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There are a lot of disadvantages to the military, and certainly to military healthcare. Regardless of whether you have TriCare Standard or TriCare Prime, you probably have a lot of gripes. Most military families I know have some complaints about the military healthcare system. One thing they can agree on, though? The price is right,...
Thanks to the repeal of a law in 2008, therapist records and testimony can now be used to help define a parent's mental state in a Virginia child custody case.
For lots of women, one of the most important parts of the divorce process is the name change. Especially when there aren’t children born during the marriage (and sometimes even when there are) one of the most important parts of the process (and certainly one of the most therapeutic and significant parts) is the name...
Because I’m in the business of divorce, I often hear this joke. Question: “Do you know why divorce is so expensive?” (The joker then expects the jokee to say, “No, why?”) Answer: “Because it’s worth it!” (Then, of course, the jokee is supposed to roll with uncontrolled mirth.) Maybe I’m a humorless attorney, but I...
The Post 9/11 GI Bill education benefits aren't affected by a Virginia divorce, or by your ex-husband remarrying, but he still has the decision-making power when it comes to transferring (or revoking) the benefits.
Spousal support is often one of the biggest, stickiest, trickiest areas in a divorce case. Almost everyone wants it and, of course, no one wants to be the one to have to pay it. These days, spousal support is more or less equal opportunity; it’s not only paid to wives or only paid by husbands....
You just found out your husband cheated on you. What should you do next? It’s a great question, and one we get asked all the time. No, really. All. The. Time. It’s pretty common, and you’re right to be asking questions. After all, you know that a lot of divorce is time sensitive, and you...
Thanks to the repeal of a law in 2008, therapist records and testimony can now be used to help define a parent's mental state in a Virginia child custody case.
If you’re like most women, you can’t get an annulment in Virginia. Annulments are pretty difficult to get, and only apply in a couple of super narrow circumstances. (For more information about annulments, or to find out whether you might qualify, click here.) I definitely understand the appeal of an annulment. It would be nice...
Believe it or not, marriages are not annulled all that often. Despite the fact that everyone has heard of annulment and thinks that it (like common law marriage) is a real possibility, in most cases, at least in Virginia, marriage annulment is just not something that happens. It’s possible, of course—but definitely not very likely....
Things aren’t working out and, for one reason or another, you are probably wondering whether divorce is the only option available to you. Maybe your husband lied to you about something critically important; a lie, frankly, without which you would not have married him. Maybe you realized your mistake really quickly; maybe you realized it,...
You probably already know, if you’ve been doing any kind of research on how divorce works in Virginia, that most cases these days are settled with a separation agreement. A separation agreement is, as you’ve probably already discovered, a legal contract that divides the assets and liabilities of the parties between them—somewhat “fairly” or “equitably.”...
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like talking to people I don’t know on the phone. Even silly things, like ordering pizza, give me little stomach flutters when I pick up the phone. There’s no real reason; it’s not like anything bad has ever come from me picking up the phone and talking...
Whether or not you want the divorce, you probably feel that, given your druthers, you’d have chosen to handle things a little differently. There’s no question that facing an impending divorce case is difficult—emotionally and physically—to stomach, especially when you’re afraid that you’re going to be dragged into legal proceedings that you have no desire...
Everyone has the same basic questions at the beginning of the divorce process. Everyone wants to know how much their case will cost (an exact figure, if possible), and exactly how long it will take to get them from start to finish. I get it. I’ve been through things like this before. I’ve had times...
Since we represent women exclusively, we get lots of questions from women asking us to help them with their divorce and custody cases. Though we can’t take on entire cases pro bono, there are a lot of programs that we offer in an effort to make sure that Virginia women are as informed as possible...
Spousal support is often one of the biggest, stickiest, trickiest areas in a divorce case. Almost everyone wants it and, of course, no one wants to be the one to have to pay it. These days, spousal support is more or less equal opportunity; it’s not only paid to wives or only paid by husbands....
Custody cases are the worst, especially in terms of the levels of anxiety that moms feel as they begin to prepare for one. There’s a lot of fear there (and understandably so), and often that fear makes it difficult for moms to separate the horror stories from the actual, factual truth about what could happen...
Judges don’t love to decide cases, especially in family law. It’s not that they don’t care, it’s just that they know that they don’t really have the full scope of the situation (how can they?), and prefer, instead, for people to do all that they can to settle their disputes BEFORE coming to court. That...
As with most legal problems, when it comes to the question of firing your attorney (or, on the other hand, being fired by your attorney), there is both a short answer and a long answer. Today, we’re going to talk about hiring and firing, and what happens when this comes up in your own case....
Since we represent women exclusively, we get lots of questions from women asking us to help them with their divorce and custody cases. Though we can’t take on entire cases pro bono, there are a lot of programs that we offer in an effort to make sure that Virginia women are as informed as possible...
Judges don’t love to decide cases, especially in family law. It’s not that they don’t care, it’s just that they know that they don’t really have the full scope of the situation (how can they?), and prefer, instead, for people to do all that they can to settle their disputes BEFORE coming to court. That...
Gearing up to face a custody case – especially if you can’t afford to hire an attorney to help you – is pretty terrifying. Though there’s no question that divorce cases are difficult, both emotionally and financially, it’s the custody cases that tend to make otherwise sane people totally panic. It’s completely understandable. Until you...
If you’re a mom, you’ve made a lot of sacrifices for the sake of your kids. It started from the moment you found out you were pregnant, and started eating insane amounts of broccoli and discussing the benefits of folic acid to anyone who would listen. It carried through your pregnancy, to every single glass...
The other day, I had a debate with a couple of the attorneys in the office. It’s interesting; we’ve been practicing so long, side by side, and yet, in some ways, our experiences (and, as a result, our professional judgment) are completely different. Okay, so here’s the issue. Mom and dad have joint physical custody,...
A custody case is bad enough, but preparing to face a custody case when you know full well you don’t have the money to hire an attorney is gut wrenching, especially if you know your child’s father has hired an attorney to represent him in court. It’s intimidating. If you’ve ever been to court before...
Even though not all parents stay together forever, not all parents need to go to court to have a custody and visitation arrangement set in stone, either. In fact, lots of parents are ultimately able to decide among themselves (or just let things work out on the fly). Of course, there’s no right or wrong...
The new year is a time when a lot of people take a good hard look at their lives, and make decisions about what they want in the future. If you, like others, are taking a hard look at your life and thinking that maybe your marriage just isn’t panning out the way you thought...
Since we represent women exclusively, we get lots of questions from women asking us to help them with their divorce and custody cases. Though we can’t take on entire cases pro bono, there are a lot of programs that we offer in an effort to make sure that Virginia women are as informed as possible...
Judges don’t love to decide cases, especially in family law. It’s not that they don’t care, it’s just that they know that they don’t really have the full scope of the situation (how can they?), and prefer, instead, for people to do all that they can to settle their disputes BEFORE coming to court. That...
Gearing up to face a custody case – especially if you can’t afford to hire an attorney to help you – is pretty terrifying. Though there’s no question that divorce cases are difficult, both emotionally and financially, it’s the custody cases that tend to make otherwise sane people totally panic. It’s completely understandable. Until you...
When it comes to having to go to court, it’s a little too easy to be the ostrich, burying your head in the sand. Most of the time, though, that response won’t help you at all; in fact, depending on the type of case you’re facing, you could really be hurting yourself. If you don’t...
There’s no such thing as a one size fits all custody case, so it’s often difficult to give an answer when a woman asks me what she can expect in an upcoming custody case. Still, I know how frustrating it can be when you ask a lawyer a question and the answer you get is...
If you’re a mom, you’ve made a lot of sacrifices for the sake of your kids. It started from the moment you found out you were pregnant, and started eating insane amounts of broccoli and discussing the benefits of folic acid to anyone who would listen. It carried through your pregnancy, to every single glass...
The other day, I had a debate with a couple of the attorneys in the office. It’s interesting; we’ve been practicing so long, side by side, and yet, in some ways, our experiences (and, as a result, our professional judgment) are completely different. Okay, so here’s the issue. Mom and dad have joint physical custody,...
A custody case is bad enough, but preparing to face a custody case when you know full well you don’t have the money to hire an attorney is gut wrenching, especially if you know your child’s father has hired an attorney to represent him in court. It’s intimidating. If you’ve ever been to court before...
There’s no such thing as a one size fits all custody case, so it’s often difficult to give an answer when a woman asks me what she can expect in an upcoming custody case. Still, I know how frustrating it can be when you ask a lawyer a question and the answer you get is...
If you’re a mom, you’ve made a lot of sacrifices for the sake of your kids. It started from the moment you found out you were pregnant, and started eating insane amounts of broccoli and discussing the benefits of folic acid to anyone who would listen. It carried through your pregnancy, to every single glass...
A custody case is bad enough, but preparing to face a custody case when you know full well you don’t have the money to hire an attorney is gut wrenching, especially if you know your child’s father has hired an attorney to represent him in court. It’s intimidating. If you’ve ever been to court before...
If you’re expecting, especially if it’s your first child (and even if it’s not), you’re experiencing a lot of emotions. You’ve probably heard of it (or even experienced it) before; you know what they say about the pregnancy brain! You’re feeling all the feels, and you’re a little extra emotional, and if you add to...
There are very few things quite as terrifying as a pending custody case. Not knowing what is going to happen to your children (and knowing full well that whatever does happen is almost entirely out of your control) is anxiety inducing, to say the very least. Most moms have a (healthy?) dose of momma bear...
Even though not all parents stay together forever, not all parents need to go to court to have a custody and visitation arrangement set in stone, either. In fact, lots of parents are ultimately able to decide among themselves (or just let things work out on the fly). Of course, there’s no right or wrong...
Relocation cases are hard cases to win, and, sometimes, even harder for moms to understand. For someone who has constantly made the children the priority, and who has earned the money needed to provide exceptional care to the children ever since the day they were born, it’s difficult to imagine why you wouldn’t be permitted...
Are you worried that the attorney you hired to handle your custody case isn’t doing what he is supposed to be doing? Are you considering handling your custody and visitation case in the juvenile courts on your own? Whether you’re considering doing it yourself or you just want to know a little more about how...
When it comes to divorce, there are a lot of choices. Gone are the days when divorce was a one size fits all type proposition; these days, there are many more options. Though you still have to have grounds for divorce, potential grounds include both traditional fault based options as well as no fault. Keep...
You have a lot of different options available to you when it comes to divorce. You have so many options, in fact, that many of the women that I see in my consultations or at my Second Saturday divorce seminars are convinced that there are many different “kinds” of divorce from which to choose. To hear...
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like talking to people I don’t know on the phone. Even silly things, like ordering pizza, give me little stomach flutters when I pick up the phone. There’s no real reason; it’s not like anything bad has ever come from me picking up the phone and talking...
Whether or not you want the divorce, you probably feel that, given your druthers, you’d have chosen to handle things a little differently. There’s no question that facing an impending divorce case is difficult—emotionally and physically—to stomach, especially when you’re afraid that you’re going to be dragged into legal proceedings that you have no desire...
Everyone has the same basic questions at the beginning of the divorce process. Everyone wants to know how much their case will cost (an exact figure, if possible), and exactly how long it will take to get them from start to finish. I get it. I’ve been through things like this before. I’ve had times...
Spousal support is often one of the biggest, stickiest, trickiest areas in a divorce case. Almost everyone wants it and, of course, no one wants to be the one to have to pay it. These days, spousal support is more or less equal opportunity; it’s not only paid to wives or only paid by husbands....
Custody cases are the worst, especially in terms of the levels of anxiety that moms feel as they begin to prepare for one. There’s a lot of fear there (and understandably so), and often that fear makes it difficult for moms to separate the horror stories from the actual, factual truth about what could happen...
As with most legal problems, when it comes to the question of firing your attorney (or, on the other hand, being fired by your attorney), there is both a short answer and a long answer. Today, we’re going to talk about hiring and firing, and what happens when this comes up in your own case....
A lot of people, military and civilians alike, are pretty unrealistic when it comes to post divorce spousal support. Though it’s certainly understandable (because, after all, if you’ve never been through a divorce before—and, sometimes, even if you have—how do you know what’s to be expected? All you probably are aware of is that the...
No two divorces are ever the same—though, obviously, there are some similarities. Still, women come into our office all the time asking for very different things. One tells us she doesn’t really care about anything, she just wants out. Others tell us, over and over, that they think they should receive astronomical levels of support...
The early days of a divorce or separation are the worst. It’s when both fears and tempers are at their worst, which causes lots of otherwise perfectly rational people to make decisions that they wouldn’t ordinarily. Under normal circumstances, idle threats wouldn’t cause a World War III level fight; in the beginning of a divorce...
We are committed to protecting your privacy and security. In case you’re worried about us sharing your information, rest easily. We’ve created this privacy statement, written for you in plain English, to demonstrate our commitment to protecting your privacy and security, and to define exactly what our standards are when it comes to visitors to...
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like talking to people I don’t know on the phone. Even silly things, like ordering pizza, give me little stomach flutters when I pick up the phone. There’s no real reason; it’s not like anything bad has ever come from me picking up the phone and talking...
Whether or not you want the divorce, you probably feel that, given your druthers, you’d have chosen to handle things a little differently. There’s no question that facing an impending divorce case is difficult—emotionally and physically—to stomach, especially when you’re afraid that you’re going to be dragged into legal proceedings that you have no desire...
Everyone has the same basic questions at the beginning of the divorce process. Everyone wants to know how much their case will cost (an exact figure, if possible), and exactly how long it will take to get them from start to finish. I get it. I’ve been through things like this before. I’ve had times...
Since we represent women exclusively, we get lots of questions from women asking us to help them with their divorce and custody cases. Though we can’t take on entire cases pro bono, there are a lot of programs that we offer in an effort to make sure that Virginia women are as informed as possible...
Spousal support is often one of the biggest, stickiest, trickiest areas in a divorce case. Almost everyone wants it and, of course, no one wants to be the one to have to pay it. These days, spousal support is more or less equal opportunity; it’s not only paid to wives or only paid by husbands....
Custody cases are the worst, especially in terms of the levels of anxiety that moms feel as they begin to prepare for one. There’s a lot of fear there (and understandably so), and often that fear makes it difficult for moms to separate the horror stories from the actual, factual truth about what could happen...
Judges don’t love to decide cases, especially in family law. It’s not that they don’t care, it’s just that they know that they don’t really have the full scope of the situation (how can they?), and prefer, instead, for people to do all that they can to settle their disputes BEFORE coming to court. That...
We are committed to protecting your privacy and security. In case you’re worried about us sharing your information, rest easily. We’ve created this privacy statement, written for you in plain English, to demonstrate our commitment to protecting your privacy and security, and to define exactly what our standards are when it comes to visitors to...
Since we represent women exclusively, we get lots of questions from women asking us to help them with their divorce and custody cases. Though we can’t take on entire cases pro bono, there are a lot of programs that we offer in an effort to make sure that Virginia women are as informed as possible...
Spousal support is often one of the biggest, stickiest, trickiest areas in a divorce case. Almost everyone wants it and, of course, no one wants to be the one to have to pay it. These days, spousal support is more or less equal opportunity; it’s not only paid to wives or only paid by husbands....
Custody cases are the worst, especially in terms of the levels of anxiety that moms feel as they begin to prepare for one. There’s a lot of fear there (and understandably so), and often that fear makes it difficult for moms to separate the horror stories from the actual, factual truth about what could happen...
Judges don’t love to decide cases, especially in family law. It’s not that they don’t care, it’s just that they know that they don’t really have the full scope of the situation (how can they?), and prefer, instead, for people to do all that they can to settle their disputes BEFORE coming to court. That...
As with most legal problems, when it comes to the question of firing your attorney (or, on the other hand, being fired by your attorney), there is both a short answer and a long answer. Today, we’re going to talk about hiring and firing, and what happens when this comes up in your own case....
A lot of people, military and civilians alike, are pretty unrealistic when it comes to post divorce spousal support. Though it’s certainly understandable (because, after all, if you’ve never been through a divorce before—and, sometimes, even if you have—how do you know what’s to be expected? All you probably are aware of is that the...
No two divorces are ever the same—though, obviously, there are some similarities. Still, women come into our office all the time asking for very different things. One tells us she doesn’t really care about anything, she just wants out. Others tell us, over and over, that they think they should receive astronomical levels of support...
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like talking to people I don’t know on the phone. Even silly things, like ordering pizza, give me little stomach flutters when I pick up the phone. There’s no real reason; it’s not like anything bad has ever come from me picking up the phone and talking...
Whether or not you want the divorce, you probably feel that, given your druthers, you’d have chosen to handle things a little differently. There’s no question that facing an impending divorce case is difficult—emotionally and physically—to stomach, especially when you’re afraid that you’re going to be dragged into legal proceedings that you have no desire...
Everyone has the same basic questions at the beginning of the divorce process. Everyone wants to know how much their case will cost (an exact figure, if possible), and exactly how long it will take to get them from start to finish. I get it. I’ve been through things like this before. I’ve had times...
Since we represent women exclusively, we get lots of questions from women asking us to help them with their divorce and custody cases. Though we can’t take on entire cases pro bono, there are a lot of programs that we offer in an effort to make sure that Virginia women are as informed as possible...
Spousal support is often one of the biggest, stickiest, trickiest areas in a divorce case. Almost everyone wants it and, of course, no one wants to be the one to have to pay it. These days, spousal support is more or less equal opportunity; it’s not only paid to wives or only paid by husbands....
Custody cases are the worst, especially in terms of the levels of anxiety that moms feel as they begin to prepare for one. There’s a lot of fear there (and understandably so), and often that fear makes it difficult for moms to separate the horror stories from the actual, factual truth about what could happen...
Judges don’t love to decide cases, especially in family law. It’s not that they don’t care, it’s just that they know that they don’t really have the full scope of the situation (how can they?), and prefer, instead, for people to do all that they can to settle their disputes BEFORE coming to court. That...
As with most legal problems, when it comes to the question of firing your attorney (or, on the other hand, being fired by your attorney), there is both a short answer and a long answer. Today, we’re going to talk about hiring and firing, and what happens when this comes up in your own case....
A lot of people, military and civilians alike, are pretty unrealistic when it comes to post divorce spousal support. Though it’s certainly understandable (because, after all, if you’ve never been through a divorce before—and, sometimes, even if you have—how do you know what’s to be expected? All you probably are aware of is that the...
Getting a divorce is bad enough, but getting a divorce when your spouse is a military service member is often even more difficult. Not only are you divorcing him, but, unless you’re a 20/20/20 spouse (more on that later), you’re divorcing the military, too—and all of the benefits it provided you and your family. Civilians...
There are a lot of disadvantages to the military, and certainly to military healthcare. Regardless of whether you have TriCare Standard or TriCare Prime, you probably have a lot of gripes. Most military families I know have some complaints about the military healthcare system. One thing they can agree on, though? The price is right,...
The GI Bill originated after World War II to help returning veterans go back to school as a reward for their service to our country. Over time, the GI Bill has changed and evolved and, in the wake of September 11th, the GI Bill changed again. Today, it covers the full cost of an undergraduate...
The TSP, or Thrift Savings Plan, is the federal government’s version of a 401(k) plan. Military service members, members of the reserves, and other federal employees are entitled to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan. Retirement accounts, as you probably already know, are super important in divorce cases. If we’re talking about equitable distribution (the...
With all of the recent hullabaloo surrounding the Ashley Madison website hack, people have been asking me a lot of questions about what it means for divorce in Virginia. It’s interesting. What would be regarded as a (first world) problem of epic proportions if the hack had released people’s credit card information (like the Target...
Last Friday morning, we started talking about separation. When are you separated? What does it mean to be separated? And, of course… Is separation even really a thing? Or is it just a pit stop on the way to a full fledged divorce? Lots of women say to me that they want to try a...
With the Powerball reaching a record breaking $1.2 billion, everyone (including yours truly) is out buying lottery tickets. I really think that, even though I know that the likelihood of winning is incredibly, incredibly low, the couple hours between when you buy the tickets and when the drawing is announced are worth it. Just having...
We have a lot of resources for Virginia women facing separation, divorce, and custody cases, but one of the most common questions we get relates to how to even start the process. “I want a separation from my husband,” women tell us. “How do I start? When am I separated? What do I do to...
When you’re making the decision to save or end your marriage, part of the reason you struggle is because you don’t have the answers to all the questions. Of course, you’re worried about the big picture issues, like, “What will happen to me?” and “Will I ever be okay?” If you’re like most women, you’re...
In Virginia, when you separate, you make a decision to stop cohabitating. Cohabitation is a fancy legal word that basically encompasses everything it means to live together as husband and wife. (and, as you can probably imagine, it deals with a lot more than just sex). There isn’t any paperwork to file to have a...
The early days of a divorce or separation are the worst. It’s when both fears and tempers are at their worst, which causes lots of otherwise perfectly rational people to make decisions that they wouldn’t ordinarily. Under normal circumstances, idle threats wouldn’t cause a World War III level fight; in the beginning of a divorce...
Hiring an attorney is a pretty scary thing. Even picking up the phone to call and get some preliminary information is terrifying for some people—myself included! I really prefer to do things as anonymously as possible, especially in preliminary stages. I understand that asking for information is difficult, and that you’re feeling a little afraid...
Appeals cases don’t happen very often in the practice of divorce law. Most of the time, even in the most hotly contested cases, the parties are done arguing either when they reach an agreement (which they do, in probably 95% of cases) or the judge makes a decision for them. Most people know that decisions...
Spousal support is one of those things that is just not guaranteed. In fact, it’s pretty complicated. When people ask me whether they’ll receive spousal support (and, then, inevitably, if so, how much?), I want to give them as clear of an answer as possible. But the truth is anything but clear. I’ve talked about...
Because I’m in the business of divorce, I often hear this joke. Question: “Do you know why divorce is so expensive?” (The joker then expects the jokee to say, “No, why?”) Answer: “Because it’s worth it!” (Then, of course, the jokee is supposed to roll with uncontrolled mirth.) Maybe I’m a humorless attorney, but I...
On our website, we talk about the five biggest red flags we see pre divorce. Obviously, in some cases, how to handle a difficult husband is really THE issue. Hopefully, your divorce is off to a great start, you and your soon to be ex husband are communicating effectively, and you’ll never have to worry...
Because I’m in the business of divorce, I often hear this joke. Question: “Do you know why divorce is so expensive?” (The joker then expects the jokee to say, “No, why?”) Answer: “Because it’s worth it!” (Then, of course, the jokee is supposed to roll with uncontrolled mirth.) Maybe I’m a humorless attorney, but I...
Everything gets divided in divorce—including the debt. If you really think about it, it’s not all that surprising. If you get half the dishes and he takes half the dish towels, certainly at some point you’re going to start talking about that Sears card. Or the line of credit that helped you renovate your kitchen....