Even after your divorce case is final, the work may not be done. Our clients are often surprised that everything may not be over just because the divorce has been signed. The emotionally draining process of exchanging information, settlement negotiations, and even trial may only be the beginning. Common Issues After Divorce Vague or inexact …
Shockingly, some 55 percent of American adults have neither a will nor any other type of estate plan in place. This number has remained fairly steady for the past fifteen years and does not take into account the number of adults who have put medical directives in place—a number which has actually increased. Although medical …
Sometimes co-parents are able to work out terms and schedules without court involvement. In these cases we are often asked – “Do I still need an attorney?” It’s always advisable to have an attorney review or draft your agreement to fill in any vague terms, ensure statutory requirements are met, and to plan for the …
Everyone wants to protect their children. In addition to protecting them from physical and psychological harm, one of the most important ways to protect your children is to ensure their inheritance is secure. It’s critical that you take action now to ensure your children are able to access your assets when you die. To help …
Going through a divorce is an extremely emotional and stressful time in anyone’s life. The combination of emotions involved in combination with the complexities of the legal system can be overwhelming and may even end up costing you more than you had anticipated in the long run. One of the most common questions we get …
While many states provide legal separations which are granted by the courts, Virginia does not. Instead, if a couple would like to separate, they can do so by simply living separate and apart. However, it is recommended that a separation agreement is created which is also commonly known as a property settlement agreement. What is …
In any divorce or separation involving children, it’s important that the children understand what is happening and parents address their concerns at each stage. No matter their age or maturity level, every child will have some anxiety about the process and changes impacting their daily life. When you are going through the divorce process it …
If you and the other parent do not agree on a big decision, it can lead to serious issues. Whether you are divorced or not, making decisions regarding your child is generally a joint obligation. Most of these decisions are small, like going to the dentist. Some decisions can have major consequences. An example of …
Understanding the ins and outs of your divorce case can be nearly as troubling and stressful as making the decision to file for divorce. Equipping yourself with a solid grasp of the nature of separation and divorce in Virginia can help you reach the most favorable outcome. To help you through the process, we’ve compiled …
Families with individuals with exceptional needs will face additional challenges in navigating separation and divorce. Some challenges the courts are equipped to handle, and others are severely lacking. In an ordinary custody and visitation case, the court will look to the “status quo” for the family. Most often, one parent has been the primary care …
Mistake #1: Waiting Too Long to Get a Divorce. Even as a divorce lawyer, I never want to advise people to rush into divorce; however, we see time and time again the mistakes that good people make when they try to stay in a broken relationship. If you know your marriage is over but just …
Going through a divorce is tough and confusing for anyone, military or civilian. But when a military couple decides to get separated or divorced, there are rules that come into play that are not applicable in the civilian world. Military members and their spouses may decide to separate for one reason or another. In the …
When going through a divorce, there is a lot going on and many people will forget how important it is to update their estate plan. Even a simple divorce can take over a year to finalize and a lot can happen in that year that can jeopardize your final wishes. It was recently discovered that …
Protective Orders can be one of the most alarming and hard to understand aspects of family law. A spouse can get a protective order against you and have you removed from the home within a matter of hours. Then you will have to stay out of the home, having no access to your belongings, until …
In contested family law matters, child protective services often gets involved where there are concerns of abuse, neglect, or mistreatment of children. CPS takes reports from family members, as well as other members of the community anonymously and for any reason. Most frequently reports are made by family members, neighbors, friends, educators, and even acquaintances. …
Withholding of a child from visitation from their other parent can be a serious factor for the court to consider in any custody or visitation case. In some situations, the court will intervene by either changing custody completely, or by ordering re-unification therapy for the child and the other parent. You have different remedies available …
For many families, COVID-19 has brought estate planning to the top of the priority list. Unfortunately, most law offices are closed or limiting their availability due to stay-at-home orders or other state restrictions. Estate planning attorneys are still able to complete meetings by phone and can send clients documents by email or mail for signature. …
For couples that were facing separation and divorce before the stay-at-home order, Executive Order 55 added complication to the separation process. In order for couples to divorce based on separation in Virginia, they must have been living separate and apart for 6 months or 1 year before filing, depending if they have minor children or …
