The Cannabis Control Authority1 sounds like a sci-fi title, but it is a real Virginia agency, courtesy of the General Assembly and then-governor Northam. Since July 1, 2021, every Virginian has had the right to grow up to four marijuana plants2 and possess up to an ounce of marijuana. The law also hastens expungements of past pot convictions. How does ...
In Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale,” a lowly shepherd discovers an abandoned baby. He says, “Mercy on ’s, a bairn! A very pretty bairn. A boy or a child, I wonder?” And the audience laughs, because “boy or child” sounds like an actor forgetting his lines. But in 16th century England, a “child” was a girl. And today, in Virginia, an ...
You (or your ex) are a convicted felon. You (or your ex) want custody of your child. What are the chances? Crimes Involving Morals and Decency If you or your ex have been convicted of any of 17 different sex offenses in Virginia, you operate under a different set of rules from the average parent. Virginia Code § 18.2-370.2 specifically ...
Mantras are not what most people think. Westerners tend to oversimplify rituals and philosophies to suit their own needs; mantras are no exception. A mantra is not a slogan to haul out when you are stressed. Yet many a divorced or divorcing (or simply splitting) dad could benefit from learning five guiding words to regain his calm when co-parenting seems ...
The scientific debate has raged among anthropologists for decades: why are human babies born helpless? Pelvic size, maternal metabolism, the size of Junior’s noggin — all have been offered as reasons why those tiny humans cannot walk, feed themselves, or sit upright. No other mammal is born so dependent on its parents. A newborn baby arriving after a divorce adds ...
What’s your favorite color? If you’re like most people, it’s blue. That is not likely to be the kind of question a Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (JDRDC) judge will ask during a child custody hearing. Here’s what she or he will ask. How Common is it for a Judge to Interview a Child for a Custody Case? When ...
Virginia offers separating and divorcing parents several options with child custody. The law reads, “The court shall consider and may award joint legal, joint physical, or sole custody, and there shall be no presumption in favor of any form of custody.” One option is 50/50 physical custody, under which both parents enjoy their children half the time. But child custody ...
As you and your ex settle into life after divorce, you move from emotional clashes to practical concerns. Parenting time schedules for shared custody parents represent the ideal for most families, since each parent has roughly 50 percent custody. The challenges come from maintaining that perfect bifurcation. What Are the Benefits of 50-50 Custody? When you and your ex strive ...
Talk about dicey situations. You take your tiny tykes to their mother’s house for parenting time, and you definitely smell alcohol on her breath. Oh, she claims it is strong mouthwash, but then when you pick them up later, you glimpse the disheveled mess over her shoulder: plastic cups, empty liquor bottles. What can you do? Plenty! Softball: First, Have ...