While struggling through the many twists and turns of a child custody case, you may encounter a term that seems ripped from television drama: forensic evaluation. Today the word “forensic” is most often associated with a crime, but its origin is from Latin and simply means “in open court,” or “public.” A court may order a forensic evaluation to determine ...
Don Denkinger probably wishes people had asked him to mediate first base instead of arbitrate it. His infamous blown call in the 1985 Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series allowed the Kansas City Royals to rally and take Game 6, forcing a Game 7, which they won against the St. Louis Cardinals. Denkinger was not asked for advice at first base; ...
Would you ever leave your children in a locked car in a parking lot, alone? Probably not. Would you ever go to a nightclub with your wife, but leave without her? Probably not. Final question: would you ever walk out the door, saying you were running to the store for milk and would be back in 20 minutes, only to ...
Two black holes collided more than a billion years ago, but the gravitational waves generated by the event did not reach earth until September 14, 2015. You might think such a monumental meeting would be a booming, mysterious — even frightening — sound. Not so. It is a cartoon sound effect1, reminiscent of a slide whistle. The collision of your ...
Virginia, sadly, has been the site of many battles throughout our nation’s history. From the 1610 Anglo-Powhatan Wars through the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, our mighty state has seen a lot of clashes. It troubles us as attorneys that conflicts over child custody are routinely described as “battles.” A Virginia judge may, in fact, gauge your merit in a custody dispute based on ...
Without a doubt, being a single parent is one of the hardest jobs around. Not only do you have to be the financial provider holding down a regular job or two – but you must also provide emotional support for your children on a daily basis. The most successful single parents—mothers and fathers alike—develop strategies that allow them to accomplish ...
A popular riddle of decades ago recently resurfaced, in which a father and son are injured in a car accident; Dad is out of commission, and the son is wheeled into the operating room. The surgeon takes a look and says, “I can’t operate on my own son.” Decades ago, this riddle1 turned on the radical thought that the surgeon ...
You know who has a very limited sense of humor? Attorneys and judges, that’s who. When you are embroiled in, say, a custody case, fighting for physical custody of your children, your fabled wit and insightful sarcasm should be conspicuously absent. The law, in Virginia and elsewhere, is a treasured, serious and honored idea. Judges especially do not enjoy courtroom ...
Whether you already have a great relationship with your kids, or are trying to improve upon it, there are plenty of ways to work on your family interactions. No two situations are alike, and of course there's always room for improvement when it comes to your children (sky’s the limit, pal!). If it’s important to you to grow as a parent, ...