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, ...
Comedian Mitch Hedberg once joked that alcoholism is a disease — but it’s the only disease you get yelled at for having. His wit underscores a deeper truth: Americans are conflicted about alcohol abuse disorder (AUD). So, what can a Virginia man do when he realizes his wife is secretly an alcoholic? This article explores how to recognize the problem, ...
For military service members in Virginia, child support calculations can feel confusing — especially when your pay comes from multiple sources. Between basic pay, allowances, incentive bonuses, and veterans’ benefits, you may wonder what counts as income for support purposes. The answer? Almost everything. Virginia law casts a wide net when defining income for child support. Whether your compensation is ...
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 ...
Losing your job can feel like the rug’s been pulled out from under you. Bills, rent, groceries — everything piles up fast. But when you’re a father under a Virginia child support order, one question usually hits first: “Do I still have to pay child support if I’m unemployed?” The short answer: Yes. Virginia law prioritizes the child’s right to ...
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 ...