What is the Virginia Child Custody Case Process Like?

The legal process is not at all intuitive, so if you’re wondering what to expect – well, that makes a lot of sense.  Custody cases are some of the more challenging cases to navigate, too, because they’re handled in juvenile and domestic relations district courts, which – if you’ve had any run ins with the...

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If you’re here, you probably already know that you have to be separated for one year to get a divorce in Virginia.  The only two exceptions are if (1) you have a signed separation agreement, and (2) you have no minor children born or adopted by the parties of the marriage, and if (and this...

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For a long time, I thought the ten year myth – the idea that you had to be married for ten years to be entitled to a portion of the military retirement – was limited to military divorces only. Please note, of course, that I called it a MYTH. I didn’t realize that many civilians...

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The dangers of separation under the same roof

For most people, there is a period of time between separation and divorce where the soon-to-be divorcing parties live together under the same roof, often with their children.  This is not so much a desirable situation – in fact, I think you could easily argue that it is anything BUT desirable – but it is...

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Single moms are always under a lot of pressure.  For one thing, life – and parenting – is hard.  For another, they’re constantly subject to the judgment of others. One way I see this play out – unfairly, in my opinion – to the detriment of mothers and children is in how other people like...

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I’m military. Can I even file my own divorce?

  In some ways, a divorce is a divorce.  Certainly, if we’re looking at things procedurally, one divorce doesn’t differ all that much from another, though there’s also no question that a military divorce involves considerations that civilian divorces don’t. Mostly, military divorces mean that there are categories of assets – BAH, SBP, TSP, the...

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What should my first steps be pre-divorce?

Most of the questions that we get – at least in the early stages of a separation or divorce – is a basic one.  “What should I do first?” It’s a good question, too, because I think it’s always smart to go into something knowing what to expect and having at least the outlines of...

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Common Coparenting Issues: Cell Phones

  It’s hard enough to be a parent in modern times; it’s even harder when you add in the difficulty associated with trying to be a collaborative coparent with your ex.  Even in otherwise happy marriages, moms and dads disagree about what is best for their kids.  In a situation where mom and dad are...

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