Mr. Kent Thomas Jones

A graduate from the George Washington University Law School (GW), Kent T. Jones is the Owner and Managing Partner of Jones & Associates PC. Kent's undergraduate work at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville was in English and Honors Political Science. At GW, Kent placed first as an oralist in the Mid-Atlantic Regionals of the Phillip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition and was appointed to be a Member of the GW Moot Court Board. Additionally, he served as President of the GW International Law Society, sponsoring speaker panels on international trade law, international criminal law, international human rights law and other areas, including, but not limited to sponsorship of an International Law Weekend with the Georgetown University Law School with a speaker from the U.S. Department of Commerce. After clerking for a prominent federal securities law firm and international trade law firm, both in Washington, DC, he secured an in-house position with a corporation in Chattanooga, Tennessee, producing contracts for Fortune 500 companies. During the next 13 years, Kent did predominantly insurance and workers' compensation defense work for a regional law firm, where he was a Senior Partner, with the execption of one and one half years with a plaintiff's employment discrimination law firm in Chattanooga. He formed Jones & Associates PC in April of 2012, and the core areas of practice developed into insurance law, divorce, criminal defense and personal injury, as well as other assorted assignments involving real estate, commercial creditors bankruptcy, wills, conservatorships, guardian ad litem work and workers' compensation. He is a former member of the Board of Trustees for a local, private Episcopal School and has participated in volunteer activities in the Hamilton County community, mostly involving health and children.

• Free Consultation
  For billable cases, the first consultation is free.
• Contingent Fees
  For workers' compensation plaintiff's cases, the fee is 20% of the total indemnity award. For other liability cases, it is 33 1/3 % or 40% if it goes to appeal.
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  I graduated from the George Washington University National Law School, where I was a Member of the Moot Court Board.

Tennessee

Since 1999

6th Circuit

Since 2003

Federal Circuit

Since 2000

Owner and Managing Partner

Jones & Associates, PC

2012 - Current

Associate, Member, Senior Member

Allen, Kopet & Associates, PLLC

1999 - 2012

In-house Counsel and Corporate Trainer

Harrison Direct, Inc.

1991 - 1999

International Trade Law Clerk

Graham & James

1989 - 1991

Conducted research and drafted memoranda on international trade law.

Federal Securities Law Clerk

Routier, Mackey & Johnson, PC

1988 - 1989

The George Washington University Law School

J.D. (1991) | Law and International Law

1988 - 1991

Honors: Member, Moot Court Board

Activities: President of the International Law Society

University of Tennessee - Knoxville

B.A. | English and Honors Political Science

1984 - 1988

Honors: B.A. with Honors

Admitted

AM Best Top Rated Insurance Attorneys

2014

Based on client feedback.

First place oralist, second place overall, Jessup Moot Court Comp.

George Washington University Law School

1991

Moot Court Board Member

George Washington University Law School

1991

Cleveland, Tennessee Bar Association  # 20158

Member

2014 - Current

Activities: Attend regular informational meetings.

AM Best Top Rated Insurance Attorneys

Member

2014 - Current

UTK Alumni Association

Member

2012 - Current

George Washington University Alumni Association

Member

2012 - Current

St. Peter's Episcopal School Board

Member at Large

2006 - 2010

Divorce in Tennessee - Part 1

Youtube

January, 2019

Divorce in Tennessee - Part 2

Youtube

January, 2019

Divorce in Tennessee - Part 3

Youtube

January, 2019

Where do I begin? I just suffered a personal injury in the State of Tennessee.

Self-published

June 15, 2015

Handling the Workers' Compensation Case From Start to Finish, NBI / National Business Institute, Chattanooga, Tennessee

July 26, 2018

NBI

I spoke on both Medical Issues During the Claim and Recovery from Third Parties

Licensed to Practice Law in Tennessee

Tennessee Supreme Court

Admitted to Practice Before the United States Dist. Ct. for the Eastern Dist. of Tenn.

United States District Court

Admitted to Practice Before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Licensed Life, Accident and Health Insurance Provider

State of Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance

Q. how long does one have to be married to get there retirement?

August 26, 2020

A: Generally speaking, in the State of Tennessee, marital property is divided, but separate property is not. All of the property is identified, classified and valued. Tennessee is an “equitable distribution” state, which means that once the property is classified as marital or separate, the trial court has to divide it equitably. T.C.A. Section 36-4-121(c). However, marital property is not always divided 50/50. Instead, it is divided “equitably.”

In certain circumstances, an entire asset could be given to one spouse. However, with the close range of money that you and your wife have, I don’t think that this would occur.

Separate Property” is all real and personal property owned before marriage, gifts and inheritances.

With regard to “marital property,” the courts look at:

1. The duration of the marriage;

2. The age, physical and mental health, vocation skills, employability, earning capacity, estate, financial liabilities and financial needs of each of the parties;

3. The tangible or intangible contribution by one party to the education, training or increased earning capacity of the other party;

4. The relative ability of each party for future acquisitions of capital assets and income;

5. The contribution of each party to the acquisition, preservation, appreciation, depreciation or dissipation of the marital or separate property, including the contribution of a party to the marriage as homemaker, wage earner or parent, with the contribution of a party as homemaker or wage earner to be given the same weight if each party has fulfilled its role (who contributed more or performed the marital role more);

6. The value of the separate property of each party;

7. The estate of each party at the time of marriage;

8. The economic circumstances of each party at the time the division of property is to become effective;

9. The tax consequences to each party; costs associated with the reasonably foreseeable sale of the asset, and other reasonably foreseeable expenses associated with the asset;

10. The amount of social security benefits available to each spouse; and

11. Such other factors as are necessary to consider the equities between the parties.

In spite of the “general” statement mentioned above, courts do consider separate property. If one spouse has more “separate” property, then the other spouse will usually be given more “marital” property.

In direct answer to your question, the appreciation of “separate” property during the marriage can become “marital” property. The test is whether the non-owning spouse proves that both spouses substantially contributed to its preservation and appreciation.

Also, if separate property is inextricably mingled with marital property or separate property of the other spouse, then the courts look at it as a “gift” to the marital property, which, as stated above, is divided.

There is also a concept of “transmutation.” This is when there is evidence of an intention that the separate property be marital.

The issues that are of concern to you are complex. So, when and if you get into a divorce situation, call me, because turning separate property into marital property requires a long analysis.

Thank you for your time. Have a wonderful day. ... Read More

Q. Probation with VOP and recent dui results

August 24, 2020

A: You have a constitutional right to an attorney. Petition the Judge to give you a Public Defender or appointed attorney. With what you meantioned, I would not go to court without an attorney.

Q. I filed for divorce in TN and my spouse is incarcerated. He did not file an answer to my complaint. What do I do next?

August 23, 2020

A: You can get an attorney and do it on your own. He/she will just have to draft all the appropriate documents, including but not limited to the Final Decree of Divorce and question you in front of the judge.