Do i have custody of my child?
People care for children every single day and haven’t been to court to have custody and visitation determined. In most cases, those people don’t really worry about custody; they just have their kid, and they take care of him (or her). Things only really start to become a problem when there’s turmoil in the relationship…
Filed under: Uncategorized Tag with: child custody | custody | custody agreement | custody bootcamp for moms | custody order | custody seminar | free custody book | parenting time | visitation
In Your Virginia Child Custody Case, Forget Fair
It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s a truth that you should accept, and the earlier the better. Custody cases are not about fairness. There are lots of things about custody cases that are “unfair”. It’s not fair that he can petition, over and over again, for a modification based on a material change…
Filed under: Uncategorized Tag with: appeal | best interests of the child | child support | custody | custody evaluator | custody seminar | free custody book | GAL | modification | visitation
My JAG Attorney Gave Me a Form Separation Agreement
It’s not the first time I’ve written about JAG attorneys, and it probably won’t be the last, especially given that these same issues keep popping up time and time again in my practice. I’ve said it before: JAG attorneys are usually not licensed in the state in which they are stationed. If you’re military (which…
Filed under: Uncategorized Tag with: custody | custody seminar | divorce | divorce seminar | free custody book | free divorce book | JAG attorney | separation
What are your retainer fees?
If that’s not a generic question, I don’t know what is! I know there’s a lot of confusion out there about how attorneys bill and what we charge for. I also know that there’s often a general feeling that we’re not all that willing to give straight answers. In law school, the joke was always…
Filed under: Uncategorized Tag with: attorney cost | circuit court | custody | custody seminar | divorce | divorce seminar | free custody book | free divorce books | free reports | juvenile court | legal fees | retainers | separation
What kinds of free divorce and custody information can I get?
While there are very, very few (if any) attorneys who’ll actually take on an entire divorce or custody case pro bono, there’s tons of free divorce and custody information out there. After all, having the right information is critical, because it will help ensure that you make the best decisions for yourself (and your children)…
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Waiving child support in a Virginia separation agreement
I hear the same objection all the time: “But my husband says he won’t sign an agreement unless I waive child support.” They’re upset. They’re scared. They don’t know what to do. Most are loathe to accept any kind of financial assistance from their child’s father anyway, but they’re still not quite sure how they’ll…
Filed under: Uncategorized Tag with: child support | circuit court | custody and visitation | custody bootcamp for moms | divorce | free custody book | juvenile court | separation agreement | virginia | waiver of child support
Calculating Days in Virginia Child Custody
Child support is complicated. On the one hand, in many cases it isn’t an issue, because it’s based on a formula, and the formula is binding on our courts. On the other hand, it is an issue, because when you get into shared physical custody, for example, the level of support a paying parent would…
Filed under: Uncategorized Tag with: child custody | child support | custody bootcamp for moms | custody seminar | free custody book | shared custody | virginia
Visitation with Sick Kids
There’s nothing worse than seeing your kids sick. Unless it’s having sick kids and knowing that, under the current custody and visitation order/agreement, they’ve got to go to their dad’s. Whatever your feelings about or your relationship with your child’s father, having your children away from you while they’re sick is not at all ideal….
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How Virginia Courts Decide Custody
Custody cases are tricky. It’s not like divorce which, although difficult, is more or less a financial transaction where both parties walk away with some of the assets and some of the liabilities in the marriage. It’s pretty much understood that you won’t walk away with it all, because your spouse legally deserves a portion…
Filed under: Uncategorized Tag with: best interests of the child | custody agreement | custody bootcamp for moms | free custody book | shared custody | women's custody survival guide