Can my family law attorney legally withhold this info?

Question: I am in a custody case in Virginia.  My child’s father and I both have lawyers and there is a Guardian ad litem involved.  I got a letter from the other attorney that my attorney forwarded to me, stating that they were withdrawing from the case.  I asked my attorney if she knew why...

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Separation – What Do I Take When I Go?

Once you realize that your marriage is over, you want the rest of your life to begin as soon as possible.  But many women don’t know where to start and what their first steps should be.  So, what should you do? In Virginia, you are legally separated when (1) you form the intent to end...

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Stepparent Adoption Q&A

It didn’t work out with your child’s father but you’ve found love – and stability – and you’re hoping this means that things will change for your child(ren), too.  You wonder, “Can my new partner adopt my child?  What would that look like?” Assuming, of course, that your new partner is on board with this...

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Going to court is – by almost any metric – the nuclear option in a family law case.  Literally everyone is scared of it and almost anyone would try to avoid it if there was any way at all.  Usually, though not always, it’s possible to negotiate outside of court.  In fact, most family law...

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Do I even want to hire a family law attorney?

It’s okay.  You can be honest.  I know there are a million things you can think of that you would rather do than hire – and pay for – a family law attorney.  You are likely desperate to discover that you do not, in fact, need one at all and that, on balance, handling your...

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There is so much confusion around family law and all the different ways that cases can come up.  Sometimes, it’s a matter of divorce; in othercases, it’s just custody.  It’s seldom the question of something seemingly simple – like an annulment – but it is possible that you could just breakup, if you were never...

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Divorce Book Recommendations for Kids

The studies have consistently shown that kids do better with navigating a divorce and/or separation situation within their own family when they can see other similar families.  That’s not to say that your kids can’t have play dates with kids whose parents are still happily married or that you need to seek out the other...

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How can I help my kids adjust after separation?

For most moms going through a divorce or separation, their kids are their first, last, and pretty much only concern.  Especially in the early days, they wonder how to talk to their kids about their divorce or separation (particularly when they don’t know and don’t have all of the answers themselves), how to help them...

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