Articles

Can’t I just get an annulment?

In 99 cases out of 100, you can’t get an annulment. Actually, maybe I’ve overstated the statistics. It’s probably safe to say that in almost every single case, you really can’t get an annulment. I know it’s tempting, especially if you haven’t been married very long, to erase the marriage and feel like it never...

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How much does a Virginia divorce cost?

It probably doesn’t come as a shock to you that, for most women, the first question out of their mouths has to do with how much the divorce process will cost. Women ask me all the time how much our initial consultation costs, how much it costs to hire an attorney, and to provide a...

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When you file your taxes, you’re doing so based on your status on December 31st of the year in question. If you’ve had a baby by December 31st, you can claim her as a deduction. If you purchased a house on January 1st, on the other hand, you can’t claim it until the following year....

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If you’re planning on leaving and you want custody, you should be prepared to take the kids with you when you go, especially if you’re afraid that your divorce will be contested. When a contested divorce is filed with the court, one of the first steps is to schedule a pendente lite hearing. Pendente lite...

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What kind of divorce is best for me?

The laws governing divorce are different in every state. There may be some similarities, particularly when it comes to states that are geographically close to others, but not necessarily. Different states have different rules about what’s required of you in a divorce case. In Virginia, for example, we have fault-based divorces and no-fault divorces and,...

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How to Draft Custody and Visitation Provisions

I probably don’t need to tell you that, the more you cooperate with your child’s father, the more flexible he’ll be with you. When it comes to custody and visitation (probably two of the most emotionally charged issues in any divorce where children are involved), it can be tricky to negotiate a solution that takes...

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Your child’s age and maturity level helps dictate what kind of custody and visitation schedule would be appropriate. At different points in their development, different schedules will be necessary and, if your child is young, you’ll have to accept the notion that you’ll have to grow, adjust, and change your schedule to suit her. Keeping...

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Your child’s father will have a child support obligation to your children until your child turns 19 or graduates high school, whichever occurs first. If your children are young, that’s a long time. Even when you and your husband were together, you probably worried about how you’d afford to give your children everything you always...

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