and child support matters.
As a divorcee herself, Attorney Howard is dedicated to assisting others in getting out of unproductive and painful relationships to find and establish healthy and happy bonds.
Having been blessed to experience her own second chances, Attorney Howard is drawn to the challenge of assisting others in doing so.
Patrick Ryan Barnes
Divorce Lawyers
Balestrini, Barnes, Jaber & Wood, PLLC is a Memphis law firm concentrating on a select few areas of law. Our attorneys have years of experience and can confidently guide you and your legal project to a successful outcome. Our law firm is located inside of Minglewood Plaza (the music hall) on Madison Avenue, in the heart of midtown Memphis. We pride ourselves on being accessible and approachable to all of our clients regardless of whether they’re a corporate client or just have a traffic ticket.
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- Divorce
- Collaborative Law, Contested Divorce, Military Divorce, Property Division, Same Sex Divorce, Spousal Support & Alimony, Uncontested Divorce
- Traffic Tickets
- Suspended License
- Personal Injury
- Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
- Domestic Violence
- Domestic Violence Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders, Victims Rights
Laura E. Butler
Divorce Lawyers
Lara received her undergraduate degree from Rhodes College in 1990. In 1993, she received her J.D degree from the University of Memphis, where she was a member of the Law Review and the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Contracts I. While in law school, she authored Cowe by Cowe v. Forum Group, inc.: Wrongful Life and the Dilemma of Comparing Impaired Existence with Nonexistence. 22:4 Memphis State University Law Review.
In 2007, Lara received the Sam A. Myar, Jr. Memorial Award, which recognizes a lawyer under the age of 40 for outstanding service to the legal profession and the community. She is currently a Barrister member of the Leo Bearman American Inn of Court, and was an Associate member from 1998 to 2000. In 2000, Lara served as the President of the Memphis Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, and had previously held the positions of Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer and Board Member of that organization.
Lara was President of the Family Law Section of the Memphis Bar Association in 1998. She has served on the Memphis Bar Association Board of Directors, and is currently a member of the Memphis Bar Foundation as well as the Tennessee Bar Foundation.
Melissa C. Berry
Divorce Lawyers
Melissa has been practicing family law exclusively since 1999. She focuses in complicated and high net-worth divorce cases as well as high conflict custody disputes and also has considerable experience in all areas of family law, including, but not limited to, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, equitable distribution of marital property, alimony and child support, parenting time, termination of parental rights and adoption, and post-divorce litigation. While Melissa is a seasoned litigator, she believes strongly in alternative forms of dispute resolution and is a trained mediator, listed by the Tennessee Supreme Court as a Rule 31 approved family law mediator since 2012. She regularly employs the skills she has gleaned from her experiences in conducting numerous family law mediations to negotiate and reach favorable settlements for her own clients. Melissa has also served as a Guardian ad Litem, a court-appointed attorney for children who are the subject of custody disputes, and as a Special Master, appointed by judges and charged with resolving or making recommendations to the Court on important issues of fact and law, in the courts of Shelby County on numerous occasions. Melissa practices in the Juvenile, Chancery, and Circuit Courts of Shelby County as well as in the surrounding counties of West Tennessee and in all appellate courts of Tennessee.
A native of Arkansas, Melissa is a cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Rhodes College where she was a two-year member of the regional and national mock trial team. Melissa received her law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1999, where she was a member of the Moot Court Board and the national mock trial team. Melissa also served as the law clerk for the Honorable D’Army Bailey, Judge of the Circuit Court of Shelby County, Tennessee for the Thirtieth Judicial District from 1998-1999, as a third-year law student.
Among her professional accomplishments and affiliations, Melissa is a member of the Memphis Bar Foundation, the Association of Women Attorneys, and the Memphis Bar Association. She was also recently peer-selected to join the Memphis ADR Inn of Court.
Outside the office, Melissa enjoys cooking, reading, and traveling. Melissa resides in Memphis with her husband and daughter.
Laurie W. Hall
Divorce Lawyers
Laurie Hall is an experienced family law attorney with a reputation for being straightforward, compassionate and competent. Ms. Hall has been in private practice since 2001. Her success is depicted in the continuous stream of referrals she receives from former clients who were pleased with her representation.
Ms. Hall is dedicated to representing her clients’ best interests. She is never hesitant to deal aggressively with the opposition if the situation requires it. Her goal is to represent her clients during this difficult time with the utmost tenacity. Ms. Hall is licensed in Tennessee, and concentrates her practice to Family Law matters including Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Adoptions, Prenuptial Agreements, and Dependency & Neglect.
She has also defended Criminal cases at both the State & Federal level. Ms. Hall has successfully argued matters at the Tennessee Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Ms. Hall has been an invited speaker at continuing legal education seminars. Ms. Hall has been named as a SuperLawyer since 2020.
University Attended
- University of Memphis, Class of 2001, J.D.
- Hendrix College, Class of 1998, B.A.
Associations & Memberships
- Family Law Section, Juvenile and Children’s Law Section, TBA Members
Hiring the best divorce lawyer in Memphis, Tennessee, can be crucial for several reasons when going through a divorce. Here are some key reasons why you might need a skilled divorce attorney in Memphis or any other location:
Legal Expertise: A top divorce lawyer in Memphis will have a deep understanding of Tennessee’s divorce laws and regulations, ensuring that your case is handled in compliance with state statutes and procedures.
Objective Advice: Divorce is often emotionally charged, making it difficult to make rational decisions. A divorce lawyer can provide you with objective advice and help you make informed choices about important matters such as property division, alimony, child custody, and child support.
Negotiation Skills: Many divorce cases are resolved through negotiation and settlement rather than going to court. An experienced attorney can negotiate effectively on your behalf to reach a fair and favorable settlement with your spouse, potentially saving you time, money, and emotional stress.
Legal Documentation: Divorce involves a significant amount of paperwork, including legal documents and court filings. A top divorce lawyer will ensure that all necessary documentation is prepared accurately and submitted on time to avoid delays or complications.
Court Representation: If your divorce case does go to court, having a skilled attorney by your side can be invaluable. They will represent your interests effectively before a judge, present your case persuasively, cross-examine witnesses, and advocate for your rights.
Asset Protection: If you have substantial assets or complex financial holdings, a divorce lawyer can help ensure that your property and financial interests are protected during the divorce process.
Child Custody and Support: If you have children, a top divorce lawyer will work diligently to secure a fair custody arrangement and child support agreement that is in the best interests of your children.
Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution: Some divorces can be resolved through mediation or alternative dispute resolution methods. A knowledgeable attorney can represent you during these processes and help you reach a mutually acceptable agreement with your spouse.
Post-Divorce Issues: Even after the divorce is finalized, there may be post-divorce issues that arise, such as modification of custody or support orders. Having a trusted attorney can be helpful in addressing these ongoing legal matters.
Emotional Support: Going through a divorce is emotionally challenging. A good divorce lawyer can provide not only legal guidance but also emotional support, helping you cope with the stress and uncertainty of the process.
Ultimately, the “best” divorce lawyer for you will depend on your unique circumstances, so it’s crucial to consult with several attorneys, ask questions, and choose the one you believe will best represent your interests throughout the divorce process in Memphis or any other location.