I need a divorce attorney. But who should I hire?

Making the decision to hire a divorce attorney is a difficult one.  Once you’ve reached the already difficult decision to separate and, eventually, to end your marriage, you have to decide whether or not you’ll hire an attorney to represent you in the divorce and then, if so, whom. I probably don’t need to tell...

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Custody, Coparenting, and Overscheduled Kids

Sometimes, the most frustrating things about coparenting aren’t even necessarily the legal issues.  Sure, the legal issues themselves can be difficult to resolve but, for many families, once that initial hurdle is crossed, things settle down a bit. That doesn’t mean that all is well and everything is harmonious.  In fact, in many cases –...

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Reconciling After Separation

Separation isn’t always the road to divorce.  For some couples, probably for more couples than I even realize (because, let’s be honest, I have an unbalanced sampling), separation ultimately leads not to divorce but to reconciliation. That’s as it should be.  I believe that women who want a divorce should be able to get one,...

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Right of First Refusal: Potential Issues

I’ve said it before; I really like a right of first refusal.  But that doesn’t mean that issues can’t arise when you implement a right of first refusal provision in your separation agreement or court order!  All KINDS of issues can come up in family law cases and, I am sorry to say, to the...

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Once you have an appointment – like an initial consultation – with a lawyer, that lawyer cannot meet with, give advice to, or represent the opposing party.  In a divorce or custody case, if a wife meets with five of the top local divorce attorneys, none of those five will be able to represent her...

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  Emotionally, going through a divorce or custody case (or, worse, a divorce AND custody case) is easily one of the most difficult things that you will face in your adult life.  Many therapists even liken the experience of going through divorce to a death – it’s just that traumatic. Even a good divorce –...

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Kids keep you busy.  If it’s not one season, it’s another.  And between the after-school events, social activities, birthday parties, sports, summer camps, classes, and other activities, it can be overwhelming shuttling the kids to and from all of it. Keeping up with the calendar alone can be challenging enough, but for separated and divorced...

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Virginia Family Law Firms With Payment Plans

I don’t want to mislead you, so I’ll tell you from the first sentence: I am not aware of any reputable Hampton Roads, Virginia-based family law attorneys that take payment plans. I know – hiring an attorney is expensive.  Generally speaking, family law attorneys work on retainers, which means that you have to pay a...

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