The Constitution (due process), statutes, the common law, and the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia all play a role in when a GAL may, must, or should be appointed. Guardians ad litem (GALs) are appointed to represent the interests of those the law deems incapable of doing so for themselves, either adults or children. Code § 8.01-9 states the general…
Virginia parents cannot eliminate the sting the news of their divorce will cause their children, but by taking certain steps, they may help soften the blow. The Virginia Department of Health reports there were 29,465 divorces across the state in 2013 alone. Of those, at least 12,463 involved one or more children. For parents who make the difficult decision to get…
The social media “revolution” is in full swing. Some say that an increased electronic presence is part of living in an increasingly digital age, while others lament the loss of the sense of privacy that existed before much of the world was “wired.” Whether we like it or not, the simple truth is that millions of us regularly use social…
The family structure is evolving. Child custody laws may soon follow. The family structure has evolved over recent generations. As noted in a recent article in the Boston Globe, instead of the typical Leave it to Beaver structure, with mom staying home while the father goes out to the workplace, most women currently work outside of the home. According to…
Many myths and misconceptions abound regarding child support. Some may come from the fact that different states have different laws regarding child support; others may come from experiences people have had in the past that are no longer relevant due to changes in the law. Below are some commonly-held beliefs – some true, some false – about child support. Belief:…
Online video calling services and social media sites have greatly increased Americans’ connectivity to family, friends and colleagues. While most find these services a convenient way to keep in touch, for non-custodial parents that live in a different state than their children, video calling and social media are essential tools for staying connected to their kids and maintaining strong parent-child relationships. This…
Children may be able to better understand the implications of a divorce if parents present a united front, use the right language and talk about the emotions. While divorces are not entirely uncommon in Virginia, children may still struggle to understand why their parents are splitting up. According to the USA Today, 10.2 percent of Virginia’s population is divorced. With…
Going through a divorce determination is difficult. When children are involved, it becomes even more complicated. In addition to dealing with issues focusing on the distribution of property and how to handle retirement assets, child custody and child support arrangements must also be made. During these negotiations it can be easy to gloss over some of the more important matters,…
3 Things To Know Before Talking With Your Kids About Divorce Are you and your partner thinking about separating? When kids are involved, the decision to divorce can be very challenging. No matter the age of your children, there are a few things you can do to make the divorce process a bit easier. As time passes, families grow and…
By: Brandy M. Poss In most cases, a party’s objections will not be preserved for appeal if the order is simply endorsed “seen and objected to.” Likewise, it is not sufficient to state the trial court’s ruling is contrary to the law and evidence. Objections must be stated with specificity at the time of the trial court’s ruling. Virginia Supreme Court…
