There are few things in a family law context that drive extreme emotion quite like adultery and child custody. When you combine the two, it’s a recipe for volatility. But … does it matter? It’s an excellent question and one definitely worth discussing. Let’s get into it. If your soon-to-be ex-husband (or ex boyfriend) cheated...
Does cheating matter for child custody?
In Virginia, a couple of things go into a child support calculation: both parents’ combined incomes (if you are receiving spousal support, this is included as ‘income’), the amount either or both are paying for support of other children, the total amount of work-related childcare that they are paying, and the cost of health insurance...
Everyone – and I do mean everyone – always wants to ask whether they need an attorney for such-and-such kind of a case. And, while it’s true that you don’t ALWAYS need to hire an attorney, sometimes it can be hard to tell from the outside looking in, especially if your exposure to the case...
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...
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...
Family law – which includes divorce, child custody, visitation, child support, and spousal support – is a particular area of law that is incredibly state-specific. What you find to be true in one state is not necessarily true in another. Even states that are nearby – like, for example, North Carolina and Virginia – are...
There are a million different issues that come up in coparenting. One of them – or, at least, one of the ones I hear about the most often – is gatekeeping. As a mom myself, I can completely relate. All of the information coming at you about the kids at all times can feel insane. ...
As much as I’ve written about child support over the years, I think there are still a lot of things that people don’t understand about how it works. Custodial arrangements – or parenting plans – vary dramatically these days, and though it’s true to say that more parents share custody than have primary physical...