I drafted a Separation Agreement, but he won’t sign. What next? You’ve agonized over the decision for months – sometimes, even years. After reflection and prayer and therapy and everything else you could think of to try, you’re ready to move forward with your divorce. I’ve seen it so many times! The initial consultation is often filled with tears, but, by the end, the woman walks out of our office a little taller, a little straighter, a little bit more confident. By the end of the process? … [Read more...]
Porn Addiction and Divorce
Porn Addiction and Divorce Addiction is a big buzzword these days, and people can suffer from addictions to all sorts of things. The typical addictions that tend to spring to mind are generally drug or alcohol related – and there’s no doubt we see our fair share of those. But there are other, more modern, addictions that we’re seeing lately with more and more frequency, and among those is the porn addiction. Now, I’m not a therapist, and I’m not here to debate the merits or demerits of a … [Read more...]
Separation Before Divorce in Virginia
Separation before divorce in Virginia You’re probably familiar with the idea that you have to separate from your husband before divorce – not just in Virginia, but in most places. Every state (and indeed every country!) handles this a little bit differently, and the required period of separation differs from one to the next. Sometimes, separation of longer duration is required in instances where minor children are involved. Divorce is one of those areas of law that is regulated on a state … [Read more...]
How do I prove we’ve been separated for a year?
Most people are aware that they’ll have to prove, at the end of a year, that they’ve been separated in order to get a divorce. What they don’t know, though, is how all of that is accomplished at the end of the process. We get lots of questions about how things are proven and what needs to happen at the end of the one year of separation. It’s actually a really good question, too, especially because it can be confusing, and things can be different depending on the type of divorce you’ve pursued … [Read more...]
Why file on fault in Virginia divorce
I spend a lot of time preaching about separation agreements. Obviously--see here, here, and here, for more information. I talk a lot about how useful they are, how much control they give parties over the way their assets will be divided, and the benefits of spending less on attorney’s fees (so you have more for your happily ever after). But a separation agreement isn’t possible for everyone, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. When I talk about the benefits of separation agreements, … [Read more...]
Do It Yourself Virginia Divorce
You’d think that what constitutes “do it yourself”, especially when it comes to a divorce or custody case, would be pretty clear. A do it yourself resource is one that allows you to do it yourself (duh). The best types of do it yourself resources would take you through from start to finish and explain the entirety of the process to you. Right? But, still, there are more and more “do it yourself” resources popping up all over the place, or, at least, it seems that way to me. Recently, the … [Read more...]
Cruelty in Virginia Divorce
It’s not one that we see all the time (in fact, we prefer not to have cruelty come up!), but, in Virginia, cruelty is grounds for divorce. It’s not one that we see all the time (in fact, we prefer not to have cruelty come up!), but, in Virginia, cruelty is grounds for divorce. Cruelty can mean a lot of different things to a lot of people; in fact, I think most of us can agree that to verbally or emotionally abuse your spouse is pretty cruel. Rude comments and hateful or spiteful behavior is … [Read more...]
Alcoholism in Divorce and Custody Cases
Alcoholism is a widespread issue in the United States, and it’s no small wonder that we see it pretty often in divorce and custody cases. Whether it’s your alleged alcoholism, or whether you’re worrying about your husband’s consumption of alcoholic beverages (and, of course, whether it’s a divorce or a custody case we’re talking about), there are some things you should know as you prepare to face a family law case in the Virginia courts. Alcoholism in Divorce Cases The first thing you should … [Read more...]
He Drafted a Separation Agreement. Now What?
These days, it is probably safe to say that most people get divorced with a separation agreement. And that’s a good thing! That means that (though it may not have been the easiest thing in the world to do) they aren’t wasting time and money fighting over things in court. When you negotiate a separation agreement, you have the most possible control over your assets and how they’ll be divided. Of course, that doesn’t mean you’ll get everything, and it also doesn’t mean that you’ll feel every … [Read more...]
File a Divorce
In Virginia (and, I’m pretty sure, just about everywhere else) the divorce process formally begins with the court when a complaint is filed. That doesn’t mean, though, that the first thing you need to do is march down to the courthouse and file a divorce. In fact, in many cases, you don’t file anything until the end of the divorce, and not the beginning. So, if you’re at the very beginning of the process, you may be getting a little bit ahead of yourself. Let’s take a step back and talk about … [Read more...]
