In case you haven’t heard, we just re-launched our super popular custody seminar, Custody Bootcamp for Moms, back in July – after a several year break because of the pandemic.
Custody Bootcamp for Moms is an intense, all day seminar – taught by attorney Caitlin Walters, who has practiced family law in Virginia for over a decade – designed to teach you what you need to know to handle your custody case, with or without a Virginia attorney representing you.
It probably also bears mentioning that there’s no such seminar for dads out there. (And, if you’re over here saying, “Gosh, that’s terrible,” you’re probably in the wrong place, because we’re a family law firm that has spent over 30 years representing women exclusively.) It’s a great way to ground yourself in the basics of custody law in Virginia, including how to prepare to handle your case on your own.
What will I learn at Custody Bootcamp for Moms?
What WON’T you learn? Okay, seriously, I am going to answer the question, but the seminar is just so comprehensive that it’s probably easier to list what you won’t learn.
At Custody Bootcamp for Moms, we teach you
- The ten, super important ‘best interests’ of the child factors
- How custody is decided, including the difference between shared, split, and primary physical custody; and sole or joint legal custody;
- The difference between custody initial determinations and modifications;
- What a material change in circumstances is (and why it’s important to know);
- How child support is calculated;
- What a Guardian ad litem is (or rather, who) and what their role is in a custody case;
- How to prepare a case for trial;
- When to sit, stand, and how to address the court;
- How to prepare a killer opening and closing argument;
- How to question and cross examine witnesses (and how to survive cross examination yourself);
- And more!
It’s a lot. It really is. It’s a lot to wrap your mind around when you start thinking that a custody case might be in your future, and it’s even more to think about preparing to handle it yourself.
Before you get your note cards out and start writing your statement to the judge, attend the seminar! There are a lot of mistakes we see women making that we don’t want you to make!
Who is Custody Bootcamp for Moms for?
Custody Bootcamp for Moms is for any mom of minor children with a case based in the state of Virginia. Our offices are located in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Newport News, but the seminar material is good throughout Virginia – whether you’re in Roanoke or Fairfax or Lynchburg or Suffolk or Wachapreague.
It’s for moms facing a custody case – so, custody and visitation, and/or child support – whether as an initial determination or modification.
It’s for cases where the parties are preparing for mediation, too – you don’t need to litigate in order to find the information at Custody Bootcamp useful. (And, after all, there are a lot of ways that dads can try to manipulate moms even in mediation!)
Who is Custody Bootcamp for Moms NOT designed for?
If you’re going through a divorce, Custody Bootcamp for Moms would absolutely benefit you, in the sense that it’s the deepest dive into custody determinations for women in Virginia, but we don’t cover the divorce process – or teach you how to handle a larger divorce trial.
You might want to download our divorce book for Virginia women or attend our monthly divorce seminar for more divorce specific information. For a divorce, Custody Bootcamp for Moms is only part of a total overall solution, rather than a complete solution.
Custody Bootcamp for Moms is also not for dads. Though we do everything on Zoom these days, we do ensure, through a variety of methods, that no dads or men are attending our seminars. Sorry, dads! (Though there are a few local firms that represent men only, and maybe you should consider checking them out, we definitely can’t help you.)
It’s not for anyone who has a custody case outside of Virginia. Our attorneys are only licensed in Virginia and can only give you accurate information about what happens here, in the Commonwealth.
How much does it cost to attend?
The cost of Custody Bootcamp is $297. You can get more information and register on our website by clicking here.
If you’re interested, it’s also worth mentioning that – for the month of October 2023 – we’re offering free registration to our monthly DIVORCE seminar in honor of domestic violence awareness month. It’s not the same as Custody Bootcamp for Moms, but if your case features an underlying divorce, it’s a super helpful seminar. Get more information on our website here.
Do you offer discounted registration?
We do occasionally offer discounts; if your seminar is impacted, that information will be updated on our website first. If your case is coming up quickly, though, I wouldn’t wait – there’s no guarantee that there’ll be a discounted seminar before your court date.
If you are a HFLF client, you are welcome to attend for free at any time. Contact your attorney or paralegal for more information.
When is the next seminar?
Our next Custody Bootcamp for Moms is October 21st! The seminar runs from 8:30am until 3ish pm – but we stay (or Caitlin does, anyway) until the last woman’s last question is answered. It’s truly comprehensive.
We recommend that you plan to attend somewhere free of distractions where you can really pay attention. It’s also easier to watch on a full screen – like your desktop or laptop computer – rather than on a phone or iPad, and you’ll definitely want a stable internet connection.
Who is Caitlin Walters?
Caitlin Walters has been with our firm for over a decade, and she has handled primarily family law cases in that time. She worked – prior to joining our firm – at another local law firm, where she also worked as a Guardian ad litem, so she brings a ton of experience to the table.
In addition, Caitlin is also a mother. (Non-moms will tell you that this doesn’t matter, but we think it absolutely does!) You can read Caitlin’s full bio here. You’ll love her; she’s feisty and funny and insanely clever. A pleasure to listen to!
Will I hear from any other attorneys?
Yes! Though Caitlin is presenting in October (and for the immediate future, as far as I’m aware), all of our attorneys will be present in some form or fashion throughout the seminar. Our attorneys are all featured via video presentations throughout, so you can get a sense of the different personalities we offer – whether you decide to schedule a consult, attend another seminar, or hire one of us to represent you.
In short, Custody Bootcamp is a great opportunity for Virginia women to learn more about custody law in Virginia and how to work within our system. It may not be perfect, but you’ll definitely get better results if you go in knowing what you’re doing and what you’re asking for! For more information, to schedule a consultation, or to register to attend, visit our website at hoflaw.com.