Date of Separation is Really Important
When I was in the military, “Date of Separation” or DOS was on the minds of many armed forces members as they planned for completing their service obligation and beginning a new life as a civilian. It was that date when everything changed, in an instant. Today, in our...
How are retirement accounts divided in a divorce?
If you are getting a divorce, you might need to divide one or more retirement accounts. This can be a complex process. Since Virginia is an equitable distribution state, these accounts might not be divided 50/50. The value of the plan First, you need to consider how...
What is parental alienation and how do I stop it?
Judges often comment on how both parents need to be on the same “team”, meaning they need to set their differences and conflicts aside and encourage the child to develop healthy and loving relations with both of them. When parents act in their child’s best interests...
What does child support cover?
Separated clients with children often come to us with somewhat similar questions regarding child support: Does child support cover extracurriculars or sports? What about school supplies or private tuition? How about daycare costs or summer camps? The question...
How can I co-parent with a narcissist?
Even after ending a tumultuous relationship involving mental or even physical abuse, Courts still award at least some visitation to the other party. Unfortunately, abusers will sometimes use a co-parenting situation to try and continue to exert control over their...
Does your child’s preference matter in your custody battle?
A common question that clients ask is whether their child gets a say in where they will ultimately live or how much time they will spend with each parent. We often hear from clients that their child doesn’t want to go to the other parent’s house or that the other...
Will I receive, or will I have to pay, spousal support when I separate from my spouse?
A common question that recently separated parties ask me is, “Am I entitled to alimony, or will I have to pay alimony?” They then follow up with several more questions, which usually include “How much alimony will I receive/pay?” and “How long will the spousal support...
Bite your tongue: what you say can be used against you in family law cases
“Dance like no one is watching, and e-mail like it may one day be read aloud in a deposition.” We couldn’t agree more with this viral meme: following this seemingly glib statement can likely save you a lot of headaches in the long run in your family law dispute. In...
What rights do you have as a grandparent to court-ordered custody or visitation with your grandchildren?
Most people understand and appreciate that both parents of a child have a constitutional right to raise their children without interference from third parties. However, children often have important family relationships with grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles,...
Why a do-it-yourself divorce is a bad idea
Several of our clients come to us only after an unsuccessful and tedious attempt to secure a divorce on their own. Most of them first tried using a website or service that claimed to have “all the forms necessary” to finalize their divorce without an attorney....