When families go through custody disputes, few issues carry as much weight with the court as domestic violence. Allegations or evidence of abuse have the power to reshape the course of a custody case, especially when the safety and well-being of children are at stake. In Texas, family courts are tasked with making critical decisions …
When it comes to raising children together after a divorce, financial responsibility is often one of the most confusing – and contentious – issues for co-parents. Whether you’re paying or receiving child support, it helps to understand exactly what child support is meant to cover. And perhaps even more importantly, what it doesn’t cover. Many …
What parents, caregivers, and family law professionals need to know about Virginia Senate Bill 805 As of July 1, 2025, Virginia has implemented significant changes to its child support laws, marking the first major update to its guidelines in over a decade. These updates reflect the rising costs of living, shifts in parenting arrangements, and …
When you’re going through a divorce, estate planning is probably the last thing on your mind. After all, you’re dealing with the immediate concerns. Who will get the house? Who will get custody of the children? How will you be able to afford this? Who has time to think about an estate plan? But here’s …
When you think of summer, you likely imagine sunshine, family vacations, and taking time to relax and refresh. But for many couples, summer marks something else entirely – the moment their marriage reaches a breaking point. Recent research reveals a clear pattern — that divorce filings quietly rise during the summer months. If you’re one …
Ending a marriage is usually an agonizing choice after months or even years of back and forth. Will things get better if you wait? What about getting help? How will it affect the children? Even if you feel you’ve done everything possible, there’s the gut-wrenching uncertainty about the future. But here’s the unfortunate truth: while …
Going through a divorce is one of life’s most difficult transitions, especially when your financial stability is on the line. One of the most important – and misunderstood – aspects of the divorce process in Texas is spousal maintenance. If you’re facing divorce and are unsure about your financial rights or obligations, understanding how Texas …
Your marriage feels like it is at a crossroads. Things feel uncertain, and you’re not sure what your next steps should be. Should you take some time apart to get some breathing room, or is this a sign that your relationship is already coming to an end? For many couples, considering a separation can …
You and your spouse are considering ending your marriage through a no-fault divorce. But in Virginia, seeking a no-fault divorce requires spouses to separate for a period of time first. This means that while you’re apart, you are still legally married and still subject to everything your spouse does, and vice versa. In Virginia, a …
When summer winds down, and the back-to-school rush begins, parents everywhere get laser-focused on buying school supplies, updating last year’s wardrobe, and getting everybody back into a routine. But for divorced parents, legal preparation is another essential back-to-school task. Ensuring that your custody agreements, emergency contacts, and educational decision-making rights are updated can make a …
Divorce is challenging – emotionally, legally, and financially. But one of the best ways to reduce the overwhelm is to get organized and strategic, especially when it comes to your finances. Mid-year is an ideal time to take a step back, evaluate your financial situation, and make necessary adjustments before the tax year gets away …
Making the decision to divorce isn’t easy. It’s emotional. It’s personal. It’s financially overwhelming. And in most cases, you have no idea where to start. Whether you’ve been considering this for months or the decision has come suddenly, preparing yourself can make a significant difference in how things unfold. At Melone Hatley, P.C., we believe …
Summer is supposed to be a low-key time for kids to take a break from school and unwind. But for divorced co-parents, summer is often anything but low-key. It can even become a battleground when parents make unilateral changes to their parenting schedules. Whether it’s deciding to take a last-minute vacation or signing the kids …
Summer break is here, and your kids are overjoyed. No school. Sleeping in. Long days and lots of free time. But if you’re co-parenting, summer may be less about fun and more about conflict, especially when the structure of the school year is gone, and you’re trying to agree on schedules, who takes care of …
For many of us, July brings visions of family picnics, warm summer nights, and fireworks. But for military families, July often signals something far more disruptive to their lives – PCS season. Permanent Change of Station orders are routine for military families, but when parents are separated or divorced with custody agreements in place, they …
Divorce is never an easy decision, but if you’re considering ending your marriage in Florida, you will want to understand residency requirements before you file. Here, we take a look at Florida’s requirements to ensure you have met them before you file your petition. Every state has its own laws and rules governing divorce, and …
Divorce has come a long way from what it used to be. While the emotional and financial challenges of ending a marriage remain, the legal system has made the divorce process far more manageable and less contentious over the last several decades. One of the biggest changes was the move away from fault-based divorce, where …
If you are going through a divorce or even just considering one, chances are you’ve heard the horror stories. “She took him for everything he had!” “He walked away with the house, the kids, even the dog!” These stories are enough to strike fear into the heart of anyone considering a divorce. But how true …