Is it better for me to file using fault or no fault grounds for divorce?

  One of the unique things about Virginia when it comes to divorce is that we still allow fault based grounds for divorce!  Over the years, many states have modernized to the point that they only allow no fault grounds, but we’re one of the few holdouts.  We still allow adultery (as well as sodomy...

Read More

In July of 2024, the Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court quietly issued an order stating that parents whose children are involved in a custody and visitation case would no longer be entitled to receive copies of the Guardian ad litem reports issued in their cases. Full disclosure: As practicing family law attorneys,...

Read More

Child Support for Unborn Babies in Virginia

The expenses related to a child don’t start accruing once the baby has been born; no, as you are no doubt already aware, they start piling up from the moment you find out that you’re expecting. If you and your child’s father are heading towards a separation or divorce, or you aren’t together and are...

Read More

Is it hard to get Virginia spousal support?

Spousal support is one of the more contentious topics in family law, as I’m sure you’re already aware.  In Virginia, the law on spousal support is not at all like child support, which is established by a formula and applied across the board.  No, spousal support is a lot more flexible on three points –...

Read More

  I’ll be the first to admit: I have a bit of an unfair sampling.  As a family law attorney, the cases with which I am familiar are the ones where the individuals involved – or at least one of them – sought the advice of an attorney. I know that not everyone does.  I’m...

Read More

A common theme in coparenting is how difficult it is for kids and coparents to transition between each parent’s separate parenting time.  This is probably especially true in the early stages of coparenting – though it generally settles down for many families – but, in some cases, visitation exchanges are always disruptive. Some kids (like...

Read More

Not all Narcissists Make Divorce Awful

I know, I know.  If you’re married to a narcissist – whether diagnosed or undiagnosed – you KNOW how miserable they can make life.  And, if left to their own devices, they’d probably love to make divorce difficult, too. After all, if there’s one thing a narcissist (or a high conflict person or an abusive...

Read More