Amy J Amundsen C.V.

Amy J. Amundsen is an experienced family law litigator, and now provides attorneys with virtual legal and business consulting services.  She also offers mentoring and coaching for attorneys to enhance their legal career, as Ms. Amundsen has been elected into highly selective national and international legal organizations. She is a Diplomate in the American College of Family Trial Lawyers (ACFTL), an organization limited to the top 100 divorce lawyers in the U.S.  The ACFTL is one of the industry's most distinguished honors.  Ms. Amundsen is a Fellow in both the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML).   Ms. Amundsen serves on the Tennessee Bar Association Family Law Section executive committee where she assists in drafting family law legislation and since 2001, assisted in the annual publication of the Tennessee Bar Association Alimony Bench Book distributed to Tennessee judges and lawyers.

Ms. Amundsen practices virtual collaborative family law with the Memphis Collaborative Alliance (MCA) and is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP).   With her many years of experience litigating divorce cases in the courtroom and working with professionals from other disciplines on those cases, she provides insightful advice and recommendations in the collaborative setting.  She is trained collaboratively through the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML).

Ms. Amundsen prepares prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.  She is a Rule 31 family law mediator and a family law arbitrator, trained through the AAML.  

She has served as the President of the following organizations: Memphis Bar Association, Leo Bearman, Sr. American Inn of Court, The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Alumni Chapter, Tennessee and Memphis Bar Association Family Law Section (two terms),  Chair of the Memphis Area Legal Services Campaign and the 2019 University of Memphis Law Pillars of Excellence.

AWARDS & PROFESSIONAL HONORS

Judge Jerome Turner Lawyer’s Lawyer Award from the Memphis Bar Association (2018)

Justice Joseph W. Henry Award, TBA – Kingsport Annual Conference (June 2017)

Marion Griffin-Francis Loring Award from the Association of Women Attorneys (2007)

Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS

“DOMESTIC ASSET PROTECTION TRUSTS IN DIVORCE LITIGATION,” Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Vol. 29, No. 1, 2016.

“A STATE OF CONFUSION AND A NEED FOR CLARITY, THE FALL OUT FROM CULBERTSON I AND II,” Tennessee Bar Journal, Vol. 52, No. 5, May 2015.

“BALANCING THE COURT’S PARENS PATRIAE OBLIGATIONS AND THE PSYCHOLOGIST-PATIENT PRIVILEGE IN CUSTODY DISPUTES,” Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Vol. 28, No. 1, 2015.

“REMOVING THE PARACHUTE”, American Journal of Family Law, Vol. 29, No. 3, Summer and Fall 2015.

“MUTUAL TEMPORARY INJUNCTIONS IN DIVORCE CASES”, Tennessee Bar Journal, July 2012.

“Skype Mediation-An Efficient and Cost Effective Approach”, Memphis Lawyer, Vol. 29, Issue 2, page 9.

“OH NO I JUST GOT SERVED WITH A DIVORCE SUMMONS…HOW TO VALUE YOUR MEDICAL PRACTICE”, The Memphis Medical Society Quarterly, Vol. 13, No. 4, page 28, Winter 2010.

ALIMONY BENCH BOOK, Tennessee Bar Journal, 2002 and each year thereafter

"SPOLIATION OF EVIDENCE IN DIVORCE CASES: When the Adverse Party Loses, Cancels, or Destroys Evidence”, Wiley Family Law, 1997

“STATE RETIREMENT PLANS-CAN THEY BE DIVIDED AT THE TIME OF A DIVORCE?” Matrimonial Strategist, July 1996

“8 POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROS”, Matrimonial Strategist, February 1995

‘THE PROBLEM OF HEARSAY: HOW TO AVOID ITS ADMISSIBILITY”, Matrimonial Strategist, January 1995

PROFESSIONAL LECTURES

TN ALIMONY UPDATE 2022 AND TIPS WHEN REPRESENTING CLIENTS, Memphis Bar Association, Family Law Seminar, TN, (March 18, 2022)

MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION, BLR Family Law Conference, Webinar (October 8, 2021)

NUTS AND BOLTS OF ALIMONY FOR THE INDIGENT CLIENT,  Tennessee Alliance of Legal Services, Virtual Seminar (September 21, 2021)

AVOIDING ETHICAL PITFALLS,  Greater Memphis Area Paralegal Alliance, Virtual meeting (September 15, 2021)

UNLOCKING THEIR POTENTIAL:  A MENTOR'S GUIDE TO A SUCCESSFUL MENTEE'S CAREER,  Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association Virtual Domestic Relations Conference, (March 18, 2021)

AVOIDING A PYRRHIC VICTORY: TRUST RESOLUTIONS IN DIVORCE, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Virtual Midyear, (March 12, 2021)

ADR DURING THE PANDEMIC, BLR Family Law Conference, Webinar, (October 9, 2020) (December 4, 2020)

NAVIGATING TAX CLAUSES AFTER TCJA AND DURING THE COVID 19-PANDEMIC, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Webinar, (October 2, 2020)

PRACTICAL TIPS WITH DIVORCE MEDIATION AND ONLINE DIVORCE MEDIATION, Tennessee Bar Association, Webinar (May 2020)

KEY ISSUES IN FAMILY LAW WITH COVID-19 & ALIMONY BENCH BOOK UPDATES, Tennessee Bar Association, Webinar (May 11, 2020)

DOMESTIC LAW FORUM, Co-Chair, Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, Memphis, Tennessee, (Feb. 6, 2020)

PROFESSIONALISM: TIPS TO BECOMING A BETTER LAWYER, Memphis Bar Association, Memphis, Tennessee (December 18, 2019)

TENNESSEE ALIMONY UPDATE & 2018 TCJA, Tennessee Attorney’s Memo Family Law Conference, Nashville, Tennessee (December 6, 2019)

PRACTICAL TIPS & ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN MEDIATION, Tennessee Attorney’s Memo Family Law Conference, Nashville, Tennessee (December 5, 2019)

DON’T GET IN HOT WATER WHEN A CLIENT DRAGS YOU INTO THEIR DIVORCE, Forensic & Valuation Services Conference, Memphis, Tennessee, (October 23, 2019)

HIGH CONFLICT DIVORCE CASES – CUT TO THE CHASE, Tennessee Bar Association, Nashville, Tennessee (May 15, 2019)

ALIMONY BENCH BOOK 17TH EDITION UPDATES, Tennessee Bar Association, Memphis, Tennessee (March 27, 2019)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRUST AND DIVORCE. DON’T TRUST ANYBODY BUT THE TRUSTEE, Memphis, Tennessee (March 13, 2019)

TRUSTS AND DIVORCE, Tennessee Attorney’s Memo, Family Law Conference, Nashville, Tennessee (December 1, 2017)

TAX ISSUES IN DIVORCE, Tennessee Attorney’s Memo, Family Law Conference, Nashville, Tennessee (December 1, 2017)

THE COLLISION OF TRUSTS & DOMESTIC LAW: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, MBA 2017 Estate Planning Series, Memphis, Tennessee (October 24, 2017)

KIDS IN THE LAW: WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW, University of Memphis Building Strong Brains Together: “Understanding ACEs and ECE Best Practices,” Memphis, Tennessee (March 24, 2017)

HOT TOPICS IN ALIMONY, Tennessee Attorney’s Memo, Family Law Conference, Nashville, Tennessee (December 1, 2016)

ETHICS FROM THE BENCH AND BAR, Tennessee Attorney’s Memo, Family Law Conference, Nashville, Tennessee (December 1, 2016)

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, National Business Institute, Memphis, Tennessee (November 10, 2016)

LEGAL ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY, National Business Institute, Memphis, Tennessee (November 10, 2016)

DANCING WITH OUR NEIGHBOR: SPOUSAL SUPPORT GUIDELINES IN CANADA AND THE US, American Bar Association Family Law Conference, Quebec, Canada (October 20, 2016)

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW WHEN YOU HANDLE DIVORCES, Affordable CLE Tennessee, Maximus, Memphis, Tennessee (March 22, 2016)

THE UNIFORM VOIDABLE TRANSACTIONS ACT: THE HIDDEN GEMS, program coordinator, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Nassau, Bahamas (March 14, 2016)

USING MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS IN TENNESSEE CUSTODY CASES: THE CULBERTSON CASE, Webinar, Tennessee Attorney’s Memo (February 25, 2016)

HOT TOPIC FROM THE BENCH AND BAR, Tennessee Attorney’s Memo, Family Law Conference, Nashville, Tennessee (December 4, 2015)

ETHICS FROM THE BENCH AND BAR, Tennessee Attorney’s Memo, Family Law Conference, Nashville, Tennessee (December 4, 2015).

STARTING A FOREIGN AFFAIR, producer, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Chicago, Illinois (November 7, 2015).

TEN TIPS TO ASSIST YOU WITH UNDERSTANDING ALIMONY IN TENNESSEE, Tennessee Association of Legal Services, Nashville, Tennessee (June 26, 2015)

ALIMONY IN TENNESSEE AND SOME TRENDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, Memphis Bar Association, Destin, Florida (May 9, 2015)

COLLABORATIVE FAMILY LAW, A NEW CONCEPT TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS, Memphis Bar Association, Memphis Tennessee, (April 15, 2015)

TAX TIPS IN FAMILY LAW CASES, CECLE, Memphis, Tennessee (March 18, 2015)

TODAY’S ALIMONY, Tennessee Attorneys Memo, Family Law Conference, Nashville, Tennessee (December 5, 2014)

ETHICS IN FAMILY LAW, Tennessee Attorneys Memo, Family Law Conference, Nashville, Tennessee (December 5, 2014)

ALIMONY TRENDS IN MODIFICATIONS, American Bar Association Family Law Conference, Stowe, Vermont (October 17, 2014)

SPOUSAL SUPPORT-SHOW ME THE MONEY, Memphis Bar Association, (April 17, 2014)

ALIENATION OR VISITATION RESISTENCE, co-producer, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Cancun, Mexico, (March 7, 2014).

10 APPS TO LOOK FOR ON A CHEATING SPOUSES SMART PHONE, Tennessee Association for Justice, New Orleans, Louisiana, (January 17, 2014)

TODAY’S ALIMONY, Tennessee Attorneys Memo, Family Law Conference, Nashville, Tennessee (December 6, 2013)

ETHICS, Tennessee Attorneys Memo, Family Law Conference, Nashville, Tennessee (December 6, 2013)

ADVANCED TRAINING FOR THE FAMILY LAWYER:ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS IN A HIGH CONFLICT CUSTODY CASE, Tennessee Bar Association, Memphis, Tennessee (November 14, 2013)

ADVANCED TRAINING FOR THE FAMILY LAWYER: SUPERVISED PARENTING TIME, Tennessee Bar Association, Memphis, Tennessee (November 14, 2013) 

ADVANCED FAMILY LAW-DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE HOME AND ETHICS, National Business Institute, Memphis, Tennessee (October 1, 2013)

YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY, ALIMONY, Tennessee Attorneys Memo, Family Law Conference, Nashville, Tennessee (December 7, 2012)

IS ALIMONY IN FUTURO ONLY FOR YOUR GRANDMOTHER?, Tennessee Association for Justice, Memphis (June 7, 2012)

DIVORCE AND TORTS-HOW DO THEY INTERSECT, Greater Memphis Paralegal Association, Memphis, Tennessee (February 15, 2012)

COMPLEX DIVORCES INTERSECT WITH TORT ACTIONS, Tennessee Association for Justice, New Orleans, Louisiana, (February 3, 2012)

PARENTAL RELOCATION, Tennessee Association for Justice, Memphis, Tennessee (March 24, 2011) 

WHAT IS THAT MEDICAL PRACTICE/ACCOUNTING PRACTICE/DENTAL PRACTICE REALLY

WORTH AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT ISSUES, Tennessee Association for Justice, Memphis, Tennessee (March 24, 2011).

WHERE SPOUSES HIDE MONEY, Greater Memphis Paralegal Association, Memphis, Tennessee (June 16, 2010) 

CASE LAW AND LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 2009, Greater Paralegal Association, Memphis, Tennessee (September 10, 2009) 

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CLIENT DURING THESE HARD ECONOMIC TIMES—SOME HELPFUL

TAX AND BANKRUPTCY TIPS, LEI, Vail, Colorado (January 3, 2009) 

ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE, CECLE, Tunica, Mississippi (March 13, 2008) 

NOW I KNOW THE RETAINER WAS SET TOO LOW…HANDLING DIFFICULT SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ABA Family Law Section, Memphis, Tennessee (October 12, 2007) 

WHATS HOT IN DOMESTIC LAW: A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, MBA, Memphis, Tennessee (August 21, 2007) 

DOMESTIC LAW UPDATE, MBA, Memphis, Tennessee (October 12, 2006) 

DOMESTIC LAW UPDATE—DISTRICT ATTORNEY, MBA, Cookeville, Tennessee (September 7, 2006) 

HOT TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS, ABA Family Law Section, Honolulu, Hawaii (August 6, 2006)

GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL COURTESY AND CONDUCT, AIC, Memphis, Tennessee (March 14, 2006) 

TAX CONSIDERATIONS IN DISSOLUTION ACTIONS, SES, Memphis, Tennessee (September 10, 2003) 

A ROADMAP THROUGH TENNESSEE DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS, NBI, Memphis, Tennessee (May 28, 2003) 

ALIMONY BENCHBOOK, TBA Annual Convention, Chattanooga, Tennessee (June, 2002)

CHILD SUPPORT ISSUES WITH SHARED PARENTING, MBA John Dice Seminar, Memphis, Tennessee (February, 2002) 

ALIMONY BENCHBOOK, Tennessee Judicial Conference, Montgomery Bell, Tennessee (October, 2001) 

FAMILY LAW—HOT TOPICS, MBA John Dice Seminar, Memphis, Tennessee (January, 2001) 

GUARDIAN AD LITEM LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, MBA, Memphis, Tennessee (March, 2000) 

FAMILY LAW UPDATE, Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, Memphis, Tennessee (November, 1999) 

FAMILY LAW UPDATE, MBA, Memphis, Tennessee (September 24, 1999) 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE LAW, UT, Memphis, Tennessee (August 6, 1999) 

UCCJA & UCCJEA, NBI, Memphis, Tennessee (June 23, 1999) 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, MBA, Memphis, Tennessee (March 31, 1999) 

TRUSTS, ESTATE PLANNING & DIVORCE IN TENNESSEE, NBI, Memphis, Tennessee (February 2, 1999) 

DOMESTIC RELATIONS, TTLA, Memphis, Tennessee (November 21, 1998) 

LEGISLATIVE OVERVIEW, MBA, Memphis, Tennessee (August 19, 1998) 

FAMILY LAW IN TENNESSEE, NBI, Memphis, Tennessee (July 16, 1998) 

DOMESTIC LAW IN TENNESSEE, NBI, Memphis, Tennessee (January 16, 1998)

CUSTODY AND VISITATION IN TENNESSEE, TBA, Memphis, Tennessee (November 21, 1997) 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE IN FAMILY LAW, MBA, Memphis, Tennessee (September, 19 1997) 

DOMESTIC LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, TBA, Destin Florida (July 14, 1997) 

DOMESTIC RELATIONS—FROM A (ADOPTIONS) TO Q (QDRO’S) AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, MBA, Hot Springs, Arkansas (March 21,1997)