What is a typical custody schedule? Well, first off, let me say: there is no such thing as a “typical” custody schedule. Though there are some arrangements that courts (and parents) favor over others, there are literally as many different types of arrangements with respect to custody as there are parents and children out there in the world. There’s no right or wrong, really – though that’s not to suggest that, if a court orders a specific custody arrangement, you’ll necessarily love the way … [Read more...]
How do I get sole custody?
How do I get sole custody? All moms want sole custody. Hey, I get it – I’m a mom, too. And let’s just say that I share your belief that no one can do it – that is, mom my child – better than I can. And, in your case, there may very well be other issues, too. There’s often domestic violence, or differences in temperament and parenting style. Maybe he has mental health issues, or problems with drug, alcohol, or other substance abuse. There can be lots of reasons -- good, bad, and otherwise – … [Read more...]
A Guide to Child Support for Virginia Moms: Part One
A guide to child support for Virginia moms Part One Under Virginia law (well, under the law in every state, as far as I’m aware), both parents have an obligation to support their children. For many people, it’s a non issue – parents who are together tend to share expenses and mutually care for the children. For parents who are separated, divorced, or just plain old broken up, child support becomes a different issue entirely. In Virginia, child support is calculated by using guideline … [Read more...]
Virginia Child Support Guidelines
If there’s anything that’s lagging behind the times in divorce and custody, it’s child support guidelines. (Just kidding. This is Virginia. We’re lagging behind in a lot of places, I’m just choosing to talk about one area that, in my opinion, is particularly behind the times.) It’s kind of like no one has any idea what it costs to raise a child in this day and age. For a lot of moms, the amount of child support is a little like a slap in the face. Or a lot like a slap in the face, … [Read more...]
Week On/Week Off Custody
When it comes to custody and visitation of minor children in Virginia, not very many things are set in stone, especially if the parents are able to reach an agreement about how they plan to work together to co parent their children. There aren’t a lot of hard and fast rules when it comes to custody and visitation, except to the extent that we use the “best interests of the child” factors to guide our decisions. Whenever custody and visitation issues are brought in front of a judge, the judge … [Read more...]
Who receives Virginia child support?
So, who receives Virginia child support? In many ways, child support isn’t a very complicated proposition. Most cases fall somewhere within the realm of normal, and very predictable things happen. Of course, there are cases that are outliers, for one reason or another, and that make it difficult to make blanket statements about child support and which parent receives Virginia child support. Generally speaking, the parent who has the child less (the non custodial parent) pays child support to … [Read more...]
What does shared custody even mean?
Custody cases are the worst, especially in terms of the levels of anxiety that moms feel as they begin to prepare for one. There’s a lot of fear there (and understandably so), and often that fear makes it difficult for moms to separate the horror stories from the actual, factual truth about what could happen in the courtroom. We’ve all heard a horror story or twelve, and it doesn’t help that we’ve all watched TV and seen these types of scenarios unfold dramatically (or maybe “cinematically” … [Read more...]
