How is Child Custody Determined in Virginia?

Child custody determinations are always made with the child’s best interests in mind, but the considerations vary slightly from state to state. In Virginia, child custody is determined by a number of factors in the state’s Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts. It is important to understand how child custody is determined in Virginia in order to have the best chance at gaining custody of your child in a Read More

Can I Modify Custody in Virginia if My Ex-Spouse or I Get Remarried?

One of the biggest life changes that can occur post-divorce is when either you or your spouse decides to get married again. Whether this happens six months after the divorce or six years later, the understanding that you or your ex-spouse is moving on to another spouse can raise all kinds of issues. When kids are involved, however, these issues go beyond just emotional to more practical; day-to-day matters such as: Read More

My Ex is Talking Badly About Me to Our Children, Should I Confront Him/Her?

Whether you are recently separated and pursuing a divorce, or already divorced and well-entrenched in a custody arrangement with another parent, having your ex-spouse talk badly about you to your children is, at best, annoying and, at worst, creating lasting divisions and damage to your parent-child relationship, which could persist indefinitely. As members of a free society, we are all entitled to voice our Read More

Child Visitation Laws in the State of Virginia

A parent who does not have custody of a child (also called a noncustodial parent) in Virginia will usually have a right to visitation with the child, even where the parents were never married. However, exercising this right may require the parent to obtain a court order. Below, we provide a brief overview of the child visitation laws in the state of Virginia. The Difference Between Custody and Visitation Both Read More

Do I Have to Pay Child Support if I Have Joint Custody?

When two parents are working through the divorce process and negotiating issues like divisions of property, custody, spousal support, and child support, so many surprising and new questions can arise. After all, the state (usually) doesn’t step in when you are functioning as a married family to dictate how money is spent and how children are cared for. But to obtain a valid divorce, the court will want to see either Read More

Types of Child Custody in Virginia

Who will receive primary custody of your children after your divorce? This question and questions like it are far from academic. It is difficult to eat, sleep, or even think straight until you know where your children are going to reside. Virginia does not automatically favor either the mother or father. It does, however, recognize several types of custody, including: Physical Custody There are different types of Read More

Tips for a Better Child Custody Mediation Experience

There is a no more contentious topic on the face of the Earth than children, particularly as their parents struggle with custody decisions. In an effort to find some sense of resolution, courts frequently require divorcing or separating parents to attend child custody mediation. Mediation can be useful, particularly if you are able to follow these important tips, says Dr. Philip M. Stahl in Parenting After Read More

7 Tips for Co-Parenting After Divorce in Virginia

If you recently got divorced and you and your ex-spouse share parenting responsibilities, you may have found that it isn’t always easy. To ensure the success of this arrangement, there are several steps you should take and several things you should avoid once your shared custody agreement is finalized. Establishing a Successful Co-Parenting Relationship After your divorce, it’s best to establish practices that will Read More