Does Virginia recognize common law marriage?

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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Making holidays magical amidst divorce

Whether your divorce and custody case is already on track or you’re waiting until the end of the holiday season to begin to move things forward, it’s no easy feat to keep on keeping on in the meantime.  As a mom, you still want to make sure that the holidays are as magical for the...

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There are all sorts of different moms out there in the world and, as a mom, I know how important it is to feel recognized and appreciated for the decisions that you are trying to make to ensure that your children grow up to be the best, happiest, healthiest versions of themselves. Probably, when you’re...

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There are very few things quite as discomfiting in a custody case as having the Guardian ad litem interview your child – especially when you’re not around.  One of the most common ways the Guardians ad litem interview children is by showing up at school. If you’ve never been through this and you’re worrying about...

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  One of the biggest risk factors for women in divorce is the fact that, statistically speaking, they are the lesser wage earners.  This means that, in many cases, many of the most valuable assets are largely controlled by the husband – including, but not limited to, any real estate, retirement accounts, bank accounts, and...

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Things can be especially tricky in that gray area between separation and the time that you and your soon-to-be ex are able to get a signed agreement or court order in place.  Until that time – when you either negotiate and sign an agreement or go to court and the judge puts an order in...

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  Not everyone has parents to go home to, but for the lucky few the siren call can be strong.  When things start to go badly in your marriage, it’s tempting to want to go back to a place of safety and security.  But can you just … leave?  Is it that simple? Well, hold...

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