Open communication is the foundation of a healthy marriage. It fosters mutual respect and understanding of a couple’s thoughts and feelings. Unfortunately, divorce can significantly disrupt marital connections. While it is crucial for ex-spouses to agree in...
Should you litigate if your spouse refuses to cooperate?
Divorce litigation is often necessary when spouses cannot settle on the terms and conditions of their divorce. Although mediation would be a more practical alternative, you may benefit from a trial if your spouse is being unreasonable and refuses to cooperate....
How long does it take to get a protective order in Virginia?
Living with a violent spouse is a very dangerous situation. People often fear that something they say or do could lead to a violent response. When someone experiencing domestic violence tries to leave, their risk of a violent incident actually increases. One of the...
How does mediation work in a divorce case?
Each year, thousands of divorcing couples in Virginia use mediation to help settle their legal differences. Many of our readers who are on the verge of going through a divorce may be thinking that mediation could be an option for them too. How does divorce mediation...
How can you build your parental alienation case?
Parental alienation is real and more common that people realize. When child custody and parenting time conflict arises, one parent might manipulate their child to try to position themselves for the outcome they want. This, of course, is not only unfair, but also...
How much alimony might one spouse pay the other in Virginia?
The financial obligations of one spouse to another can lead to protected family court conflict in some cases. Most couples do not have a pre-existing agreement in place that addresses alimony, and they will, therefore, need to either negotiate an arrangement while...
How deferred compensation can complicate a Virginia divorce
Divorce involving successful professionals often become more practically complex than divorces between those with few assets. When people are compelled to divide retirement savings, real property and other high-value resources, they may have a hard time reaching a...
Do you have a healthy co-parenting relationship?
Co-parenting comes with many challenges. Even if you and your co-parent have an amicable relationship, there are likely going to be times when you disagree. No co-parenting relationship is perfect. There is usually behavior on the part of both parents that could use...
5 key elements to include in your postnuptial agreement
Making divorce preparations shortly after marrying a partner can feel cold and unromantic. Some see postnuptial agreements as a sign that their spouse doesn't trust them, while others don't want to disclose their finances. Even though they may make people...
The Case for Using Lawyer-Mediators in Family Law
Mediation is a big tent with room for a variety of mediators with different backgrounds, credentials and styles. There is no single type of background or set of credentials required for a mediator nor is there any one right style of mediation. While retired judges...