Parents have exactly one legal requirement regarding public education: compulsory attendance, under Virginia Code § 22.1-254. What does that mean? Parents must send their children to school1. Just about anything beyond that is good parenting but not legally binding. How much information you provide your children's teachers is up to you, but consider why, in the case of separation, more information is ...
Military satellites are spangled above our skies by the thousands, yet the Coast Guard and Navy still use Morse Code to send signals by lamp. Keeping multiple lines of communication open is essential not only to the military, but to your life after divorce. Using the Right Communication Channels Your ex-wife may not be amenable to clear communication, but she may ...
Virginia does not have rigid guidelines for spousal support the way it does for child support. The laws are written to provide a judge wide discretion in deciding, first, who pays whom and, second, how much is paid. Spousal Support Laws The Code of Virginia includes a section, § 20-107.1, that outlines how a Circuit Court judge may decide spousal support. ...
Some parents struggle more than others with shared custody of their children after divorce. Ashburn, Virginia resident Kirk D. Holland recently lost control during a child custody drop-off and now faces domestic assault and other charges, according to The Patch. For most parents, though, shared or joint physical custody is preferable to sole physical custody, and small distinctions separate shared ...
The second-highest stressor in an adult's life, according to the Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory, is divorce. We have heard this news all around us, in social media, news pipelines, and from neighbors: stress kills. Virginia men are strong, no doubt, but stress from divorce can seriously affect your mental and physical well-being. Here's how to stay focused, healthy and happy through ...
The court of popular opinion often condemns where the law protects. Consider your neighborhood hoarder. Legally, hoarding can be a disability (disposophobia), but perhaps everyone avoids that neighbor. If you have a disability, ignore popular opinion and listen to your lawyer: you can gain custody of your children. Are You Under Guardianship? If you are disabled adult Virginia man, you may ...
A nation's children are its future. From that simple idea, we get laws that protect children above all, as in Virginia's "best interest of the child" laws found throughout Virginia Code. This precept crosses state boundaries, too, in the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA). Orders for child support are, by virtue of this federal umbrella act that compelled all 50 ...
"Who does she think she is?" If you are asking that about your children's mother, she has probably said something truly daft, like trying to tell you where you and your child can live. We are here to test that idea. (Hint: she fails the test, except for one very peculiar situation). Can You Live Anywhere You Want? Only a ...
The time you spend with your own children is rare, precious and fleeting. Make the most of your parenting time by ensuring your kids feel comfortable, welcomed, and part of your family story. Try these ideas for just about any situation. Supervised Parenting Time In some family law cases, you as the Dad may have child visitation time prescribed in ...