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Recent Blog Posts

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…

What You Need to Know About Getting Divorced in Virginia

March 28, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Child Custody, Divorce, Family Law

Deciding it’s time to end your marriage is difficult and stressful. Because obtaining a divorce is a legal process, you need to understand your rights and how the process works. This brief guide wi…

Guide: Child Support in Virginia

March 6, 2022 | Charles Hatley | Divorce, Family Law

In Virginia, a parent who does not have primary physical custody of their child generally has a duty to pay child support. This duty can arise from either one parent filing in court for child suppo…

Children’s Testimony in Virginia

February 27, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Child Custody, Divorce, Family Law

In any custody case, parents may want the court to hear directly from their children. The children can provide information about the parent’s relationship, any abuse they have experienced, and othe…

Myths in Military Divorce

February 15, 2022 | Charles Hatley | Child Custody, Divorce, Family Law

Going through a divorce is difficult. If one spouse is in the military, it can complicate things even more. Navigating the complexities of military benefits and martial share of pensions while lear…

What to Expect in a Protective Order Case

February 3, 2022 | Ben Hefferon | Divorce, Family Law

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 c…

Mask or No Mask – Who Gets to Choose?

January 28, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Child Custody, Divorce, Family Law

Up until last week, Virginia public schools required all students to wear a face covering during school. Now, the governor has issued new guidance that parents may elect whether or not their studen…

Proving Adultery in Your Divorce Case

January 17, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce, Family Law

It’s more than a feeling … your spouse stays out late, “at work,” when they’re at home they’re distracted and on their devices … they have a “friend” who is just a little too close. You know someth…

Using Social Media During Divorce

January 4, 2022 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce, Family Law

Social media has become a huge portion of our lives – from sharing our daily activities, funny anecdotes, photos of our families and our food, friends and colleagues get a glimpse into your private…

12 Mistakes You Should Avoid During a Divorce

December 15, 2021 | Rebecca Melone | Family Law

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 l…

I’m separated and dating… will this hurt my case?

December 14, 2021 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce, Family Law

You’ve been through the hard part – you and your spouse separated and you’ve been moving through your divorce. You start living your separate lives and realizing you are ready to move on. But what …

Child Custody in Virginia.. Can I Relocate Out of State?

December 3, 2021 | Rebecca Melone | Child Custody

Let’s start with a real-life scenario: John and Susan share physical custody of their daughter, Mary. They live about 10 minutes apart in the same Virginia town, and though Mary’s primary residenc…

How Do I Separate From My Spouse in Virginia?

November 19, 2021 | Rebecca Melone | Divorce, Family Law

So you’ve made the difficult decision – the relationship is not working, and you and your spouse need to part ways. What’s first – do you file for divorce? How do you get separated? For clients alr…

Guardians Ad Litem (GAL) in Virginia

November 11, 2021 | Charles Hatley | Child Custody, Family Law

When going through a custody and visitation case; whether it is part of a divorce or not, the court will generally appoint what is called a Guardian ad Litem (GAL). A Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) is an …

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I highly recommend Melone Hatley. The staff that I have been exposed to are extremely helpful and knowledgeable.

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Brian has been the best to work with! He is very knowledgeable and helped guide me through everything! Couldn't have asked for a better experience!!

S.O.
I cannot recommend this attorney's office enough. I had a major traffic concern and James helped me and I am forever grateful. He is smart and was a calming presence throughout the entire process.

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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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I contacted the Charlotte office with some initial inquiries and found myself in contact with Haley Acuff. I was impressed with her obvious compassion and objectiveness. Her insightful questions helped me to clarify my thought process, while also ...

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"Worked with both James and Rebecca. Both were very professional and worked hard to make sure I was taken care of with my child support cases. I fully recommend them."

R.S.
"I had started this process of going through child custody at Norfolk JDR with Mr. Hatley about 2 1/2 years ago. He had done SO much from fighting false domestic violence charges to helping me gain custody of my son. I was skeptical when I first c...

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"This is by far the #1 Law Firm! I had the pleasure of hiring this firm at the Reston, Virginia location and it surpassed all of my expectations. Melone Hatley P.C has exceptional attributes including: 1) Customer Service- The staff is ALWAYS plea...

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"They were so friendly and attentive to the matter I brought to them. I wasn't just treated like "another case". It felt like they actually cared about me and the outcome of the matter I brought to them. The positive results they got me obviously ...

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"I hired MH to handle a divorce. Charles and Angela have been nothing but professional, empathetic, and timely. There isn’t another firm out there that will provide this level of care. Highly recommended."

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