# Understanding Your Legal Rights in Family Disputes Family disputes usually prove to be personal, controversial and emotionally charged. A Spousal support dilemma, a divorce, and a custody dispute are all examples that can turn out to be overwhelming in no time, especially when one does not know his rights. Here, professional legal advice comes in. In Tennessee, knowing your legal position as an individual or a family member may be very important in defending your interests and making sound decisions. When you have a family dispute issue, you need an experienced family lawyer to guide you successfully and therefore, you will know that you have someone to bank on. In this article, we will look at the basic rights that you ought to know when handling family law cases. ### The Right to Legal Representation The right to be represented by an attorney is one of the most significant rights you will have in the course of the family dispute. Whereas some individuals opt to be their own [**family lawyers Nashville**](https://www.rolandhairston.com/family-law/) when it comes to legal issues, family law is hardly ever easy. The laws and court procedures are that of a state and may always be shifting. A family attorney in Nashville knows the law and how to protect you and your rights, so they will be able to make sure that you are aware of your options, and to explain the law to you. Entrepreneurial representation also helps you to avoid getting into an agreement that might affect you afterwards in a detrimental way accidentally. The playing field tends to be very skewed when family matters are concerned and having a family attorney to either negotiate on behalf of child custody or division of marital income can ensure that the playing field is slightly leveled.  ### Your Rights in Divorce Divorce is the most ordinary problem in the field of family law, and those people who have to separate have a variety of rights they are not aware of completely. Such marital laws as in Tennessee restrict assets to be shared equitably so that they are divided reasonably and evenly but not equally. In case you made contributions that helped in building the home, supported the career of your spouse, or performed household chores, they can be used as an asset division requirement. You too can demand spousal support (alimony) in case you have financial grounds to demand it. A knowledgeable family attorney Nashville can assist you in estimating as to whether you are eligible and to the extent or degree you may be able to recover or have to pay out. ### Child Custody and Visitation Rights Child custody is one of the most emotionally challenging areas in any family conflict. The Tennessee courts follow the best interest of the child policy and this implies that the custodial decisions are made depending on the factors such as how the child is related to the two parents, stability of the two houses as well as the capacity of the two parents to address the needs of the children. Being a parent, you are entitled to custody or visiting rights irrespective of your gender and income. In case the other parent is attempting to restrict your time unjustly, family attorneys in Nashville will be glad to support you in securing your rights and ending up with a custody condition that contributes to your significance to your child. ### Protection from Domestic Abuse Often, family conflicts include cases when one of the parties is unsafe or threatened. In the event that you are suffering from domestic violence you have a right to secure yourself with a restraining order or an order of protection. This legal instrument may not only include the prohibition of a contact between the abuser and you or your children but also offer temporary custody and support. People are not supposed to remain as victims of abuse. When you feel that you really need to protect your safety and the safety of your family, the qualified family attorney Nashville will be able to fill in the required paperwork, present you in the court and will take immediate actions to save your safety and your family as well.  ### Financial and Parental Support Rights In case you are the custodial parent, you can demand child support against the non-custodial parent. Calculation of child support Wants and needs of the child The state guidelines to calculate child support consider the income of both parents, needs of the child and the parenting time accorded to the parents. On the other hand, as the parent who has lost custody you are, right also. You are entitled to know how support is calculated and may ask the calculation to be changed in case of a change to your financial circumstances. ## Conclusion The initial step to solving a family mess is by getting to know what is legally within its rights. Be it a divorce process, child custody case, family abuse case or just anything that concerns jurisdiction of the law, the law will give you the options and protection you need.