I love easy questions but, in family law, I get so few of them that when I do see a truly easy question with a truly easy answer, I almost can’t believe my luck. The short answer is no, you do not have to be flexible with your child’s father when he asks for changes...
Should I be flexible with my child’s father when he asks for changes to the schedule?
When there are disputes over custody and visitation, they are often physical, rather than legal, custody issues. Physical custody refers to where the child(ren) spend their time and it can be awarded as either primary physical, shared physical, or split physical custody. Legal custody, though, refers to the right of parents to make three types...
Are you separated – and headed towards divorce – or just separated and ultimately hoping to reconcile? Sometimes it’s clear. Other times, though, it’s anything but. In any case, whatever you’re hoping for in the long term, you probably have a lot of questions about what to expect and what you should be doing. That’s...
I have always felt strongly that, when it comes to working and the cost of childcare, it is not the responsibility of only one party to earn ‘enough’ to make childcare ‘worth it’. It’s a shared responsibility between two partners, so the fact that one partner is lower earning is relevant but should not be...
Question: I am in a custody case in Virginia. My child’s father and I both have lawyers and there is a Guardian ad litem involved. I got a letter from the other attorney that my attorney forwarded to me, stating that they were withdrawing from the case. I asked my attorney if she knew why...
Once you realize that your marriage is over, you want the rest of your life to begin as soon as possible. But many women don’t know where to start and what their first steps should be. So, what should you do? In Virginia, you are legally separated when (1) you form the intent to end...
You can get a court order establishing child support in one of two ways. One: You can file a petition with the juvenile court for custody, visitation, and/or child support, go to court, and ask the court to establish child support (as well as, potentially, custody and visitation). This can be either an initial...
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...