He already met with a JAG attorney! What do I do? If you’re in the military (or your husband is), chances are you have a lot of faith in the military JAG attorneys. In general, military families use JAG attorneys for all sorts of legal issues, so it makes sense that one of the first place you’d think of going when you make the decision to end your marriage is straight to the JAG attorney’s office. After all, you want someone who understands the whole military thing, right? And military divorce … [Read more...]
How long does a Virginia divorce take?
How long does a Virginia divorce take? If you’re searching for an answer to the question “How long does a divorce take?” or “How long does it take to get a divorce in Virginia?”, chances are pretty good that you want it to be over with as soon as possible. Am I right? I get this question all the time. It’s certainly a reasonable question, but it’s also kind of a difficult question to answer. Divorces can vary pretty dramatically from one case to the next, depending on the type and complexity of … [Read more...]
What if we want to change our separation agreement later?
What if we want to change our separation agreement later? Things change, especially when your family is in flux. In a divorce, all sorts of things can change, even within a relatively short period of time. If you’re in the military, the chances that things will change increase exponentially. I can’t count the number of times that we’ve negotiated a custody and visitation agreement, only to turn around and find that someone is PCSing. Even with civilian families, things can change at the drop … [Read more...]
What kinds of free divorce and custody information can I get?
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) possible. Where should I get started, if I want to get as much information as possible? You’re in the … [Read more...]
Health insurance coverage after divorce
Health insurance coverage after divorce Health insurance coverage post-divorce is one of the things that I often see that keeps people married for long after they want to be. I have plenty of cases sitting on my shelf where we’ve negotiated a separation agreement but the parties ultimately decide not to finalize the divorce because they’re receiving health care coverage. When no one has met anyone else and the rest of the details are more or less ironed out, it often doesn’t really feel like … [Read more...]
August Girl’s Night Out
August Girl’s Night Out Our fourth annual Girl’s Night Out event at the Ocean View Pier was fabulous! There’s a reason we keep doing events there – you keep coming, and they keep being awesome! We’ve always had amazing weather, for one thing. (Knock on wood.) But the food and the drinks are also great, and where else can you go with such breathtaking panoramic views of the Chesapeake Bay? (Besides when you’re sitting in tunnel traffic, and then it’s generally frowned upon to drink orange … [Read more...]
Can I get him to pay for my medical expenses in divorce?
Can I get him to pay for my medical expenses in the divorce? Whenever a woman asks me a question about what we can make happen in the divorce, I have two answers. If it goes to court, there’s one set of answers, and if we’re able to reach an agreement regarding the distribution of the assets and liabilities in a marriage, there’s a whole other set of answers. Of course, it depends on the question being asked as well. Today, we’re looking at one specific question: Can I get him to pay … [Read more...]
My marriage isn’t working out. What should I do?
My marriage isn't working out. What should I do? There’s not a lot of things that feel scarier than divorce. It’s a big change, and it impacts all areas of your life. I think probably the scariest parts aren’t even what will happen to your retirement accounts or your house, but the ideological shift that takes place. Who are you, if you’re not your husband’s wife? How do you start over? Who do you talk to now, if the person you vowed to love and cherish is no longer playing on the same … [Read more...]
Support Guidelines in Virginia Military Divorce
In many ways, military divorce isn’t all that different from civilian divorce. In other ways, though, there are a lot of nuances and other confusing tidbits that can make it seem a lot more difficult, and make it more difficult to get answers. After all, the military isn’t out to help you, if you’re married to a service member. The military really looks out for its own. There are resources available to you as a military spouse, but you should look at them with a critical eye, and, in many … [Read more...]
Divorce Virginia Seminars
Divorce isn’t easy. And, if you’ve never been divorced before (or even if you have), there’s probably a lot you don’t know. That’s not your fault. There’s a lot to know, and the law is constantly changing. Besides that, it’s very state specific, so even what you know from your friend’s divorces doesn’t necessarily translate to yours, in the here and now in Virginia. Besides, there are steps you can take now so that you can educate yourself, and make sure you know what you need to know about the … [Read more...]
