Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled to overturn the Bill Cosby prosecution and immediately release him from prison. This ruling has left many wondering what happened and for good reason; the path to this decision was very convoluted an…

Estate planning comes in all shapes and sizes. It includes updating beneficiary designations on financial accounts and insurance policies, adding joint owners to accounts, and gifting personal property items during one’s life. Estate planning is…

Annulments are available in very limited situations in Virginia. Marriage is a contract between two people, and it comes with certain rights and obligations that are ordinarily only terminated with a divorce. A divorce, in addition to dissolving…

Once the dust has settled after a custody trial or divorce, one of the first questions I am frequently asked is: Can I move? The answer, unfortunately, is not always simple. The ability to move depends on the reasons provided, the relationsh…

1. I’m young, so I don’t need a Will.   Even if you don’t have a large estate, you may disagree with how Virginia’s laws will handle distribution of the assets. You may wish to leave items of sentimental value to certain indiv…

Virginia only has one requirement to initiate a legal separation: start sleeping separately from your spouse. Time spent living under the same roof can qualify as living separate and apart with the intent to separate permanently, as long as …

In some cases a grandparent may want to petition for full custody of their grandchild where the child’s parent suffers from mental health problems, drug or alcohol addiction, or has been abusive or neglectful of the child in the past. In suc…

The term “estate planning” can be a bit of a misnomer. The term “estate” can summon images of a stately manor full of housekeepers and stables out back. The truth is that every single person has an “estate” – whether that means assets, liabi…

So you’ve made the responsible decision and purchased a life insurance policy to ensure your dependents will be cared for in the unfortunate event something happens to you. Naming a beneficiary should be the easy part, right? But mistakes ma…

Spousal support can be a major aspect of divorce cases in Virginia. The court may order temporary support while the case is pending and may order time-limited or even permanent spousal support at the end of the case.  Spousal support, also kn…

    When it comes to estate planning, most families have the same objectives: to provide income for their children or other descendants. Parents want their children to continue having the sa me comfortable lifestyle and the freedom …

Keep the Money, and Run! In a recent case, the Virginia Supreme Court allowed a divorced wife to keep almost $63,000 worth of survivor benefits wrongfully paid to her by OPM. Read more. Read the opinion here: Emond v. Office of Personnel Manag…