What should my first steps be pre-divorce?

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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Does Virginia recognize common law marriage?

I used to get lots of questions about common law marriage.  Lately, well, not so much – until the other day.  A woman asked me what, in my opinion, was a very perceptive question about whether marriage is designed to be a safeguard to protect spouses (and, in particular, lesser earning spouses). Most of the...

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You think you know Virginia divorce law?

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...

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  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...

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Virginia Common Law Marriage

In order to qualify for the benefits associated with marriage in Virginia, you’re going to need to actually walk down the aisle and get formally, legally married. Common Law marriage is a concept that has more or less fallen out of fashion and most states don’t recognize any kind of common law marriage designation.  Though...

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Marital and Hybrid Property in Virginia Divorce

In a divorce, we divide marital property.  What constitutes marital property can vary from state to state, so you should familiarize yourself with the laws in your particular state – or Commonwealth, as in the case of Virginia, where I practice. Though I imagine that the words may vary but the specific application is similar...

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I really need an aggressive family law attorney

  Everyone wants an aggressive attorney.  A pit bull.  A shark.  Those are the terms I hear the most often.  “Someone who’ll fight for me,” they say. I get it!  Obviously, when you hire an attorney, you want to feel like that person is cool and confident, and will have your back in any situation. ...

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