Divorce is never easy, even if you are the one who initiated it. And navigating a divorce during the holidays can be especially painful. You can expect a flood of emotions as you try to balance time-worn traditions and new realities. No matter how much you realize divorce was the best decision, you’re now feeling …
The holiday season has a way of amplifying all our emotions, both the good and the bad. Unfortunately, after a divorce, the holidays can be a painful reminder of how things used to be and how different they are now. Post-divorce holidays will not only stir up a lot of feelings for you but also …
Few things in life are as emotionally overwhelming as a divorce. Not only are you navigating the end of a relationship, but you are also dissolving a complex legal contract and making decisions that can affect you well into the future. Unfortunately, it is easy to make decisions based on emotional reactions and immediate needs …
If your marriage is ending, many questions and fears will arise. One may be how you will financially care for yourself after the divorce if you have been relying on your spouse’s income during your marriage or you make significantly less than they do. Alimony is court-ordered financial support or maintenance that one spouse must …
Going through a divorce can be challenging for anyone, and it’s easy to let your emotions get the better of you. But a divorce is a complex legal process that requires a level head and proper preparation. While ending a marriage can feel tumultuous, it can also impact your entire future. The legal system is …
While divorce is never easy, divorcing a spouse with a disability adds another level of emotional, financial, and legal complexity to the process. It will require a more finely balanced approach that considers your disabled spouse’s needs and future and also your own legal and financial welfare. The court will take extra effort to ensure …
In Virginia, stepparents are not typically liable for child support of their stepchildren after a divorce – unless they have legally adopted them. If you have adopted a stepchild, you are now considered the child’s legal parent and subject to all the rights and obligations of a parent – including paying child support if you …
At its best, successful co-parenting after a divorce is the collaborative and cooperative effort to raise children together to ensure their physical and emotional well-being. If you have been through a divorce, you know that isn’t always easy, especially with the chaos of facing a new school year. The experienced Tampa divorce attorneys at Melone …
Coupled with all the emotional and legal complexities of a divorce in Florida is the financial disentanglement and division of your marital property. And this can significantly impact your taxes and other financial matters. If you are navigating a divorce, you will want to understand how marital property division, child support, and spousal support have …
Divorce isn’t just the emotional and physical end of a marriage. It’s also the dissolution of two deeply intertwined financial lives. You have probably amassed a home, vehicles, a mortgage, credit card bills, retirement accounts, and investments during your marriage. And the law says that before you can settle your divorce, you and your spouse …
Of all the issues you may face in your divorce, alimony, also known as spousal support or maintenance, might be one of the most contentious. The topic of alimony often generates strong emotions, aggravating an already volatile situation. By ensuring that a lower-earning or non-earning spouse receives essential financial support after a divorce, alimony can …
Going through a divorce is an emotional process that often leads to regrettable mistakes. These mistakes can make your divorce more expensive and damage your relationship with your children and other family members. With so much at stake—such as asset division, spousal support, and child custody—it’s crucial to avoid common errors. To help, we have …
Divorce can be a messy process that takes a toll on you emotionally, physically, and financially. It is not just about dividing assets and selling your home. It is essential that you understand the legal aspects of it, including your responsibilities and obligations towards your estate. One thing you might overlook during this process is …
Melone Hatley, PC had six lawyers selected by their professional peers for inclusion in Coastal Virginia Business magazine’s 2024 Top Lawyers, published in the January 2024 issue. The firm’s lawyers were honored in 3 Top Lawyers categories. “As a relatively small firm, we were honored to have so many of our Virginia Beach attorneys recognized …
Melone Hatley, PC had eight lawyers selected by their professional peers for inclusion in Virginia Business magazine’s 2023 Legal Elite, published in the December 2023 issue. The firm’s lawyers were honored in 3 Legal Elite categories. “As a relatively small firm, we were honored to have so many of our attorneys recognized by their peers …
Having children is one of life’s most joyful experiences for countless people in the US today. As a parent, however, you might worry that something may happen one day that leads to your children being taken away from you. This fear can become a reality if the other parent is fighting for custody. Virginia law …
Divorce is a life-altering event that can have far-reaching consequences, particularly in the realm of personal finances. The dissolution of a marriage often involves the division of assets, changes in income, potential alimony or child support payments, and a myriad of other financial considerations. Understanding and navigating these financial impacts is crucial to safeguarding one’s …
Would you want your ex-spouse to maintain a power of attorney if you were to have an accident or get seriously ill? If you have gotten a divorce recently or you are planning to get one soon, it may be worth revisiting your estate planning to avoid unpleasant surprises. At Melone Hatley, P.C., our divorce …
