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Recent Blog Posts

How Is Child Custody Determined For Unmarried Couples?

November 30, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Child Custody

Establishing parental rights in order to establish child support, visitation, and custody of children can become challenging when a couple is unmarried. Child custody for parents who are married an…

Child Custody Battle Steps For Fathers

November 17, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Child Custody, Divorce

In the case of child custody, it is not about winning or losing. Your child is not a prize in a game. They are precious to you, and you very naturally want full custody. You believe you are the rig…

Does Divorce Nullify a Will?

October 21, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce, Estate Planning

Would you want your ex-spouse to maintain a power of attorney if you were to have an accident or get seriously ill? If you have gotten a divorce recently or you are planning to get one soon, it may…

Even Kanye West Had to Find His Voice as a Parent Going Through Divorce; You Need To Find Yours

September 23, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce

Anyone that follows the news has likely heard about Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s divorce; from public twitter fights to funny memes, this divorce has it all. In an interview on Good Morning Amer…

5 Steps to Talk to Your Parents About Their Divorce

September 19, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce

Divorce affects the entire family, not just the parents. If your parents are going through divorce or separation, then you know this is true. Talking to one or both of your parents at times could …

What is Equitable Distribution of Property in Divorce?

September 14, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce

Equitable distribution is a legal claim for property division where a spouse can ask the court to divide assets and debts acquired during the marriage between both spouses. Equitable distribution …

5 Steps to Consider when Talking to your Children about Divorce

September 5, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce

When you are going through divorce, it is important to remember that your children are part of this process as well. It may be easy to get caught up in the emotional turmoil between you and your sp…

How to Divide a 401k in Divorce

August 22, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce

You have worked hard your whole life and have continuously contributed to your retirement account so that one day you can have a comfortable retirement. Now that you are getting divorced, you are …

7 Steps to Ask Your Spouse For Divorce

August 19, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce

You’ve tried for years, but no matter what you do, you can’t get it to work. You want to divorce your spouse, but how can you talk divorce with your spouse without offending them or starting a full…

Grounds for Divorce in Virginia

August 19, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce

If you and your spouse are not getting along in your marriage, and there is no way to resolve your issues, it may be time to think about divorce. Going through Virginia divorce, however, can be ver…

Business Assets in a Divorce and How They Will be Divided

August 17, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce

If you are going through a divorce and own a business, you need to take careful steps in order to ensure that your spouse will not be able to take what you worked so hard to build over the years. Y…

After a Divorce in Virginia Who Gets the House?

August 12, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Family Law

Going through divorce can be an emotional and painful process. You might be anxious about what will happen to your assets, particularly the marital home, once your divorce is finalized. Virginia di…

7 Steps to Separate your Life in the Divorce Process

August 8, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce

There are a lot of things to accomplish when you are going through divorce and starting your new separate life. Step 1: Safeguard Your Credit One of the most important steps you can take is to safe…

10 Things You Must Do Before You File For Divorce

August 6, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce

At Melone Hatley, PC, we understand that going through divorce is never easy. However, there are some steps you can take today to ease the burden and properly plan, so you don’t have a long-drawn-o…

A Guide to Divorce in Virginia

July 19, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce

The end of matrimony can be a stressful, unpleasant time that can do irreparable damage to relationships and even your personal psyche. Sometimes, however, it can also be a time for celebration if …

What Is a Divorce Decree?

July 18, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce

Divorce is a stressful and painful process that can be emotionally devastating. If there are children involved, the divorce can stretch on for a long time due to custody battles and arrangements. A…

Do I Need a Separation Agreement in Virginia?

May 3, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Family Law

Unlike many other states, legal separation in Virginia is not granted by the courts. Instead, a husband and wife, wishing to separate and divorce, may simply live apart, even under the same roof. …

Mental Health Issues in Custody Cases

April 4, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Child Custody, Divorce, Family Law

In recent years there has been a sharp increase in accusations of mental health issues in child custody cases. Parents who have a history of any mental health diagnosis are often faced with attacks…

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What a breath of fresh air they were. After dealing with a terrible firm that took a divorce and turned it into a year long $30,000 nightmare. Emily Vaughn turned my case around in as little as a week. All parties were talking again and it was fin...

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