Effective July 1, 2026, Virginia changed the way divorce cases begin, not the way they end. While the new law doesn't shorten the waiting period for a final divorce, it does allow spouses to get into court much sooner after separation. For many of our clients, particularly husbands who are the primary earners, that change can have significant financial and ...
Military divorce involves unique benefits and obligations that civilian divorces never encounter. One of the most misunderstood issues is the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP). Many service members assume that divorce automatically ends survivor benefits for a former spouse. Others believe they can simply remove an ex-spouse as a beneficiary after the divorce is finalized. Unfortunately, military retirement benefits do not ...
The fork-tailed drongo is a liar. This bird, says Scientific American, squawks out an alarm when predators are near. But it also squawks out the same alarm when a rival has a tasty morsel, so the rival drops the food and runs away. Then the fork-tailed drongo scoops up the snack for itself. Plenty of other species lie, but we ...
During divorce litigation, there can be long stretches of waiting between court dates, negotiations, and filings. One important event that often occurs early in the Virginia divorce process is the pendente lite hearing. In Virginia family law cases, a pendente lite hearing allows the court to issue temporary orders addressing critical issues while the divorce or custody matter is still ...
The Virginia Charter of 1609 designated Virginia as all land between the 34th and 40ths parallels from the Atlantic to Pacific Oceans. That’s a huge swath of land. Philadelphia, PA and Boulder, CO both lie on the 40th parallel, with the 34th parallel passing through Columbia, SC and Los Angles, CA. All of that land would have been Virginia and ...
Child custody is one of the most important and often most stressful issues in any Virginia family law matter. For fathers, concerns about time with their children, decision-making authority, and long-term relationships can feel overwhelming. Understanding Virginia child custody laws is the first step toward protecting your parental rights and building a strong case for meaningful involvement in your child’s ...
Child custody disputes can be some of the most emotional and complicated parts of divorce or separation. When parents cannot agree on where their children should live or how parenting time should be shared, the court must determine what arrangement serves the best interests of the child. One concern parents often have is whether the judge might speak directly with ...
Divorce is stressful enough when both spouses have attorneys. But what happens if your wife hires a family lawyer and you decide to represent yourself? Many Virginia men wonder whether they are required to communicate with their spouse’s attorney or whether they can simply refuse to deal with that lawyer. The reality is that if you represent yourself in a ...
When parents divorce or separate in Virginia, one of the most important issues they must resolve is how parenting time will be shared. Custody agreements and parenting plans often include special provisions designed to maximize a child’s time with each parent. One of the most common provisions is called the right of first refusal. While the name may sound technical, ...