WILLIAMSON COUNTY DIVORCE ATTORNEY
For over 20 years, Donna Green has guided Williamson County residents through the complexities of the divorce process.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY DIVORCE ATTORNEY
For over 20 years, Donna Green has guided Williamson County residents through the complexities of the divorce process.
With over 20 years experience as a Williamson County divorce attorney, Donna Green guides clients through the divorce process utilizing agreement over litigation wherever possible. She focuses solely on family law matters such as divorce, child custody, child support, adoptions, and post-divorce modifications, as well as mediations and appeals.
Donna prefers to help her clients reach an agreement in their case, rather than bring the case to trial for a judge to decide. Typically in Williamson County family courts, a settlement agreement is faster, less expensive, less stressful on the parties and their children, more certain, and tends to provide terms that are tailored to her client’s priorities. However, for a variety of reasons, some cases cannot be settled by agreement and a trial is needed. When that occurs, Donna passionately advocates for her clients in court, and uses her knowledge of Williamson County family law and procedures to achieve the best outcome for her clients.
Donna Green’s History as a Williamson County Divorce Attorney
The work ethic that sets Donna Green apart as a Williamson County and Middle Tennessee family lawyer was evident long before she opened her law firm. She attended Cornell University as an undergraduate in Communication and Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering. She graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1998.
In 2016, Donna was named one of the 10 Best Female Family Law Attorneys in Tennessee by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys. In 2014, this respected family lawyer was recognized by the Nashville Business Journal, where she received a Best of the Bar nomination. Additionally, her editorial legal analysis has been published in The Tennessean.
Determined to remain up to date with all that is happening in the practice area of family law in Williamson County, Donna Green maintains membership with several associations. She served for five years as the Administrator of the Tennessee John Marshall American Inn of Court. She has also been a member of the Williamson County Bar Association and the Tennessee Bar Association.
Compassionate Handling of Family Law Matters
Donna believes that divorce cases and other matters involving family law require a great deal of personal attention. Her overarching goal is to help clients through the difficult divorce process in a proactive, strategic manner. She aims to secure the favorable divorce terms that her clients desire, while providing realistic feedback about what outcomes are likely. Knowing when to settle a case and when to bring it to trial is a skill that comes with Donna Green’s decades of experience as a Williamson County divorce attorney.
BGNC LAW
BEAL, GREEN, NATIONS, & CRUTCHER
______________________
MEET OUR ATTORNEYS
______________________
Robbie Beal
In 2014, Robbie Beal returned to private practice after serving a seven-year term as Juvenile Court Referee/Magistrate, followed by an eight-year term as Circuit Court Judge for the 21st Judicial District (Williamson, Hickman, Lewis and Perry counties). His current practice spans the range of cases that he handled as a judge, including criminal cases, divorce and post-divorce matters, contract disputes, personal injury cases, orders of protection, and Juvenile Court matters. Robbie is also a highly regarded mediator for Williamson County and the surrounding areas.
Donna Green
Donna Green focuses her practice solely on family law cases such as divorce, child custody, child support, adoptions, and post-divorce modifications, as well as mediations and appeals. She attended Cornell University as an undergraduate in Communication and Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering. She graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1998. For over a decade, she ran her own small law firm, handling family law cases throughout Middle Tennessee. In 2017, Donna partnered with three other attorneys to open the office of Beal, Green, Nations & Crutcher.
Erin Nations
Erin Nations focuses her practice in the area of family law, representing clients in divorce, child custody, child support, post- divorce modifications, and adoption matters. Erin also practices in the areas of criminal defense, personal injury, and juvenile matters. While a law student, she clerked full-time for the Circuit Court Judges of Williamson County. It was during her tenure as a law clerk that she formed the relationships and gained the vital experience that have shaped her into the well-known and respected attorney that she is today.
Shannon Crutcher
Shannon Crutcher handles a wide range of cases including divorce, post-divorce, custody, adoption, juvenile matters, criminal defense, contract disputes and general civil litigation. He is a native of Williamson County and serves as vice mayor on the Fairview City Commission. Shannon attended Trevecca Nazarene University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts, and later received an MBA. He has been licensed to practice law in Tennessee since 2009. Shannon resides in Fairview, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.
About Donna L. Green
______________________
Donna Green focuses her practice solely on Williamson County family law cases such as divorce, child custody, child support, adoptions, and post-divorce modifications, as well as mediations and appeals.
As a Williamson County divorce attorney, Donna Green works to utilize the most amicable route available so the process of divorce is as fast and painless as possible. Sometimes agreement is an available route rather than trial litigation. If so, it is almost almost always the faster, more affordable and more comfortable route. Rather than letting a judge decide your case, settlement allows the most control and certainty of terms for invested parties.
As an experienced divorce attorney in Williamson County, Donna is able to navigate the process of divorce as collaboratively as possible for everyone involved. While she is always looking for a way to reach agreement, Donna also has solid litigation experience as a Williamson County divorce attorney. Her unique combination of litigation and mediation experience allows Donna to provide the most pragmatic advice for her clients.
More About Donna »
WHAT OUR CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW IT WORKS
___________ ___________
Can I come to see you before I’m certain that I want to file for divorce?
Answer
Yes. In fact, I prefer to meet with a potential client before the divorce pending. That allows me to advise the person to take actions that might change the outcome of their divorce if they are put into place before someone actually files.
The first step is to call to set up an initial consultation. During the initial consultation, I will learn about the unique facts of your situation, and give you my assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of your case. If there are actions you can take to strengthen your position in a legal battle, I will advise you to do so, and discuss my tentative strategies for maximizing your outcome. At the end of the meeting, I will have enough information to set a retainer amount if you choose to hire me to represent you.
What will it cost?
Answer
For an initial consultation, I charge a flat fee of $100. Typically, the consultation meeting runs about one hour. The total cost of a divorce or other family law matter can vary greatly. Due to the unpredictable nature of litigation, it is impossible for any attorney to predict the total cost of a divorce with certainty. If you choose to hire me to represent you, you will pay a retainer, which is like a deposit to be applied toward future service. Once retained, time devoted to your case by attorneys is billed at $300 per hour. Time devoted to your case by paralegals is billed at $100 per hour.
Can I get my ex for abandonment or neglect? If so, who should I contact that will accept a mother with no income?
My husband and I have not been getting along these past few months so he decides to take his son, from a previous relationship, and two yr old, from a previous relationship, and move in"temporary" with his mom in Alabama. But we have a seven month old little girl together which I've been taking care of her by myself because I am currently unemployed. My husband works weekend days at a plant. We are renting a house in Fayetteville, TN but for a month now it's just been my infant and myself. He pays child support for his two yr old but has not really helped me with our daughter.
Answer
With a new baby in the house, two other children in a newly blended family situation, and you out of work, your household has enough stress to challenge any marriage. You may want to consider marriage counseling to see if your relationship is worth saving. Divorce will not put you in a better financial position, and you will no longer be able to see your baby every day. Be sure you are aware of the consequences if you choose to seek assistance from a divorce attorney and file for divorce -- it is not a magic bullet to make all problems go away.
How can we keep the boy friend away from the children until the divorce is final?
My son-in-law was recently kicked out of his home and replaced by a boy friend. They have 4 children 8 years and younger. Is it possible to keep the boy friend away from the children until the divorce is final.
Answer
When your son-in-law files for divorce, he can ask for a hearing on the issue of whether the children can be exposed to the new boyfriend. However, there is no hard and fast rule here. Some judges will routinely prohibit contact between the children and the new lover. Others will prohibit only overnight visits or ask for proof that the boyfriend is a danger to the children (such as history of violence, child abuse, or drugs). In some cases, a judge may place no restrictions on contact with the boyfriend, but if the exposure continues, the judge may weigh it heavily against the mother at the final divorce because it shows such poor judgment as a parent.
My ex does pay child support faithfully but he has not called or visited in 2 years, is that abandonment?
I recently lost my job after injuring my back and have been experiencing depression. My doctor instructed me to file for disability. My son and I are now on TennCare. I had to sign papers agreeing for the state to go after my ex husband for insurance. Knowing my ex, he will sue me for custody rather than pay more than he currently is. Will my suffering with depression go against me if he does go for custody? Is it abandonment?
Answer
There are numerous factors that a judge would consider in any child custody case, but certainly, two factors that would weigh heavily against your ex are not visiting in two years, and filing for custody in retaliation for a child support increase. Your illness and disability are relevant only to the extent that they impact your ability to parent. As always, it is a good idea to keep meticulous records of calls/visits.
My wife wants to buy a house while we are in the beginning stage of divorce. Does the house become marital asset ?
Hello, my wife and I are in the beginning stage of divorce, we are yet to file. With our rental agreement expiring next month, my wife decided that she wants to buy the house before going through the divorce. What can I do to protect myself as I'm clearly not interested in purchasing a property under the circumstances. What can I do to protect myself if she does end up buying the house before divorce is final ?
Answer
In Tennessee, any property purchased during the marriage up until the date of your final divorce is marital property. It would be extremely unusual that a mortgage company would close a home loan without the spouse's signature on certain documents. If your wife is eager to buy a house before the divorce, you may be in a position to negotiate for something you want. I recommend having an attorney draft a complete divorce settlement for her signature before you cooperate with her home purchase. Of course, in any event, you would not want to be a borrower on the home loan.
Revoking visitation for NCP who doesn't use it & is moving out of state?
Is there a way for a child custody or divorce attorney to help me revoke visitation rights for a non-custodial parent, if they do not use the visitation they have been given and then move out of state? This will be the second time my ex has moved away from our daughter. The first time he moved, he did not try to see her for a year and I suspect that it will be the same this time, as he's moving back to that area. He clearly does not want to be involved in her life and I want to protect her from the back and forth disappointment. He is also significantly behind on child support - which will only get worse after he leaves.
Answer
If you document your ex's failure to use his parenting days for some length of time, such as 6 months, you will have a strong case to suspend his visitation. Many judges would allow him to come back to court and ask for some gradual visitation plan in the future. If you are remarried, and your husband wants to adopt your daughter, you may have a case to permanently terminate the father's parental rights.