Best Nashville Divorce Attorneys

Divorce lawyers in Nashville work around a 90-day waiting period when children are involved. Parents also have to finish a four-hour parenting seminar first. Starting that class late is the most avoidable delay in a Tennessee case. The attorneys below deal with these deadlines routinely.

To compile this list, we review Nashville Divorce Lawyers based on public information, client feedback, and professional standing.

  • Bar standing and public disciplinary history review
  • Documented case results and courtroom trial experience
  • Peer recognition within the legal community
  • Client reviews, communication, and responsiveness
  • Consistency of public reviews across multiple platforms

Rankings are determined independently based on public information and editorial research.

Leading Nashville Family Law Attorneys for Custody, Property & Alimony

Screenshot of the Miller Upshaw Family Law, PLLC Website

Miller Upshaw Family Law, PLLC is a Nashville divorce law firm founded by attorney Karla C. Miller. Its attorneys bring more than 50 years of combined experience to contested and uncontested cases.

The practice handles property division, parenting plans, paternity, restraining orders, and post-divorce modifications. Karla Miller has been named to the Super Lawyers list. The firm also ranked as a first-tier Nashville family law practice in the 2026 Doyle's Guide.

The office sits in historic Edgefield, within sight of the courthouse, and offers free parking. Consultations are available in person or by video, and the team also serves Franklin, Brentwood, Hendersonville, Murfreesboro, Gallatin, and Mt. Juliet.

Screenshot of the Law Office of Roland T. Hairston, II & Associates Website

A Rule 31-listed family law mediator with domestic violence training, Roland Hairston leads this East Nashville practice under the Hairston & Associates name.

Attorney Hairston and his team take divorce, custody battles, and support disputes across Davidson County and Sumner County. The probate side covers estate administration, will contests, conservatorships, and guardianships.

Estate planning rounds out the work, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. Mr. Hairston has practiced for more than 10 years and books one-hour consultations directly online.

Screenshot of the MHPS Law Website
2122 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212, USA

Six partners run MHPS, short for Martin Heller Potempa & Sheppard, from an office near Hillsboro Village.

The practice areas overlap by design. Clients working with these divorce attorneys in Nashville also get in-house help on estate planning and business disputes. A second issue does not mean a second firm.

MHPS says it is large enough for complex litigation but small enough that partners stay involved. The team publishes free eBooks and a blog on Tennessee law, and screens matters up front to flag cases better suited to another practice.

Screenshot of the Widrig Law PLLC Divorce Lawyers Website
101 Westpark Dr Suite 260, Brentwood, TN 37027, USA

Thousands of clients have come through Widrig Law PLLC since 2007, at a rate of several hundred a year.

Founder James Widrig has been interviewed by local news outlets on prenuptial agreements and high-profile custody rulings. The firm takes relocation cases, termination of parental rights, adoption, and military divorce.

Its main office is in Brentwood, with a Lebanon location by appointment. Attorneys cover Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, and Wilson counties.

Screenshot of the Martin Sir & Associates Website
3200 West End Ave Suite 500, Nashville, TN 37203, USA

The Law Office of Martin Sir & Associates is a family law practice with over 40 years of experience in Middle Tennessee.

Four attorneys handle litigation as well as collaborative divorce, which allows spouses to set their own terms without going to court. Other work includes spousal support, paternity, grandparents' rights, and fathers' and mothers' rights.

The West End office offers a free 30-minute consultation.

Screenshot of the Michael Rivas Law, PLLC Website
615 Main St Suite 104a, Nashville, TN 37206, USA

Spanish-speaking clients can talk to Michael Rivas directly, with no translator in the room.

Michael Rivas Law, PLLC handles divorce, parenting plans, and post-divorce enforcement and modification in Nashville. Flat-rate options and transparent billing suit people looking for an affordable uncontested divorce.

Wills, living wills, and powers of attorney round out the practice.

Screenshot of the Law Office of Radford H. Dimmick Website
UBS Tower, 315 Deaderick St, Suite 1550, Nashville, TN 37238, USA

The Law Office of Radford H. Dimmick is a downtown Nashville solo practice handling Tennessee legal matters since 1997.

Rad Dimmick splits his time between estate and trust administration, family law, business litigation, and mediation. He also takes conservatorships and guardianships.

Reviewers point to blunt case assessments over optimistic predictions, which suit clients who want the odds stated plainly.

Screenshot of the The Rushton Law Firm, PLLC Website
109 Kenner Ave Suite L-102, Nashville, TN 37205, USA

Marital dissolution, custody, orders of protection, and alimony make up most of the docket at The Rushton Law Firm, PLLC.

Attorneys Harold E. Rushton and T. Leigh Hearn-Rushton serve Davidson County and the surrounding counties. The full-service firm also takes contract, fraud, and personal injury matters and publishes plain-language posts on Tennessee parenting plans.

Screenshot of the WalshLaw Divorce and Parenting Website
315 Deaderick St, Suite 1550, Nashville, TN 37238, USA

Aaron G. Walsh has practiced since 2007 and stays personally involved in every case his staff supports.

WalshLaw Divorce and Parenting covers parenting plans, spousal support, juvenile court matters, legal separation, and military divorce. Walsh points to his own history as a stepchild, stepfather, and divorced parent as the reason the work fits him.

His downtown office sits across from the courthouse.

Screenshot of the The Law Office of Morgan Smith Website
1222 16th Ave S Suite 23, Nashville, TN 37212, USA

Nashville divorces are filed in Davidson County Circuit Court only, and nearly all of them land in the Third or Fourth Circuit. Morgan Smith has worked both since 2007.

His office focuses on contested cases: small-business valuations, disputed parenting time, and same-sex divorce.

Screenshot of the Audrey Lee Anderson Law Office Website
107 Music City Cir Suite 101, Nashville, TN 37214, USA

After clerking for the Appellate Court in Cook County, Illinois, Audrey Lee Anderson began practicing in Middle Tennessee in 1999.

She is a Rule 31-listed family mediator and works through litigation, mediation, and collaborative law. Her cases cover asset division, parental relocation, paternity, dependency and neglect, and grandparent visitation. Client reviews are consistently strong.

Screenshot of the Brenda Clark, Attorney Website
1224 2nd Ave S Suite #102, Nashville, TN 37210, USA

Brenda Clark once served as Senior Counsel for the Tennessee Attorney General's office. There, she handled complex cases and represented three governors.

She now brings more than 40 years of trial and mediation experience to Nashville families. Wills and probate sit alongside the family work, and her site offers a free divorce preparation toolkit.

Screenshot of the Rogers, Shea & Spanos: Franklin Divorce Attorneys Website

Two offices carry this firm's work. One is a full-service location in downtown Franklin, the other a midtown Nashville space in a historic mansion.

Eight attorneys handle divorce litigation, and partners Rogers, Spanos, and Siew-Ling Shea are certified mediators trained in collaborative methods. Estate planning, probate, and business law round out the practice.

Screenshot of the Law Office of Jennifer Sheppard Website

Jennifer Sheppard runs a solo practice tied to MHPS in Nashville, splitting her work between probate and family law.

She handles conservatorships, estate administration, and will contests, as well as divorce and custody matters. Sheppard meets clients at her office, their home, a hospital, or a nursing home, and the first consultation is free.

Screenshot of the Hodges Law, LLC Website
4117 Hillsboro Pike Suite 103-354, Nashville, TN 37215, USA

Few Nashville firms publish their prices. Hodges Law, LLC lists hourly rates, typical retainers, and fixed fees for wills and powers of attorney right on its site.

Attorney Michele Hodges takes probate, divorce, conservatorships, and will preparation, and offers a free 30-minute consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a divorce take in Nashville?

Sixty to ninety days at minimum. Tennessee sets a 60-day waiting period without minor children and 90 days with them. The clock starts on the filing date. Contested cases with property or custody fights often run six months to two years.

Which court handles Nashville divorce cases?

Davidson County Circuit Court. Unlike counties where Chancery Court also hears these cases, Nashville filings go to Circuit Court. Most land in the Third or Fourth Circuit, and each judge runs a slightly different courtroom.

How much does a divorce attorney in Nashville cost?

Usually an hourly rate plus a retainer. The retainer sits in a trust account and gets drawn down as work happens. Uncontested matters are sometimes quoted flat. Ask what happens when the retainer runs out, since that is where budgets break.

Does Tennessee have a true no-fault divorce?

Only when both spouses agree. Irreconcilable differences requires a signed agreement covering property, support, and parenting. Without that agreement, the filing spouse has to plead and prove fault grounds such as adultery or abandonment.

How is property split in a Tennessee divorce?

By equitable distribution, not an even cut. Courts divide marital property in a way they consider fair, which is not always 50/50. Length of marriage, each spouse's earnings, and separate property all factor in.

Is mediation required before a Nashville divorce trial?

Judges commonly order it. Contested custody and property disputes usually go to mediation before a trial date. Many cases settle there, which saves both sides money. A Rule 31-listed mediator handles the session.

Types of Family Law Cases Nashville Attorneys Handle

Contested Divorce. These are the cases where the spouses cannot agree on money, children, or both. They involve discovery, depositions, and often expert valuation of a business or retirement account.

Uncontested and Agreed Divorce. Both spouses sign a marital dissolution agreement and a parenting plan if children are involved. The lawyer's job is drafting and filing rather than litigation. Costs are far lower.

Custody and Parenting Plans. Tennessee requires a permanent parenting plan in any divorce involving children. It sets residential time, decision-making authority, and how the parents exchange information.

Child Support Matters. Support follows the state's income shares guidelines. Parenting time, health insurance, and childcare costs all feed the calculation. Attorneys also file to modify orders when income changes.

Alimony and Spousal Support. Tennessee recognizes four types, including rehabilitative and transitional support. Which one applies depends on need, ability to pay, and the length of the marriage.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements. A prenup can set terms for property division and support before marriage. Tennessee enforces them only when specific requirements are met, so drafting matters.

Orders of Protection. Domestic violence cases move on a separate and faster track. Many Nashville family lawyers handle these alongside a pending divorce filing.

How to Choose a Divorce Lawyer in Nashville

Ask how often they appear in Davidson County Circuit Court. Local judges have known preferences on scheduling, documentation, and parenting plans. A lawyer who practices there weekly knows them.

Match the lawyer to the complexity of your assets. A small business, an ownership stake, or a music industry royalty stream needs someone who has valued one before. A simple wage-earner case does not.

Get the fee structure in writing. Ask for the hourly rate, the retainer amount, and what triggers a replenishment. Flat quotes should spell out what falls outside the scope.

Check whether they mediate as well as litigate. Attorneys trained as mediators tend to spot settlement openings earlier. That can shorten a case by months.

Ask who will actually work on the file. At larger firms, an associate or paralegal may handle daily contact. That is fine if you know it up front.

What Affects the Outcome of a Nashville Divorce

No two Tennessee cases settle on the same terms. Marriage length, income gap, and custody arrangements drive most of the results. Judges weigh a child's best interests above parental preference, and that shapes both parenting time and support. Fault grounds can influence alimony but rarely control property division. A local attorney can review your finances and give you a realistic range before you file.

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