Virginia’s laws are full of odd expressions: in loco parentis; legitimate interest; confirmatory adoption. Sure, they all mean something to someone, but most Virginians can live their entire lives without ever stumbling into these words. Unless you are a stepfather or a nice guy trying to do right by a woman you love by acting like a father to her ...
Gristmills are still scattered across Virginia1, though they have had little or no role in grinding our wheat into flour for about a century. We mention gristmills because, in the third century a Greek philosopher2 came up with the catchy phrase, “The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind small.” That has come down to us as, “The ...
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 ...
Step right up, ladies and gentlemen. See the amazing, the stupendous, the colossal Final Decree of Divorce. Behold the mysteries and secrets revealed right before your eyes! The Final Decree of Divorce, The Eighth Wonder As you work through all the stages of separation — the six-month or 12-month waiting period, filing for divorce, affidavits, depositions, evidence heard ore tenus ...
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 ...
Virginia’s Circuit Court judges have a lot of power. Take, for instance, Roanoke County Circuit Court Judge Charles Dorsey, who ordered the Confederate statue outside the courthouse — or the courthouse itself — to be moved. As we say, judges have a lot of power. But is it limitless? Can you ask for a different judge in your Virginia family ...
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 ...
Bilboes, Brands, and Branks may sound like a competing Virginia law firm, but it’s really a list of three punishments once meted out in Colonial Williamsburg1. Bilboes (long iron bars affixed with shackles), brands (heated irons for human flesh), and branks (“scold’s bridles,” head-sized metal cages with iron tongues) were brutal punishments. They are directly related to a subpoena, since ...
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 ...