Custody cases are some of the most complicated that we see. The court views a divorce case as predominantly a business transaction. Though you may get laughed at if you say that it’s about “fairness”, there is a fair amount of consideration that goes into the equity of a particular way of dissolving the marriage....
Unrelated Overnight Guests in Virginia Custody
I read an article the other day about parenting children through divorce and it cautioned parents to not beat themselves up over all the pain and suffering that their children would experience throughout their lifetimes. Though, as moms, we all tend to feel like it’s our job to protect our children from all the various...
Whether you or your child’s father originally filed custody petitions, it’s a pretty scary process. If he has an attorney and you don’t, it’s probably especially scary. Though there’s no rule that says you have to have an attorney in any divorce or custody cases in Virginia, navigating the system on your own can be...
I’m about to have a baby. Well, to tell the truth, I still have a couple weeks before my due date—but I’m also feeling a little bit like everyone I know is on baby watch. I’ve never been so critical of every single feeling I have, wondering if it means something more. It’s my first...
Sometimes it seems like the types of cases we see come in waves. We don’t have many cases of a particular type or with a specific theme and then (bam!) all of a sudden we have five or six, and we’re all grappling with similar issues. Of course, especially in custody, no two cases are...
We talked Wednesday about how difficult child custody cases are (and particularly the cases where sexual abuse is an issue). If you’re facing a custody case, there’s no doubt that you’re feeling anxious and overwhelmed. There’s a lot at stake in a custody case and, chances are, if you’re willing to go to court, it’s...
It’s easy, in a divorce, to lose sight of the forest for the trees. There’s a lot at stake, and so many different elements involved, that it’s easy to become fixated on something to the exclusion of almost everything else. Sometimes, it’s something big—like custody—and other times, in other cases, it’s something that, to me...
Thinking of going down to the courthouse and filing your own petitions for custody and visitation is pretty daunting. Unless you’re a practicing attorney (preferably one with experience handling custody cases in Virginia), it’s scary and confusing. There’s a lot at stake–obviously, because we’re talking about your kids here–and you want, more than anything, to...