What can I do about my child’s father’s prior drug use? Drug and alcohol use is always a big deal in a custody case, especially if it is (or has been) the kind of drug use that interferes with a parent’s ability to hold down a job or co-parent effectively. In my experience as a divorce and custody lawyer, I’ve seen cases that have run the gamut. Former addicts who’ve gotten clean, and some who just can’t seem to get their acts together. I’ve even seen some who refuse to try at all. But, if … [Read more...]
My juvenile court case got appealed! What now?
My juvenile court case got appealed! What now? The downside of the juvenile court is definitely the appeals situation. Well, that’s the downside if you won in the juvenile court, anyway. If you lost at the juvenile court level, well, then, it’s absolutely your right to appeal! (Funny how there are two sides to every coin, right?) But, today, I’m really talking about what happens if you won in juvenile court, and the opposing party notes an appeal. It can be incredibly frustrating, especially … [Read more...]
Successful Coparenting
Successful Coparenting Working together with your child’s father isn’t easy, especially after you’ve decided that your future plans really don’t include each other. Breakups and divorces happen all the time, but, ultimately, the impact that these things have on your children is up to you. You know, or at least you probably already suspect, that your future life WILL include your child’s father – that particular fact is something that you probably realized right around the time you birthed your … [Read more...]
Will the judge agree with my Guardian ad litem?
Will the judge agree with my Guardian ad litem? Guardians ad litem are great. Guardians ad litem are terrible. There’s almost no middle ground, and certainly won’t be for you if you’re in the middle of a custody case. Most of all, guardians ad litem are terrifying, because they get involved in your case and, ultimately, make a recommendation about what, in their opinion, is best for your children. I’m a mom, too, so I get how you’re feeling. I can even imagine, though not from personal … [Read more...]
Virginia Relocation Cases
Virginia Relocation Cases Virginia relocation cases are always among the hardest. Though I understand why they come up so frequently (especially in an area that has such a high concentration of military families), I can also understand why the courts are so hesitant to allow one parent to relocate with the child. Like most other things, there are standards that apply when a parent wants to relocate. The standards come from case law (other cases Virginia courts have decided related to … [Read more...]
My Guardian ad litem is SO biased!
My Guardian ad litem is SO biased! Working with a Guardian ad litem (an attorney appointed to represent the interests of the child to the court in a custody and visitation case) isn’t easy, to put it mildly. And, if you’re one of the many, many, many women I’ve worked with or talked to over the years who hates your Guardian ad litem with a fiery passion you didn’t know you could feel for another human being, just know – you’re not alone. If I had a dollar for every time I heard that the GAL … [Read more...]
Delegating visitation during military deployment
Delegating visitation during military deployment In our area, dealing with the military is, for better or for worse, just a part of daily life. We’re pretty attuned to the specific issues that the military faces, and, for many of us, whether we’re current or former military service members or spouses, there are a lot of family law issues that are involved as well. When it comes to custody and visitation, deployment is a big issue. Specifically, what happens to the kids while one parent is … [Read more...]
Custody and Visitation on Halloween
Custody and Visitation on Halloween Holidays are hard. They’re always hard. I field questions about holidays probably almost every single day. Generally speaking, holidays are alternated between parents. We alternate legal holidays – the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving. We usually alternate Christmas and Spring Break, too, to varying degrees, both to reflect the need for both parents to be able to spend time with the children during the holidays, but also to reflect … [Read more...]
How to Sue your Guardian ad Litem
How to Sue Your Guardian ad Litem In custody and visitation cases, Guardians ad litem are some of the most passionately despised people, and probably at least once a week someone asks me what they can do to either get rid of their Guardian ad litem or request that they be sanctioned for their behavior. How do I sue my guardian ad litem? This is a bit of a trick question. The answer? You don’t. You definitely, definitely don’t. The risk is just too great. You have to remember a couple of … [Read more...]
Custody and Child Support of Older Teenagers
Custody and Child Support of Older Teenagers Under the law, a child magically becomes an adult on their 18th birthday. But what does that mean, and how does it impact custody and visitation? When you have an older teenaged child, what options do you have? What does the court allow? These are all good questions, and, if you’re the parent of an older child, you’ve probably found that a lot of the information related to custody and visitation relates to much younger children. You’re probably … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 8
- Next Page »
