Best Family Lawyer in Nashville

Hannah Burdine

Family Lawyer

Ms. Burdine grew up in Tennessee. She attended the University of Memphis School of Law, receiving her J.D. in 2007. She has devoted 15 years of her legal career to domestic, matrimonial, family law, divorce, child custody and adoptions law.

Ms. Burdine is a Nashville family law attorney and admitted to practice law in the State of Tennessee and in the State of Georgia.

In her spare time, Ms. Burdine enjoys playing the piano, playing tennis, gardening and spending time with her dogs.

The quickest and easiest way to get ahead in your divorce or child custody case is to hire the right divorce law firm.

Amanda Raye Thornton

Family Lawyer

Amanda Raye Thornton grew up in Lebanon, Tennessee and earned a B.S. from Western Kentucky University in 2003. She began law school in 2003 and earned her J.D. from Nashville School of law in 2007. After sitting for the bar exam in the summer of 2007, she was licensed to practice law in Tennessee in October, 2007. Amanda was admitted to practice in the Federal District Court of Tennessee- Middle District in 2009.

While in law school, Amanda clerked for Roberts & Associates, a general practice law office in Nashville, Tennessee. After graduating and passing the bar exam, she joined the office of Roberts & Associates as an associate attorney focusing primarily on family law related issues from 2007 through 2013. In 2013, Ms. Thornton helped form the office of Roberts, Thornton & Pence, an association of attorneys, where she continued to focus on matters involving family law including divorce, custody, child support, paternity, visitation and so on until 2019. In 2019, Ms. Thornton joined the office of Thornton & Pence where she has continued her legal career focusing solely on family law related matters for her clients throughout Middle Tennessee. She handles cases in circuit, chancery, juvenile and general session courts that involve family law and has handled several appellate cases in the Court of Appeals.

Karla C. Miller

Family Lawyer

Karla C. Miller has devoted her entire career to the practice of family law in Tennessee. Originally from Dothan, Alabama, Karla moved to Tennessee in 1986 and enrolled in the Nashville School of Law a few years later. While in her final year, she clerked for the Honorable Steve Daniel, a professor at the school. Upon graduation in 1996, she opened her own firm and has been assisting families throughout Tennessee ever since. She became a Rule 31 Listed Family mediator in 2009.

In an effort to help military families in the area, Karla became a volunteer ombudsman with Department of Defense, serving as a link between those who serve and their employers. In 2008, Karla was awarded National Ombudsman of the Year by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee of the U.S. Department of Defense. In 2009, she was named National Ombudsman of the Year by the Military Officers Association of America. From 2006-2014, Karla was a Commissioner on the Board of Commissioners of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. She was appointed by Governor Phil Bredesen to this position.

Karla was appointed by then Governor Phil Bredesen as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, and she served in that capacity from 2008-2015.

When she’s not in the office working for her clients, Karla loves spending time at the beach or taking in the blues and traditional jazz scene in Nashville or New Orleans. She and her husband, Nashville personal injury attorney Phillip Miller, share an office, a home and a beautiful Labradoodle named Stella. The three of them spend hours walking in the local parks – when Stella isn’t too busy making home movies about herself, that is. Karla also loves to sing, and she has sung in various church choirs and secular choruses as well. She has been known to sing Karaoke every now and then (don’t tell anyone).

Brad H. Frakes

Family Lawyer

Brad H. Frakes is a family law attorney in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to representation in a divorce, Mr. Frakes provides representation in post-divorce actions such as contempt proceedings and custody/child support modifications. He has handled many difficult divorce actions in his practice. Mr. Frakes is a graduate of Nashville School of Law and served as a law clerk for a local family law court while studying for his degree. Mr. Frakes is a member of both the Tennessee Bar Association and the Nashville Bar Association.

When you retain Mr. Frakes as your legal counsel, you gain an advocate for your cause. Mr. Frakes will guide you through your legal issues, reassuring you of your rights and the resolution that you wish to achieve, while also maintaining realistic expectations. Specifically, the area of Family Law is not only about a divorce, but all of the accompanying issues that too often ensue after a divorce is filed; such as restraining orders, orders of protection, custody battles and modifications of support. Mr. Frakes has experience handling all aspects of family law. He practices extensively throughout Davidson, Williamson, Sumner, Rutherford and Wilson counties, and is familiar with the local procedures and requirements of the various Tennessee family courts.

Mr. Frakes has a reputation as both an effective litigator and reasonable advocate for his clients. If it is necessary to carry your legal issue to trial in order to attain the best result, he will not hesitate to do so. However, he will also attempt to negotiate a fair and equitable settlement that is in your best interests and allows you to avoid the cost of litigation and the emotional and mental stress that often accompanies litigation.

You do not have to face your legal problems alone. Attorney Brad H. Frakes will work hard to inspire confidence and relieve the stress for his clients during both family law and criminal litigation. The office of Brad H. Frakes is located at 222 Second Avenue North, in the Washington Square Building, directly across from the Historic Courthouse in downtown Nashville.

Michael Rivas

Family Lawyer

Michael Rivas is an attorney and mediator with experience in family law, wills & estates, and personal injury cases.  He currently practices in family law and mediation.  He also helps clients with wills and estate planning.  
 
Michael is fluent in Spanish and offers bilingual services. 

Before starting his own practice, Michael served as the President of Family Life Missions, a non-profit that operates an international development program in Honduras with a focus on child advocacy and assisting families through times of crisis. 

Michael is married to Sarah, and they have two sons. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the outdoors with his family, learning about scientific breakthroughs, and playing soccer with the neighborhood team.

Francis King

Family Lawyer

Francis King received his B.A. in Government and International Relations (cum laude) from Clark University in 1978, and earned his J.D. (magna cum laude) in 1981 from New England School of Law, where he was a Law Review Editor.

Mr. King has been practicing law since 1981. Since moving his practice to Nashville, in 2009, most of his professional time has been devoted to representing individuals in family law and criminal defense matters throughout Middle Tennessee.

His success in those practice areas has been informed and enhanced by many years of prior, broad-based experience in the rough and tumble world of New York City business litigation. Mr. King has handled many complex, commercial litigation matters, involving such diverse areas as federal securities fraud, civil RICO, fraud, breach of contract, partnership and corporate dissolutions, consumer class actions, professional liability defense, bankruptcy and real estate. He has represented banks, insurance companies and numerous other companies and entrepreneurs in a wide variety of industries. All of that experience informs and strengthens his skills as a lawyer who has the ability to “think outside the box” and advocate for individual clients who are facing very difficult personal legal challenges. Every client is important. Every client is accorded dignity and respect. Every client’s calls, emails and text messages are returned promptly, and personally by Mr. King.

Paul A. Rutherford

Family Lawyer

Paul Rutherford is an Attorney at Brighter Day Law and has been in the private practice of law in Nashville and the surrounding counties for 32 years. The Rutherford family has a long history in the Nashville legal community, dating back to the 1800s. 

As a veteran trial and appellate attorney, he’s spent his career serving clients in family law, adoption, probate, General Sessions, and personal injury matters. Paul has taken a specific interest in cases involving early adoption as he’s witnessed how achieving permanency can dramatically altered the lives of the children. Paul has always been passionate about child welfare, the right to life, and the prevention of human trafficking. 

After graduating from college, Paul began working as a social worker with his wife, and fellow veteran attorney, Wende Rutherford for an adolescent psychiatric hospital and the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Paul’s background in counseling and psychology has aided in his desire to resolve cases efficiently and civility.  Paul was elected to the Student Honor Council while a senior in law school and earned his Juris Doctor at the Nashville School of Law in 1990. 

Paul joined the team at Brighter Day Law with the opening of the Nashville office in April 2022 because of his admiration for the firm’s systems and values. He enjoys the supportive and professional office environment and the high-quality legal representation the firm provides for its clients. 

J. Ryan Johnson

Family Lawyer

Before you hire my office, I think that you should know a little about me. My family moved to middle Tennessee in the mid-nineties. I graduated from Smyrna High School in 2001 and enrolled in Middle Tennessee State University the following fall. In 2003, I moved to Los Angeles California to pursue a career in music. Over the following three years, I performed throughout the United States, sometimes playing as many as 200 concerts per year. I am still an avid music fan and concert goer.

In 2006 I returned to Middle Tennessee State University to complete my degree in Political Science. In 2008, I graduated and immediately enrolled in Cumberland School of Law, where I graduated in 2011. In 2012, I began working as a solo practitioner in Murfreesboro, and shortly thereafter took a job at the Turner Law Offices in Nashville. From 2015 to 2017, I was counsel for a Brentwood Tennessee based firm.

 

In November of 2017, I opened my own office in East Nashville, where I also live. At this point in my career, I’ve represented hundreds of people throughout all the jurisdictions in middle Tennessee.  My vision is based on my prior experiences, both as an attorney and musician. In both fields you have to be genuine, you have to care, and you have to spend a lot of time actively listening.  Musicians will immediately understand the last part. Active listening is the difference in humming along to a song you know and love while you’re driving versus charting the scales, key, time signature, and tempo of the song to play it.

How Much is a Divorce in Tennessee?

The cost of a divorce in Tennessee can vary widely depending on several factors, including whether the divorce is contested or uncontested, the complexity of the issues involved, and the attorneys’ fees. Here’s a general overview:

1. Uncontested Divorce

  • Filing Fees: The court filing fees typically range from $200 to $400, depending on the county.
  • Attorney Fees: If both parties agree on all terms, an uncontested divorce can be relatively inexpensive. Attorney fees for an uncontested divorce can range from $500 to $2,500.
  • Total Cost: The total cost for an uncontested divorce in Tennessee usually ranges from $700 to $3,000.

2. Contested Divorce

  • Filing Fees: Similar to uncontested cases, filing fees are generally between $200 and $400.
  • Attorney Fees: Contested divorces, where spouses cannot agree on key issues such as child custody, division of property, or alimony, can be significantly more expensive. Attorney fees can range from $5,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on the complexity and duration of the case.
  • Additional Costs: There may be additional costs for expert witnesses, mediation, and other court-related expenses.
  • Total Cost: The total cost for a contested divorce in Tennessee can range from $10,000 to $30,000 or more.

3. Other Considerations

  • Mediation: Some couples may opt for mediation, which can be a less expensive alternative to going to court. Mediation fees can range from $100 to $300 per hour.
  • Alimony and Child Support: While not direct costs of the divorce process, ongoing obligations like alimony and child support can have long-term financial impacts.

4. Self-Representation

  • If you choose to represent yourself, you can save on attorney fees, but you will still need to pay filing fees and any other court-related costs.

In summary, the cost of a divorce in Tennessee can range from as low as $700 for an uncontested divorce with minimal legal help to upwards of $30,000 for a contested divorce with significant legal involvement.

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