Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a set of court-ordered financial payments made from one spouse to the other during divorce proceedings (called pendente lite spousal support) or after a divorce or both. These payments usually occur on a monthly basis and may be ordered either indefinitely or for a predetermined period.In Virginia, alimony is typically awarded when one spouse has significantly more financial Read More
Who determines how assets are divided in a divorce?
Asset division is a major part of any Virginia divorce. From real estate to investments, nearly everything owned by spouses must be divided between them. There are two ways in which asset division may be determined during the divorce process: by a mutual agreement between the spouses, or by allowing the court to decide according to Virginia's equitable distribution laws. The option available to you will largely Read More
Should I get a prenuptial agreement?
Bringing up a prenuptial agreement (generally called a premarital agreement in Virginia) to your soon-to-be spouse might feel unromantic, but in a state with the 14th highest divorce rate in the country, it should be a consideration for many couples. A Fairfax family lawyer can help you understand your financial obligations during marriage and how a prenuptial agreement can protect your financial interests in the Read More
FERS & Equitable Distribution
In March of 2023, we published a blog about how to split retirement accounts during a divorce. Because we have offices in Northern Virginia and North Carolina, our family law attorneys work closely with military members and people the government employs. In terms of the divorce process, a civilian and a Marine, for instance, will file the same way through the same courts. However, government employees and military Read More
Where can I get a copy of my divorce decree?
Following a divorce, there are several reasons why you might need a copy of your divorce decree. For example, if you’re changing your name after your divorce, you’ll need to present a certified copy of the decree to the Social Security Administration and the DMV. You might also need to provide a copy to a lender if you’re purchasing or refinancing a home, or to an institution to close a bank account. Fortunately, Read More
What constitutes harassment by an ex-spouse?
Divorce inevitably brings a lot of emotional strain. In some cases, this heightened turmoil can lead to harassment by a former spouse. Harassment can take many forms — it’s important to understand what constitutes harassment in order to protect yourself.If you believe you’re being harassed by your former spouse, call our experienced Fairfax family lawyers at (855) 541-4867 for personalized legal Read More
Splitting Retirement Accounts During A Divorce
One of the many reasons a divorce is such a significant event in your life is because it questions your future. Accumulating and protecting assets is a method for securing a future. Regardless of your long-term goals, you must be in the right financial position to pursue them. Think about how much a divorce calls this into question. Someone middle-aged, for instance, begins to look at the equity they have in their Read More
The value of communication
To fully understand how valuable communication is in estate planning and family law matters, you need to know that a lack of communication is the source of significant problems. In a divorce, spouses may be entirely out of touch with one another. By the time one or both choose to initiate the divorce process, they may be emerging from long periods of silence. One of the reasons this is so harmful is that neither one Read More
The Fundamentals For Creating A Parenting Plan In Virginia
There is no law in Virginia that requires you and your former spouse to create a parenting plan during the divorce process or any custody and visitation proceeding in the juvenile court. As attorneys who also build estate plans, we should highlight how no law requires you to have a will or a revocable trust either. However, there are tremendous benefits to everything we just mentioned. Today, we wanted to discuss why Read More
Securing the future: Naming a guardian for your children
Naming a guardian for your minor child and your child’s property is a vital (yet often overlooked) element of the estate planning process. Though it may come as a surprise, the person you choose to be the child’s guardian does not have to be the same person who oversees their assets. The person who oversees their assets is referred to as the “Trustee.” Without the proper nomination in your estate planning Read More
