Determining Paternity in a Child Custody Dispute

When there is a dispute over the custody of a child in a Virginia court, that court is going to primarily look to the two biological parents of the child in determining who should have custody. It is possible for other people such as grandparents, aunts, or uncles to win custody of a child, but that will generally only occur where both biological parents are found to be unfit and/or unavailable. When a child is born Read More

How to Obtain a Protective Order

When you married your spouse, you probably never imagined that the day would come when that person would present a threat to you or your children. Unfortunately, sometimes these situations arise and people are left with few options on how to improve or resolve the issue. You may try reasoning with your spouse and perhaps even calling on family, friends, therapists, and clergy for advice and intervention. As good as Read More

How Does Alcohol and Drug Use Affect a Custody Battle in Virginia?

The latest high-profile divorce case to hit the headlines has been that of A-list actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. We know very little about the personal details that led to Jolie filing for divorce in a Los Angeles courthouse in September, but what we do know is that she asked for sole custody of the couple’s six children, and the filing suggests she decided to pursue a divorce only days before she filed. Media Read More

How Is Your Retirement Affected By Your Divorce?

At the same time that divorce rates go down for younger Americans, they are on the rise for older adults. Because older couples have had more years to build up financial assets, this can often mean that there is more financially at stake in divorce, and judges presiding over marriages of longer duration are more likely to order that alimony be paid for longer periods of time. And if retirement is on your horizon, Read More

Does Asking For A Lawyer Make Me Look Guilty?

When you are approached by law enforcement - either in the form of local police or state or federal investigators and prosecutors - to speak about matters you or may or may not have been involved in, you might try to remember all the things you’ve heard about your constitutional rights as they are often described in television shows and movies. You might recall that police are required to read you your Miranda rights Read More

Religion and Child Custody in Virginia: Who Gets to Decide?

For many parents going through a divorce, being able to guide the religious upbringing of their children is a major concern. This is especially the case when the parents are of a different faith, or one parent is opposed to the child being exposed to any religious teaching or community. This can, of course, be challenging for the child as well, who may be getting conflicting perspectives on faith from each parent. Read More

What Are Some Ways To Make the Divorce Process Easier?

“Divorce” and “easy” are usually not words spoken together in the same breath, and it’s not surprising that this is the case. After all, divorce involves huge emotional, financial, and lifestyle changes: moving out into a new residence, leaving the partner you’ve been with for years for uncertain territory, establishing changed relationships and living situations with children, and adjusting to new financial Read More

Do You Need an Attorney for an Uncontested Divorce?

When it starts to become clear that your marriage is headed for divorce, even an uncontested divorce, you may find yourself facing a whole range of challenges. You might be worried about what’s going to happen to your finances following the divorce, how this decision will impact your relationship with your children, where you will be able to turn for emotional support, or how you will cope with the loss of your Read More

What is the Difference Between Legal Separation and Divorce?

“Separation” is one of the most commonly misunderstood and misused words in the area of divorce and family law. Couples often will describe themselves as “separated” when legally they are not considered to be separated. To be legally “separated” in Virginia, various elements must be met that often require more of the parties then they may expect. Below, we will discuss the various meanings of the term separation - Read More

Should I Get a Divorce or an Annulment in Virginia

Deciding to end a marriage is never an easy decision. When the time comes to part ways, emotions can take over, and making decisions can seem overwhelming. In some instances, people may wish that the marriage had never happened in the first place. That’s typically when words like annulment start being tossed around. While an annulment has the function of making a marriage disappear rather than merely terminating it, Read More