If your wife wants a divorce and you do too, move out. This will speed up the process and make both your lives simpler. That’s the short answer, of course, but it’s really not that easy. Various factors can greatly complicate this life-altering decision—everything from property to pets to kids can make this jarring moment a challenge to your wallet, ...
An old and venerated idea in psychology is summed up in Maslow’s Hierarchy. For any person to thrive, needs must be met in an ordered progression from basic survival to psychological needs to self-actualization. A parent plays a crucial role in any child’s upbringing, so most of the burden for fulfilling a helpless son’s or daughter’s needs falls to Mom ...
Whereas Virginia law allows divorce, it does so under two basic constructs: “fault grounds,” and “no fault grounds,” as established by Code of Virginia Title 20 Chapter 6 Subsection 20-911. Notice how we started with that fancy whereas, which the state of Virginia buys wholesale, by the pound, because it sprinkles the word profusely throughout its various documents and decrees. If ...
You may read this entry’s title and immediately think of a stream of ungenerous ideas. Something along the lines of, “My kids can learn firsthand what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, brainless, hopeless, heartless, bug-eyed, worm-headed their mother is.” (With apologies and acknowledgements to the brilliant screenwriting of John Hughes1 in National Lampoon’s Christmas ...
Virginia, from 1969 to today, is for lovers. Our state tourism slogan reminds us of this every day. Sure, it sounds a little racy, but it has led to a boom in tourism and (amazing!) a rise in marriages. Lovers, after all, tend to seal the deal. But when a marriage turns out to be as thinly supported as the ...
Custody cases stemming from divorce in Virginia fall into two categories: legal custody and physical custody. Within each of these areas, custody can be joint or sole, so a Virginia parent can have legal custody for a child but share physical custody, for example. If the whole process of child custody seems confusing, you are no dummy. The services of ...
To speak plainly, the main reason Virginians want to avoid going to court to get a divorce is because of the cost. We get that; we realize attorneys’ time and court fees can add up. The great state of Virginia gets it, too, and provides plenty of free or low-cost advice. Please notice, though, every site, every document and every ...
Numbers are funny things. Take felonies and misdemeanors in Virginia, for example. If you do not know the difference between felony and misdemeanor, the worst possible way to learn this is by kidnapping your own child. Not only can you be accused of kidnapping your own child, you can be found guilty of it, too. A Virginia Class 4 felony1 can ...
The decision to file for divorce certainly wasn't an easy one. With so many considerations such as child custody, legal fees, court fees, documentation, etc., it stands to reason that you would take time to vet any potential attorney who may represent you in a court of law. While this may seem like a simple choice, there are several things you ...