FAMILY LAW AND DIVORCE

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Examples of Family Law and Divorce Issues We Represent

Family Law, Divorce, and Child Custody Attorneys in Richmond, VA

Dedicated Legal Support During an Emotional Time

Divorce and other family law issues are some of the most emotionally charged events you can face as an individual. In addition to working through the raw emotions of dealing with a divorce or custody dispute, there are several financial and legal aspects that must be considered. Our family law and divorce lawyers at CowanGates understand the process and have the knowledge and skills to guide you step by step.

If you are facing divorce or a child custody dispute, one of the most important things you can do is to build a strong support system, which could include friends, a counselor, social worker, or clergy. Above all, your support team should include an experienced family law attorney and we’re ready to protect your rights throughout the family law process.

Our Midlothian, Virginia law firm has served family law, divorce, child custody and visitation, and child support clients since 1977 and we’re ready to sit down with you, help identify your individual needs and goals, and provide the comprehensive, thoughtful legal advice you deserve. To speak with a lawyer at CowanGates about your family law concerns, please call 804-320-9100 or contact us online today.

Q: What are the legal effects of marriage?

A: There are many federal and state laws that benefit married couples. Some examples include the right to file joint income tax returns, create a family limited partnership (FLP) under federal tax laws, create a marital life estate trust, receive survivor benefits, receive a share of your deceased spouse’s estate under intestate succession laws and claim the estate tax marital deduction.

Q: What is a legal divorce?

A: A divorce is a method of terminating a marriage contract between two individuals. From a legal standpoint, divorce will give each person the legal right to marry someone else, legally divide the couple’s assets and debts, and determine the care and custody of their children. Each state addresses these issues differently, but there are some relatively uniform standards.

Q: What is a no-fault divorce?

A: Traditionally, divorce was granted on the basis of some marital misconduct such as adultery or physical abuse. In a no-fault divorce, however, both parties agree that there is no fault involved in the grounds for divorce. In Virginia, a no-fault divorce simply requires that spouses live separately for a specific amount of time before filing for divorce.

Q: What is a fault-based divorce?

A: A fault-based divorce is one in which one party blames the other for the failure of the marriage by citing a legal wrong. In Virginia, fault grounds are limited to adultery, cruelty, desertion, and conviction of a felony resulting in a sentence of more than one year.

Q: When parents can’t reach an agreement on custody, what standards do courts use to decide with whom the children should live?

A: When parents cannot reach an agreement regarding child custody, courts try to decide custody based upon an analysis of what arrangement is in the best interests of the child. While statutes and standards differ from state to state, a best interests determination is usually reached by reviewing the parents’ wishes, the mental and physical health of the parents, any history of domestic abuse, the child’s age and attachment to the parent who has been the primary caretaker, the child’s wishes, and other factors. The factors under Virginia law are listed in Virginia Code Section 20-124.3.

Q: What impact should a child’s age have on custody and visitation scheduling?

A: Development experts generally agree that children of different ages have different needs regarding visitation scheduling. Experts generally recommend a visitation schedule based on a child’s age, which may need adjustment for parents with either outstanding or limited parenting skills.

Q: Can I terminate visitation if I am not being paid the support I am owed?

A: No. Tempting as it may be to tie visitation to child support payments, they are separate considerations. In most, if not all, jurisdictions the right to visitation is never conditional on payment of child support.

Q: How is child support determined?

A: Each state has child support guidelines in place that are used as the foundation for determining the amount of child support. While child support guidelines vary from state to state, courts setting child support orders will generally follow the amount suggested by the guidelines unless a reason to depart from them exists. Most guidelines consider the needs of the child, the relative abilities of the parents to pay support, and the standard of living the child would have had but for the divorce.

Q: Can I get child support if I never married my child’s other parent?

A: Yes. Both of a child’s biological parents owe that child a duty of financial support. You can work with a family law attorney and your state’s child support enforcement office to obtain a support order. If your child’s paternity has never been established, you may need to initiate a paternity proceeding and establish paternity before a support order can be entered.

DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.

American Bar Association – Section of Family Law
Tables and summaries addressing differences in state laws and requirements for divorce, child support and other important family law issues.

The Legal Information Institute – Family Law Topics
Statutes, case law and articles covering a variety of family law topics.

Office of Child Support Enforcement (CSE)
Information on services related to locating non-custodial parents, establishing paternity, establishing support orders and collecting support payments.

Child Welfare Information Gateway
Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC), the Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families.

Children’s Rights Council
A nonprofit devoted to helping kids experience the frequent, meaningful and continuing contact with two parents and extended family that a child would normally have during a marriage.

Marriage License Requirements by State
Resource to learn about your state’s marriage license requirements.

Marriage and Divorce Data
U.S. marriage and divorce data provide by the National Center For Health Statistics (NCHS).

Family Law Statutes by State
Family law statutes by state provided by Wex, public-access legal dictionary and encyclopedia sponsored and hosted by the Legal Information Institute (LII) at the Cornell Law School.

DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.

CowanGates’ Family Law and Divorce Attorneys in Richmond, VA