When you’re raising a child with special needs, you have to devote a good part of your daily life to making sure the child receives the care necessary to make his or her life as comfortable and successful as possible.

During a Virginia child custody case, you and your spouse will need to take a great deal of care to work out a parenting plan that allows for the special needs child to continue living a full and healthy life.

There are many factors to take into consideration when working out child custody in Virginia when your child has special needs child, for example: (more…)

Virginia child custody tends to bring out the most difficult feelings between a divorcing couple, and can cause them to behave in ways they otherwise might not. Sometimes this tension between parents leads to what is known as parental alienation.

While Virginia child custody is being determined, one parent may try to turn the children against the other parent. While this behavior is sometimes unintentional, it can also be part of a strategy to sabotage the parent-child relationship and sway the outcome of the child custody case.

There are a few ways that parental alienation can take place during a Virginia child custody case: (more…)

One of the most difficult aspects of a divorce is dealing with Virginia child custody. This is especially true since the final decision of where your child ends up will not be in your hands. One of the important figures in your Virginia child custody case is a guardian ad litem.  (more…)

Facing a Virginia child custody case can feel like a battle. When spouses can’t come to an agreement on child custody, there may be some alternatives to litigation that will help to lessen the trauma of the divorce experience. Mediation is one alternative to litigation in a Virginia child custody case.

Some of the pros of mediation include:

• it is less expensive in cost;
• it is tailored to meet your child and family’s specific needs; and
• it can help alleviate the destruction of your relationship with your spouse.

 
Some of the cons to mediation include:

• it doesn’t work in cases that involve any type of abuse;
• it is difficult to use with a controlling spouse; and
• it is not helpful when you have difficulty asserting yourself in tense situations.

Another alternative type of litigation in a Virginia child custody case is collaboration.

Some of the pros of collaboration include:

• it happens in a comfortable atmosphere;
• agreements are made in the best interests of the entire family; and
• it includes a team of professionals.

 Some of the cons to collaboration include: 

• it doesn’t work in domestic dispute cases; and
• it has no limits on resolution, which could drag out the process.

It is important to examine all possibilities when it comes to litigation and alternatives in a Virginia child custody case. Careful consideration must be made before deciding what will work best in your situation.

If you are facing a divorce in Virginia, contact the experienced divorce attorneys at Hofheimer/Ferrebee. They can help you through your Virginia child custody case. Request a complimentary copy of our guide, What Every Virginia Woman Should Know About Divorce, or reserve your seat at our monthly divorce seminar – 757-425-5200.

Determining child custody in Virginia will depend on a number of factors but what it really comes down to is figuring out what is best for the child. First and foremost, the courts will always consider the best interests of the child when it comes to Virginia child custody arrangements. (more…)

If you’re a woman going through a Virginia divorce, you’ll probably be coping with some very stressful moments. When child custody is part of your Virginia divorce, the chances of feeling anxiety and nervousness are much higher. (more…)

A do-it-yourself divorce seldom works in a woman’s favor. This is thanks in no small part to the complicated nature of Virginia divorce laws, particularly when children and/or property are involved. There are many factors that will come into play during your divorce, so the expertise of a Virginia divorce attorney is generally required to ensure your best interests are being addressed. (more…)

If you are facing the possibility of a Virginia divorce, you may be wondering what to expect in a Virginia divorce court. First, it will depend on what type of divorce you are seeking and what the grounds for that divorce will be. It helps to talk to your Virginia divorce lawyer about your goals so that they can start laying the ground work during negotiations with your spouse and his representation as the divorce hearing approaches. (more…)