Divorce isn’t easy. And, if you’ve never been divorced before (or even if you have), there’s probably a lot you don’t know. That’s not your fault. There’s a lot to know, and the law is constantly changing. Besides that, it’s very state specific, so even what you know from your friend’s divorces doesn’t necessarily translate to yours, in the here and now in Virginia. Besides, there are steps you can take now so that you can educate yourself, and make sure you know what you need to know about the divorce process in Virginia.
So, probably needless to say, it’s really important to get as much information as you possibly can, so that the decisions you make are the ones most carefully calculated to get you what you need out of your divorce. Careful planning is important, especially if you have any kind of complicated situation (like, for example, that you’re a stay at home mom, or you’re hoping to relocate with the children) that you need to be prepared to face.
If you’re like most women, you have a lot of questions about the beginning of the process too. Things like, “When am I separated?” and “Can I move out?” are often big concerns for women in the beginning. You need to know the answers, so that you don’t take any steps that might be harmful to you later. Is your husband doing something that seems sketchy? Maybe you need to think about what HIS strategy might be, too. Sometimes it’s good to have an opportunity to ask questions about what his intention might be, so that you can sort of reverse engineer the process.
How do I get up, to date, Virginia specific divorce related information so I can begin to plan my case strategy?
A great question! I respect a woman who thinks ahead, and doesn’t wait for things to happen to her. There’s a lot of information out there, but it’s also important to make sure that the information you’re getting is goo d—that it’s up to date, Virginia specific, and actually written by someone who knows something about how Virginia law operates in these types of cases.
As you’re probably pretty acutely aware, these days anybody can run a blog and say pretty much whatever they want. It can be difficult ot tell who the author is, or what his or her credentials are. When it comes to divorce and custody cases, there are a lot of pretty embittered people, saying all sorts of horrible things about the process. I’ve heard, “In Virginia, it doesn’t matter what a mom does, because she’ll always win custody.” I’ve also heard, “In Virginia, it doesn’t matter what a mom does, because she’ll never win custody.” I’ve heard that judges love moms in Virginia, and then the complete opposite – -that judges hate and mistrust moms in Virginia. So, which is it? What’s true? How can you tell? What blogs, articles, or websites can you trust? These are really good questions to be asking!
Free divorce books
If it’s up to date, Virginia specific information you’re looking for, and if you’d prefer to hear directly from the mouths of licensed, experienced Virginia divorce attorneys – well, you’re in the right place!
Consider requesting a copy of one of our free divorce books. We’ve got one on Virginia divorce, one on divorce for female military service members and their spouses, one on custody and visitation, and another one how to choose an attorney. They’re really helpful, and can give you a head start on the information-gathering step.
Each book has a lot of the content we’ve determined, over our years and years of experience (we’ve got 25 years in business representing women only in divorce and custody, so let’s just say we’re pretty knowledgeable about this stuff), women need at the beginning of the process. Each book answers lots of questions about how to get started, what the process involves, and what questions you should be asking.
They’re free, too – and if you request them online, we’ll immediately send you a e-book version of any of the books you choose (or some combination of the four). If you live in our immediate area, we’ll also give you the option to receive a hard copy version of the book, too, which we can send direct to your door. (In a plain white envelope, no one needs to know what’s inside. We’ve been doing this for years, we get it.)
Need still more information? No prob.
Free divorce and custody information
Once you’ve gotten what you can from the books, you’ll likely have more questions. Most people have specific questions, questions that keep them lying awake at night, worrying. That’s normal! We’ve spent tons of time gathering information that you’ll need to answer these initial questions, and make the decisions you need to make.
There’s a lot of information available in our library, on a ton of different topics. Use the search bar function to find information on specific topics. That will help you, too – and it’s all free!
Whether you’re wondering about how retirement is calculated and divided, what shared custody means, or what to do if your husband refuses to sign a separation agreement, you can get answers to all sorts of things on our website, in the library.
What if I need to ask questions to an attorney in person?
Divorce Virginia seminars
Again, not a problem. Our divorce and custody seminars are definitely the next place to look. Each seminar is taught by one of our licensed and experienced Virginia divorce and custody attorneys, and we take questions from the audience, too.
Of course, you have to be careful what you ask; the seminar isn’t a confidential forum, so we can’t talk too specifically about your case, but we can help provide general information. They’re incredibly helpful. It’s the quickest, easiest, cheapest way to get information directly from a divorce attorney – and worth well more than the nominal admission fee.
The seminars are offered three times a month – twice in Virginia Beach on the Second Saturday and Third Tuesday of each month, and once in Newport News on the Second Saturday of the month.
For more information about the seminar, or for details on how to register, you can visit our website.
What if I can’t afford the seminar?
We intentionally keep our seminar fees very low, but, in some circumstances, any amount of money is too much. We understand that.
We accept referrals from therapists, Fleet and Family, Family Advocacy, the Samaritan House, and other organizations of the kind. If you’re working with a therapist or a victim advocate, have them give us a call or send us an email. We’re happy to waive the fee.
I still need more information. What should my next steps be?
Your next step – after you’ve requested the books or any of our free reports, checked out our library of resources, and attended our monthly divorce seminar – is to schedule a consultation. At some point, you need one on one information that is specifically tailored to your unique situation, and if you’re still wondering what your next steps should be, the time has come.
The fee for our initial consultations is $285. That covers up to an hour of time with the attorney, where you’ll come up with a custom tailored plan of action. It’s an opportunity to ask the personal, specific questions you need answered, too. Wondering what to expect? Find out more about what happens in an initial consultation here.
We’ve spent 25 years representing women exclusively in divorce and custody cases, and you can be sure you’re in good hands. Whether you just want to get information to get started, or you need information about how to hire one of our attorneys to represent you in your divorce or custody case, we’re here to help. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, give our office a call at757-425-5200.