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Working with a Virginia Guardian ad Litem

By Katie Carter | October 2, 2017

For moms facing a custody case, nothing strikes fear into their hearts quite like the possibility of working with a Guardian ad litem. As a mom myself, I can understand the fear. A lawyer (yes—a lawyer!) will have the opportunity to talk to you and your child’s father and even your child (without you present!)…

When can a child decide which parent to live with in a Virginia custody case?

By Katie Carter | July 17, 2017

In the movies, children are often asked to decide which parent they want to live with after a divorce. In popular culture, too, I think the understanding is there that, at a certain point, a kid can make decisions for himself about where he’ll spend the majority of his time.In the movies, children are often…

Deadbeat Dad Now Wants Custody

By Katie Carter | April 12, 2017

Divorce and custody cases do all sorts of things to people. Things that, before the case were on the horizon, would have seemed unthinkable—in both good ways and bad. One of the most annoying things that happens is when a formerly deadbeat dad decides that he now wants custody, or at least wants more parenting…

Removing a Virginia Guardian ad Litem

By Katie Carter | March 10, 2017

In Virginia, as in most states, the standard we use for custody cases is the best interests of the child. In Virginia, as in most states, we have a number of factors that comprise, basically, what factors we believe account for what types of choices, when it comes to custody and visitation, are in a…

What are you sharing about your kids on Facebook, and how can it impact your divorce or custody case?

By Katie Carter | July 22, 2016

There’s no question that ours is a society that shares information first and then thinks later. Usually, that’s not a problem and, even if it is, it’s one of our own making—one that we can choose to deal with (or not), whatever the case may be. You can certainly choose to share whatever you like,…

January Custody Bootcamp

By Katie Carter | January 6, 2016

It’s January, which means that Custody Bootcamp for Moms is coming up again soon! We still have space for the January 28th seminar, so, if you’ve got a court date coming up or just want to check in on your attorney, now is definitely the time to get registered to attend! Custody Bootcamp for Moms…

Virginia Custody Laws: Can I move with my child?

By Katie Carter | August 31, 2015

We see it all the time. When things don’t work out between a woman and the father of her children, her first impulse is to pack up and move back home. Without the support provided by the child’s father, there seems no reason, to mom at least, to stick around. In fact, the thing that…

Can I file custody and visitation petitions on my own?

By Katie Carter | August 12, 2015

It seems like a lot of the women I meet with want to talk to me in the hopes that they’ll find out they DON’T need to hire an attorney. (I try not to take it personally or let it hurt my feelings.) The truth is, though, that I understand completely. Hiring an attorney is…

When You DON’T Have a Custody Order in Place

By Katie Carter | June 3, 2015

When a couple has a child together, there is no custody order. There’s no “every other weekend” rule, even if mom and dad are no longer romantically involved. Married or single, it doesn’t make any difference. Babies aren’t born with rules about custody in place. Furthermore, babies are born to two parents, each of whom…