The Magna Carta gave our founding fathers the phrase, “law of the land.” Virginia’s own James Madison apparently added the U.S. Constitution’s Article 6 flourish, “supreme law of the land.” That Supremacy Clause sets the hierarchy for all legal issues, including Virginia Circuit Court child custody orders and military Family Care Plans (FCPs). Jump to a Section Supremacy Rules What ...
Divorce and separation can be a whirlwind of emotions, difficult conversations, and potential conflict. For many men navigating this challenging journey, the emotional and psychological toll of dealing with an ex-partner can be devastating—especially when children are involved. Whether it’s seemingly constant drama, manipulation, or just plain hostile communication, dealing with your ex can be one of the hardest parts ...
When you annoy a clock, it gets ticked off. Virginia parents know five minutes of listening to a seven-year-old tell jokes can feel like five hours. But time itself — minutes, hours, days — is at the center of child support calculations in the Commonwealth. Jump to a Section Shared Custody & Child Support Time for Number Crunching The 90 ...
Oppugnant. It’s a fine word, though few people know it. Use it the next time you are dealing with a disagreeable ex-spouse. A disagreeable spouse seeks discord, antagonizes you, or is openly hostile to you and your co-parenting plans. Remind your divorced spouse that being discordant, contentious, hateful or just plain nasty — serves no good, not for you, not ...
Virginia law can be quirky and outdated. For example, Virginia Code § 18.2-365 (still on the books) says married people cannot have sex outside of marriage. It’s a Class 4 misdemeanor but it doesn’t stop Virginia swingers clubs from … uh … meeting. Virginia law is largely designed to be gender neutral. With family matters like divorce, men stand on ...
This article is a part of our Family Law 101 series. Jump to a Section What is Child Support? What are the Child Support Laws in Virginia? What Is Child Support Used For? Who Does Child Support Go To? Who Pays Child Support? How Much is Child Support? When Child Support Is Due At What Age Does Child Support Stop? ...
Recognize this? “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects …” It is the beginning of the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment, the origin of all “right to privacy” laws in our country. But what happens when a parent’s right to privacy leads to horrific crimes by that parent’s child? How do Virginia’s child ...
During the holidays, many people are full of good cheer and planning elaborate family gatherings. However, if you’re currently going through a divorce or recently went through one, you may not be feeling the holiday spirit. The first holidays alone can be a painful reminder of what was and what will never be again. However, if you have children, it’s ...
Grandparents, Aunties, and Uncles all enjoy that in-between family space that allows them to spoil children and yet take no responsibility for them. But what of stepparents? Are they legally responsible for stepchildren? Can they exert any power over the little rascals? And what if a stepparent wants to take a peek at Junior’s school records or communicate about their ...