Can I handle my family law case without a lawyer?

I’m biased.  I’m a lawyer.  I earn my living handling family law cases on behalf of the women who become my clients. Also, because I am a lawyer I also (1) see the people who can’t resolve things on their own (and very few of the people who can), and (2) deal, essentially, in worst-case...

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Childcare is one of the most difficult parts of parenting.  It just is.  I think that is true across the board, regardless of whether you are married to your child’s father, never married your child’s father, divorced your child’s father, are separated from your child’s father, or your child’s father is totally MIA.  It’s really,...

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Reconciling After Separation

Separation isn’t always the road to divorce.  For some couples, probably for more couples than I even realize (because, let’s be honest, I have an unbalanced sampling), separation ultimately leads not to divorce but to reconciliation. That’s as it should be.  I believe that women who want a divorce should be able to get one,...

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Right of First Refusal: Potential Issues

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...

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Common Custody Issues: Birthday Parties

There are a few issues that seem to pop up again and again and, if you’ve been in family law as long as I have, you’re bound to see it.  If you’re going through a divorce or custody case, you may very well come across it, too – which is why I write today. It...

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Can we reconcile and avoid Virginia divorce?

If you’re still hoping to save your marriage, you’re not alone.  In fact, that’s something I hear all the time.  One thing that I think is universally true is that every single woman who decides to get a divorce has to do everything she feels she has to do in order to try to save...

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New Year, New Divorce Filing

Divorce is, historically speaking, one of the busiest months of the year for divorce.  For the most part, November and December are generally the slowest; after all, who wants to get divorced during the holidays? It’s not so much that I think divorce is somehow tied to a new year’s resolution – though it certainly...

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Mediation v. Settlement Conference

Even when it’s only for a relatively short period, the time that exists in the space between when you and your soon-to-be ex decide to separate and when you reach a signed separation agreement is a particularly painful, anxiety-filled one. All the while that you’re hoping, desperately hoping, that you’ll be able to resolve things...

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