Virginia is restrictive when it comes to divorce, just because of the waiting period required before you can even file for a no fault divorce. Here in the Commonwealth, you have to be separated for ONE year before you can finalize a divorce using the fault based grounds of cruelty, apprehension of bodily hurt,...
I’ve been separated for over a year. Can I just file for divorce?
I see misinformation everywhere, almost every single day. It seems like, when it comes to legal advice, almost everyone thinks they know all the answers – and they’re comfortable enough to tell other people what they should do, too. The thing is, though, that they’re often wrong. Just today I saw some divorce coach on...
Some things are easier to determine than others when it comes to resolving your divorce case and, unfortunately, spousal support is one of the trickier areas. Not only has the landscape changed dramatically in recent years – even in just the thirteen years I’ve been practicing, as of the date of this writing –...
As a mom who is new to coparenting, it’s only natural to want to connect with your kids – and make sure they’re okay – during their parenting time with their dad. And, these days, connecting is easier than ever, too, because cell phones and FaceTime technology make it possible for you to check in...
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...
There are all sorts of issues to work through when you’re navigating a new coparenting relationship – and not all of them are your issues specifically. If you have tiny humans depending on you, you’re going to have to help them navigate their new normal, all while it’s completely foreign to you, too. Not...
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...
Question: My child’s father and I had a baby 18 months ago. We still live together, but we’re not romantically involved. We will never get back together. (Like, ever.) I’d like to move out, so I’m considering consulting an attorney about custody and visitation. I’m worried I’m gearing up for a huge custody battle....