Family Law for Same-Sex Couples
Experienced Virginia Family Law Attorneys
Virginia family law has not yet caught up to the 21st century where nontraditional families are becoming more common, and are even becoming the "norm." This causes significant concern for partners in the GLBT community. How can you best protect yourself and your children when you are in a same-sex relationship — or when you are ending a partnership? An experienced family law attorney can advise you of your options and help you maximize the protections available under the law.
Representing clients in Richmond and throughout Virginia for over three decades, Barnes & Diehl, P.C., has acquired the experience and resources to provide effective representation in all areas of family law. Same-sex couples can count on a lawyer at our firm to provide them with compassionate, skilled and results-oriented counsel as we assist them with matters involving:
- Domestic partnership agreements or cohabitation agreements
- Adoption, including second-parent adoptions
- Dissolution of a domestic partnership
- Property division and debt distribution
- Child custody and visitation arrangements
- Child support
- Other family law for same-sex couples
When Gay Marriage and Civil Unions Aren't Recognized By Law ...
Although Virginia laws currently deny gay and lesbian couples from obtaining the spousal rights that many other states offer through same-sex marriage or civil union, there are methods by which same-sex couples may obtain some of the rights afforded to heterosexual married couples. Attorneys at Barnes & Diehl, P.C., help clients maximize their legal protections by combining our family law and estate planning services. We create thorough cohabitation or domestic partnership agreements that define the property rights of each person and how such property should be divided in the event that the couple separates. We enhance the rights of each partner by utilizing estate planning methods such as creating trusts. Learn more about estate planning for same-sex couples.
Virginia Lawyers — Shared Parenting Agreements
Same-sex parents face many of the same legal issues as heterosexual parents in the event of separation — one of the most difficult issues being child custody and visitation matters. We work with clients to negotiate shared parenting arrangements that define the rights and obligations of the parents as well as the visitation or parenting schedules the parents will follow. We focus on achieving solutions that are in alignment with the client's goals while preserving the best interests of the children.
Contact Our Virginia Family Law Attorneys
Contact a family lawyer at Barnes & Diehl, P.C., by calling us at our Richmond (804-762-9500) or our Chesterfield (804-796-1000) office.
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