In the late 18th century, Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon famously criticized the New World — including Virginia — as a land of weak and inferior life. Thomas Jefferson responded forcefully in Notes on the State of Virginia, cataloging example after example of strength, adaptability, and resilience. That historical debate turns out to be surprisingly relevant today, because Virginia courts ...
18.2-49.1 does not equal 30.9. Mathematically, it does. Legally, in Virginia family law, it absolutely does not. Virginia Code § 18.2-49.1 is your primary statutory weapon when your ex-spouse decides that a judge’s custody or visitation order is optional. It isn’t. And the General Assembly made sure of that. When a court grants you visitation with your children, that right ...
When parents divorce or separate in Virginia, few questions are more important—or more emotionally charged—than child custody. Fathers often hear the terms joint custody and shared custody used interchangeably, but under Virginia law, they mean very different things. Understanding those differences is essential if you want to protect your parental rights, preserve meaningful time with your children, and avoid costly ...
Shared custody in Virginia can be one of the most rewarding — and most challenging — parts of co-parenting after separation or divorce. Whether you are just beginning to navigate custody or revisiting your parenting arrangement, the schedule you choose will influence your child’s stability, emotional well-being, and relationship with both parents. Virginia courts encourage meaningful involvement from both parents, ...
When you ask, “What are the chances of a father getting full custody in Virginia?”, you’re really asking whether courts favor mothers. The numbers say fathers still face an uphill battle—but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only about 17.5% of custodial parents are fathers, while mothers make up roughly 82.5%. Although these numbers haven’t ...
Every man walking into a Virginia custody case feels like a gladiator gearing up for the arena. You’ve got your armor polished, your sword sharpened, and your heart pounding. But even the strongest warrior can fall—not from lack of strength, but from a few well-placed blunders. Custody disputes are emotional, exhausting, and often unpredictable. Virginia family courts take their “best ...
Crafting a summer custody schedule after divorce doesn’t have to be a battle. But just like calculating leap years — which happen every four years except when a centurial year isn’t divisible by 400 — child custody arrangements come with nuanced rules that require clarity and cooperation. Whether you’re navigating your first post-divorce summer or fine-tuning an existing plan, here ...
Divorce isn’t easy—especially when you’re trying to be a great dad through it all. The emotional weight, legal stress, and major life adjustments can leave you feeling overwhelmed. But here’s the truth: no matter what happens between you and your ex, your kids still need you—and they need the best version of you. Being a divorced dad isn’t about perfection—it’s ...
In today’s media, fathers are often portrayed as awkward or clueless when it comes to emotionally charged conversations with their children. While those caricatures might draw laughs on screen, real-life parenting requires much more nuance—especially when it comes to talking about separation and divorce. No matter your role—dad, mom, co-parent, or guardian—navigating a breakup while supporting your children is one ...