Matt Maniatis

Matt Maniatis is a licensed attorney in Nashville, Tennessee assisting the community in the areas of immigration and naturalization, criminal defense, DUI, divorce, family law, and estate planning. Matt attended the International School of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, receiving his diploma in 2004. Matt graduated in 2008 from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Criminology. He earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2011 from the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, with a certificate in international legal studies.

Matt has represented hundreds of clients in Tennessee state courts and in immigration courts across the mid-South. He has also briefed and argued cases before the Tennessee Supreme Court, Tennessee Court of Appeals, and Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. Matt has extensive immigration-related appellate practice before the Board of Immigration Appeals and the U.S. Sixth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeal.

While Matt practices in a wide variety of legal areas, his focus centers on helping clients obtain U.S. permanent residency, U.S. citizenship through naturalization, and other lawful status in the United States, as well as representing criminal defendants in need of experienced legal counsel with knowledge of complex U.S. immigration law.

Matt is a third generation Greek American whose interest in immigration law grew from his grandparents who immigrated from Greece after World War II, and from his time living in Malaysia as a temporary resident. Matt also studied law at the University of Vienna (Universität Wien) in Vienna, Austria while obtaining his Juris Doctor. Matt has testified in state court as an expert witness in immigration law, and also writes for the Tennessee Bar Association Immigration Law Section.

Loyola University New Orleans

J.D. (2011) | Law

2008 - 2011

Honors: Certificate in International Legal Studies; Certificate in Civil and Common Law

Activities: Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice

University of Oklahoma

B.A. (2008) | Criminology

2004 - 2008

Attorney | Owner

Maniatis Law PLLC

2021 - Current

Attorney | Partner

Saenz & Maniatis, PLLC

2013 - 2021

Attorney | Owner

Law Office of Matt Maniatis

2011 - 2013

Nashville Legal Blog

Maniatis Law PLLC

Expanded Expedited Removal Temporarily Blocked

Tennessee Bar Association, Immigration Law Section

February 4, 2020

Do Non-Citizens have Constitutional Rights?

Tennessee Attorneys Memo

September 24, 2018

Can "No Trespassing" Signs Keep Out Police?

Tennessee Attorneys Memo

July 16, 2018

New Law Allows Permit-less Carry of Firearm after Order of Protection

Tennessee Attorneys Memo

April 23, 2018

Immigration Law Presentation, Hillsboro High School

February 2022

Information on USCIS DACA Program, Shelbyville, TN

July 21, 2012

Adjustment of Status and Naturalization, Immigration Law Informational Session, Nashville, TN

August 16, 2014

Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE)

Notary Public

State of Tennessee

License to Practice Law

Supreme Court of Tennessee

Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Tennessee

National Trial Lawyers

2023

Best Immigration Law Firm in Nashville, TN

Legal Directorate

2023

Mid-South Rising Star

Super Lawyers

2022

AV Preeminent Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

2022

Client's Choice Award

Avvo

2022

DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA)

Member

2022 - Current

Tennessee Associaton of Criminal Defense Lawyers (TACDL)

Member

2012 - Current

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

Member

2012 - Current

Tennessee Bar Association (TBA)

Member

2011 - Current

Tennessee

Since 2011

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Since 2019

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Since 2016

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

Since 2016

U.S. Immigration Courts

Since 2011

• Credit Cards Accepted
  All major credit cards are accepted.
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  We provide interest-free financing options (payment plans) for most services.

Immigration Law

Asylum, Citizenship, Deportation Defense, Family Visas, Green Cards, Immigration Appeals, Investment Visas, Marriage & Fiancé(e) Visas, Student Visas, Visitor Visas, Work Visas

Criminal Law

Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes

DUI & DWI

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders, Victims Rights , Victims Rights

Divorce

Collaborative Law, Contested Divorce, Military Divorce, Property Division, Same Sex Divorce, Spousal Support & Alimony, Uncontested Divorce

Family Law

Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father's Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law

Juvenile Law

Appeals & Appellate

Civil Appeals, Federal Appeals

• Deportation Defense
• Naturalization
• Asylum
• Immigration Appeals
• Immigration Consequences of Criminal Charges

Q. Can a green card holder apply for a green card for their spouse?

November 8, 2021

A: Yes. You can file a petition for your spouse, which is the first step in obtaining permanent residency. There will be a brief wait period after approval since you are not a U.S. citizen. If your spouse maintains lawful status in the United States during this entire time, then he or she may be eligible to apply for adjustment of status within the United States once the visa is available. Otherwise, your spouse would need to leave the country before his or her status expired and pursue consular processing of an immigrant visa.