Articles By: Melone Hatley, P.C.

Active duty military service members, as well as their families, make large sacrifices in service to their country. The long separations, frequent relocations, and the challenges of active duty may stress and take a toll on these marriages.  A Vi…

As discussed in previous blogs, it’s important to have a will and estate plan in place.  But though there are many advantages to creating a will, there are some things a will simply can’t do.  A will is the perfect document for parents with minor …

Virginia courts use the best interests of the child standard to determine custody and visitation of minor children. This means judges and mediators consider how parenting plans may affect children, and try to make decisions and orders that ensure …

As the name implies, an irrevocable trust is a trust that cannot be revoked, modified, amended, or terminated by its creator (the grantor) with very limited and specific exceptions.  Once the grantor has transferred an asset into the trust, it re…

When spouses divorce, the issue of “who gets the kids” is often the most difficult and stressful for both parents and children. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, the law does not favor either parent.  Instead it considers the best interests of the …

Parental alienation is a form of manipulation in which one parent attempts to harm or destroy a child’s relationship with the other parent. It may also be referred to, in layman’s terms, as “parental brainwashing.” This process is often accomplish…

Estate planning can be a complicated and tricky business.  Without a legal document detailing your wishes and how and when you want your estate divided and distributed, your assets could end up in the hands of a son or daughter before he/she has …

President Trump signed the new tax reform bill December 22, 2017. Among the many changes to tax law, the final bill eliminated the tax deduction for spousal support or alimony payments. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, alimony, the legal obligatio…

Let’s start with a short case study… a very sad and unnecessary scenario: A client’s domestic partner died in an automobile accident.  They had been together for eight years and at the time of his death, she was three months pregnant.  The house, …

In Virginia, a married couple’s assets and property are generally divided into two categories: marital (also referred to as joint property) separate property Marital property is property and income that is acquired or received during a marriage…

After a lot of soul searching, you’ve decided it’s time to file for divorce.  Now you have another big decision on your hands, choosing the right divorce attorney. This decision will likely be one of the most important in your life. Therefore, you…

Unfortunately, for many people, some of the biggest mistakes that they make in their life come about during a divorce.  The divorce process is unfamiliar, stressful, and often painful.  There’s a lot at stake. Often, people settle for less than th…