Special Issues in Child Custody: Adoption Most of the time, adoption isn’t a big part of what we do. In some cases, though, it can come up in certain ways. Most of the time, the question is whether a new stepparent can adopt a child from a previous relationship. There are all sorts of interrelated issues: termination of parental rights, stepparent adoptions, name changes, etc., on and on. While typically we don’t handle regular adoptions, from time to time it does happen as part of a larger … [Read more...]
Changing your name after Virginia divorce
Changing your name after Virginia divorce If carrying his name after divorce really gets under your skin, I have good news for you. It’s super easy to petition the court for a name change to resume a former or maiden name during the divorce process. Of course, for many people, keeping the same name as the kids is important, even if you’d really rather not still carry your ex-husband’s name. I can’t weigh the pros and cons for you, but, if you do decide that you’d like it changed, that’s … [Read more...]
What happens in an uncontested divorce?
What happens in an uncontested divorce? Basically, in Virginia, you can get divorced in one of two ways. Either you guys duke it all out in front of a judge, who ultimately rules on how everything will get divided in your case, or, alternatively, you and your husband reach an agreement regarding how everything will be divided. In the latter case – the one where you guys reach an agreement – your divorce will be uncontested, meaning that the judge does not have to render any decisions, since … [Read more...]
Virginia Name Changes and Stepparent Adoptions
Virginia Name Changes and Step Parent Adoptions So, your child’s biological father is a deadbeat, and now you’ve found Mr. Wonderful (not Mr. Wonderful of the Shark Tank variety, to be clear). He is willing to adopt your child, and to have her assume his last name. Isn’t it amazing? But is it really that easy? In most cases, no! It’s actually fairly complicated -- if not downright impossible! The way the law sees it, the biological dad – deadbeat or no – has some rights here. A lot is … [Read more...]
Changing Your Name in Virginia Divorce
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 change order. You don’t have to get your name changed because you’re getting divorced. And, on the other hand, if you want your name changed, you don’t have to wait until you’re … [Read more...]
