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Once I sign my separation agreement, am I single?

  If you’ve had an attorney draft a separation agreement (or your soon to be ex has had an agreement drafted by an attorney), you probably have seen a provision that says that the parties are free to live as though single and unmarried. Sounds nice, right? I mean, yeah – that’s kind of why…

Should I liquidate my 401(k) to get back on my feet after divorce?

Divorce puts many a woman in a pretty tough spot financially. It can be hard to get your feet back under you afterwards, and it’s tempting to think of any place where you might be able to skim a little money oft the top in an attempt to reestablish some degree of normalcy. In virtually…

Refinance and Divorce

In case you haven’t heard, mortgage rates are really low right now, which may or may not have you thinking about a refinance. I get it; in fact, my husband and I just refinanced ourselves, which is what leads me to our discussion today. Well, that, and a recent consultation I had. In my consultation,…

How are medical expenses shared in divorce?

Whether you’ve got some kind of pre-existing condition, are generally accident prone (or your children are), or just worry about the unexpected, it’s a good idea to ask questions about how medical expenses are shared during and after divorce, especially if you and your soon to be ex husband have children in common. Medical expenses…

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…

Do you specialize in military divorce?

When you hire an attorney, you probably want to know that the attorney you’ve hired (or are considering hiring) has experience with cases similar to yours. This is especially true for military spouses. In some ways, I find it a little silly, to be honest. After all, a divorce is a divorce, and, in Virginia,…

Negotiating with your husband without your attorney

Some people are chronic negotiators. Depending on their circumstances, the nature of their relationship with their soon to be ex, and the facts surrounding the separation, this may or may not be a good thing. I’ve had a handful of really strong minded clients in my day, who come in and tell me what they…

Should I sign this separation agreement?

Every so often I hear from a woman who, panicked, tells me she has to have a separation agreement reviewed TODAY. She has to sign it right now, or there’ll be dire consequences. It’s an emergency! It has to be done now! I hate these conversations for a lot of reasons, but, first and foremost,…

Narcissists and the Drama Triangle in Virginia Divorce

I recently read a really interesting article that really helps to explain some of the ways a narcissistic husband will try to manipulate a situation to their advantage. For their spouse, the behavior is toxic, damaging, and, oftentimes, really difficult to separate themselves from. Partially, it’s just the way we’re built. You know, psychologically. They…

Virginia Spousal Support Changes 2018-2019

Virginia Spousal Support Changes 2018-2019 If you’re separating (or already separated), headed towards divorce, and hoping that your divorce settlement or decree will include an award of spousal support, there’s a lot that you should know. The law is in a state of flux right now, and so, so, so much is changing. Things that…