I believe in my marriage, and I don’t want a divorce In many cases, couples both agree that the marriage isn’t working and that they want out. I’ve had several, though, where one party or the other doesn’t agree, and consistently insists that he or she wants to stay married. The reality is that you really can’t FORCE someone to stay married; whether you like it or not, one party deciding that they want a divorce is enough to move the case forward. You can slow down the process; you can make … [Read more...]
Reconciliation and Divorce
Some marriages have been over for years before the Mrs. sets foot in our office. Others—well, let’s just say they’re a little more up in the air. Some women come in just wanting a little more information about what might happen if things start heading towards divorce. Others try marriage counseling first, and only come to see me after they’ve become completely convinced that their marriages can’t be saved. As a child, I always loved to read the “Can this marriage be saved?” feature article in my … [Read more...]
Separation and Marital Agreements in Virginia
There’s no such thing as “one size fits all” when it comes to marriage and divorce. That’s why there are so many different solutions to whatever might be going wrong in your particular case—and it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re headed for divorce. I know. You’re probably thinking, “WHAT?! Why would a divorce attorney tell me that maybe divorce isn’t the answer?” The truth is that, although I am a divorce attorney, that’s really not primarily how I think of myself (even though I do happen … [Read more...]
Not happy, but not ready for a divorce: The Marital Agreement
You’re unhappy, but maybe you’re not ready to move forward with a divorce just yet. Things have been rough, but you’re still holding out hope that something might change and you’ll be able to make it work. Whether for your own sake or for the sake of your children, there’s something just so permanent about taking those first tentative steps towards divorce, and you’re not ready for that yet. But that doesn’t mean, though, that you’re okay with how things are. That doesn’t mean that you’re … [Read more...]
Is a legal separation just a pit stop on the way to divorce?
For a lot of people, a separation is a time out, not necessarily a step towards divorce. I’ve heard people say things like, “I don’t want to separate, because I’m afraid that is automatically going to lead to divorce—but I really would like a break to figure out what I want.” Even though separation is often a step away from a divorce, that’s not always the case. Lots of people, for whatever reason, separate first—and then figure out their next steps later on. There’s no reason that a separation … [Read more...]
Before you decide to legally separate
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 probably also worried about the details. Unraveling two lives that have been woven pretty tightly together can be difficult, especially if you’re just not sure how the law even works. This is the … [Read more...]
A Virginia Divorce Attorney’s Advice to Anna Duggar
The internet is a cruel place, particularly for the scorned and shamed. These days, Josh Duggar (along with Jared from Subway) is pretty much at the top of that list. As far as the internet is concerned, he is persona non grata. So, who the heck is Josh Duggar? He is, as you probably already know, the son of the famous (or infamous, depending on your feelings) parents from the popular TLC show 19 Kids and Counting. If you know anything about the show (and, probably if you didn’t before last … [Read more...]
