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 based on their condition when requesting custody….

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 will walk you through the basic legal steps and give…

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 other relevant events for the court’s consideration. I…

Going through 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 learning the legal system and trying to move on with you…

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 student has to wear a mask. But for divorced or separate…

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 residence is with her mother, Susan, John spends several d…

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 attorney who is appointed by the court to represen…

Sometimes co-parents are able to work out terms and schedules without court involvement. In these cases we are often asked – “Do I still need an attorney?” It’s always advisable to have an attorney review or draft your agreement to fill in any vag…

As of July 1, 2021 it is legal for adults to possess up to 1 oz of marijuana in Virginia. Many are excited about this change in the law; however, it does come with a few caveats. As with most new laws there are a lot of questions about how this wi…

What a family looks like has been rapidly changing over the past few decades—no longer do we have a common family and are more turning to modern family structures. Beginning in the 1960s and accelerating significantly since then, changes in marria…

If you and the other parent do not agree on a big decision, it can lead to serious issues. Whether you are divorced or not, making decisions regarding your child is generally a joint obligation. Most of these decisions are small, like going to the…

In contentious custody and visitation matters, the court may order parties to use a third party messaging application or other software to track their correspondence. When evidence has shown high conflict and issues of communication between parent…