There are only two ways to resolve a divorce or custody case: either the parties negotiate an agreement, or they go to court and litigate. This is true no matter what the issues are, but there is a sort of third, hybrid option, which includes the possibility of a “reservation” with respect to a certain...
What does it mean when an issue is “reserved” in divorce or child custody?
There are very few things as difficult to overcome as adultery, especially as you then have to turn around and navigate your divorce. Though not every marriage ends after a partner commits adultery, I’m assuming yours is – or else you wouldn’t be here. I saw a question on social media about adultery the other...
Spousal support is one of the more contentious topics in family law, as I’m sure you’re already aware. In Virginia, the law on spousal support is not at all like child support, which is established by a formula and applied across the board. No, spousal support is a lot more flexible on three points –...
In case you’re new or haven’t yet attended a Girl’s Night Out event, I wanted to be the first to invite you to attend our upcoming event on Tuesday, February 13th – Galentine’s Day – at the Banque in Norfolk, off of Little Creek. What is Girl’s Night Out? We’ve been practicing divorce and custody...
Getting your divorce information from a person who is not a lawyer is pretty risky behavior. I’m a member of a Facebook group for moms in a prominent local city, and I’ve noticed that there are a lot of requests for legal advice. It’s not a group for family lawyers, so, as you can probably...
Going through a divorce is an isolating experience. Once you’ve made the decision to divorce and it’s time to schedule an initial consultation, it can start to feel really real. You’re emotional, maybe you’re also going through some unresolved trauma, and you’re worried for the future – financially, emotionally, logistically. You’re worried you’re not in...
Spousal support is always – always – a hot button issue. There are very few things we can say ‘always’ about in family law, but the fact that spousal support is contentious is pretty much a given. No one wants to pay it. It’s also not something that is awarded in every case. There...
It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally a woman tells me that she doesn’t ‘need’ child support. It’s an interesting comment, and one that I feel kind of confused by. What do you mean – you don’t need it? Child support, after all, is not designed for the comfort of the parent receiving it; it’s...