The first days and weeks after deciding to file for a Virginia divorce or finding out that your spouse intends to file for divorce can be some of the most harrowing days of your life. Of course, it can be emotionally devastating. But, it is also a time when you must gear yourself up for a fight and make sure that your legal and financial interests and most importantly, the best interests of your children are protected.

How do you do that? Once you have prepared yourself mentally, it is absolutely critical that you seek the guidance of a skilled and experienced Virginia Beach divorce attorney. Choose a lawyer with a good reputation. Take into consideration, his or her experience, track record and the fees involved. But most importantly, this is a person who is going to help protect your legal rights and best interests. You need to feel absolutely comfortable with your attorney, who is going to be on your side during the fight of your life. This is a person with whom you need to be 100 percent honest, even if it means talking about not-so-flattering, embarrassing details of your married life. Remember, it is impossible for a lawyer to present a winning case without knowing all the facts. (more…)

If your husband is a member of the United States Navy or Marine Corps, you should learn how military laws and regulations apply to your divorce in Virginia.
In a military divorce, things like child support and spousal support are handled somewhat differently than they would be in a civilian divorce.

If the military member is in the Navy, the amount of support to be paid to dependents falls under the Navy Support scale. This scale is a guideline only, but it helps set some basic ground rules pertaining to the percentage of pay that can go to family support following a military divorce.

For instance, if you have no children, your ex would be required to give you one-third of his pay. When you have one minor child, that amount increases to on half of his pay, and so forth.

In a military divorce, whether the service member is in the Navy or Marine Corps, he is expected to provide adequate and timely financial support to his dependent family members. (more…)

Divorce can be an ugly, complex and emotional process. For most families, it usually is such a process. Property division, alimony and child custody are only some of the contentious issues that are usually seen during a Virginia divorce. One of the biggest challenges that couples face during a divorce is the effects the separation can have on their children. There are many things that parents can say or do, which could damage their relationship with the children.

Recently divorce expert, Gary Neuman, appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss some of the actions that can damage parents’ relationship with their children after a divorce. The most important thing, Neuman says, is to make sure that you do not criticize the other parent in the children’s presence. When you say negative things about the other parent, you are actually criticizing the children as well.

Neuman said that when you do so you are “criticizing the child’s DNA.” This is very true. Instead of dwelling in the past or playing the blame game, it would be in the best interest of the family to focus on the future and maintain a positive atmosphere where the emphasis is on getting along and moving forward. As Newport News child custody attorneys, who have helped numerous clients move forward, we have observed that having a strong relationship with children through the divorce is extremely important for the mother.

Things You Can Do To Help The Situation

Another common mistake parents tend to make is letting their own stress get to their children. Regardless of what parents are going through, the fact remains that children need their parents’ constant attention. When children realize that the divorce is taking too much out of their parents and that they do not have time for them, it builds anger and resentment in their hearts. Most parents, at the end of the divorce process, are left with angry children who are difficult to talk to. This can be avoided if parents take the time to talk to their children during the divorce, explain things better and maintain an overall positive environment. This would go a long way in helping the entire family move on.

There are many ways to foster a positive environment. Try and keep family talks informal. Don’t make it this boring, drawn-out conversation that leaves children with feelings of fear and insecurity. Initiate the conversation and then, allow them to talk and express their feelings. Never judge their feelings or tell them how to feel or emote. Put yourself in their shoes and empathize with them. These steps will go a long way to prevent a rift between you and your children during a tough divorce.

If you are contemplating a divorce, please request a copy of our child custody book, which has comprehensive information about all important issues relating to child custody during divorce. We also offer an informational monthly seminar, which offers additional information about resources and support for women going through a divorce or about to start the process and get the help they need.

When you are getting a divorce, you very likely have a lot going through your mind. Your credit score may seem to be the least of your worries during such an emotionally draining time. But, that does not mean that a divorce does not have a financial impact. In fact, a divorce can have a significant impact on your finances and your credit history. If you are going through a divorce or are contemplating a divorce, it is important that you make a thorough evaluation of what needs to be done to regain or preserve your financial reputation. Your divorce cannot turn into one big financial mishap.

Why is this so complicated? Most couples, during the course of a marriage, merge most of their finances – bank accounts, property ownership, retirement accounts, savings accounts, deposits and stocks. It is also a fact that most couples are not entirely honest about their financial dealings during the course of a marriage. This could cause you to have a financial mess in your hands after a divorce. (more…)

There is a lot of attention paid to the negative aspects of divorce, understandably so. As Newport News child custody attorneys we know how contentious child support, custody and alimony can be during a divorce. But for some families, the end of the marriage turns out to be the beginning of more meaningful and peaceful relationships with their children. Some parents may also find that when they have more “me” time, it makes them better parents and improves their relationship with the children.

Many children of divorce, although they were initially traumatized by their parents’ separation, will tell you later in life that they actually appreciated their parents more after the divorce. For most couples, especially those that are not getting along and getting involved in yelling matches everyday, divorce may really be the best option. Young children may not understand it at that age especially if there are child custody issues earlier on. (more…)

If you are going through a divorce in Virginia, you know that it can be both emotionally and financially draining. However, in today’s world couples are examining various other options to divorce. According to an article in The Huffington Post, the number of “separated/married” couples is growing considerably these days just because it does not make financial sense for couples to be legally separated.

Who are these couples? They are basically those whose marriages are “over,” but who stay together for the sake of children or for a financial reason. These are couples who are not legally separated in the traditional manner, but are willing to forego a divorce to stay together as a family unit. The new trend is for couples to live under the same roofs and still, have their own lives. These are couples who have jointly decided to live separate lives, but to live those lives under the same roof.

Separated/married couples live like roommates our housemates, who have separate bank accounts, but share all expenses related to running and maintaining the household. But unlike roommates, they own property together and have common or joint assets. While their physical marriages are over, they still have a “financial marriage.” (more…)

Nothing lasts forever and unfortunately, in today’s world, that includes about half of all marriages. As we rush to protect everything we own that we fear may not last forever, divorce is quickly turning into one of those “things.” It is an important part of feeling financially secure.

What is divorce insurance? This new insurance covers the potential for financial losses as a result of a divorce proceeding. Recent studies show that many couples have been opting out of divorce and have even been staying in bad marriages because they cannot afford a divorce.

Policies And How They Work

This insurance product is basically sold as individual policies, which must be bought in units of coverage. Each unit has a value and a cost. After four years of marriage, if yours is headed for a divorce, you can get paid out depending on how much you purchased and how many units you purchased. The only way to submit a claim is to send in the court-stamped divorce document. This could be a divorce decree or marriage dissolution decree. (more…)

The way our society now views divorce has changed, to say the least. We have come a long way from the time when divorce was taboo and when there was a certain stigma attached to individuals, especially women, who were divorced. However, life after a Virginia divorce, can be rough. Divorced couples are still grappling with serious emotional, financial and legal issues. Child custody, alimony, child support and division of property are only some of the complex issues couples face in the aftermath of a divorce.

According to an article in TIME, there is an emerging cottage industry with products aimed at the newly-divorced. Divorce has become increasingly common. Between 40 percent and 50 percent of first marriages in the United States end up in divorce. These new consumer options and social alternatives seem to be helping those coping with divorce temper a tough situation with the best medicine — laughter. (more…)