Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: now.

- Denis Waitley


Family Law and Estate Planning Blog

The perils of social media in divorce

The prevalence of social media has made divorce proceedings far more complicated than they once were. The arrival of the Cloud and other comparable wireless storage implies that your “private” data may not be as concealed as you might believe. Even if you save your private photos, videos and documents to your phone, they may […]

Potential review of Virginia child support guidelines

Deciding the amount of child support to be paid by the noncustodial parent can be a complex process. This is particularly true when matters are made worse due to a stressful divorce and disputes over custody. It can be disheartening for the noncustodial parent to discover that a formula will determine the financial future for […]

The perils of guardianship for adults

In guardianship cases, the court often allows the guardian to sell the ward’s home, and its contents, thereby causing the ward to be without a home and possessions. That is exactly what happened in the case of Ginger Franklin, a 50-year-old Nashville, Tenn. resident, who suffered a fall down the stairs of her townhouse in […]

How divorce can impact your mortgage

Even in the midst of divorce, the mortgage that you and your divorcing spouse agreed to pay continues to be your joint responsibility. Couples who wish to sell their home because of a divorce may confront such obstacles as a slow housing market or strict lending requirements. Before the market crashed, it was easy for […]

How divorce can affect your estate plan with respect to your will and beneficiary designations

Whenever you experience significant life-changing events, it is recommended that you revisit your estate planning documents to make certain that they are in compliance with your wishes. In Virginia, a final divorce decree affects specific aspects of estate planning, but a separation has no such impact. Unless expressly stipulated otherwise, upon the entry of a […]

The things you should not do if engaged in a child custody battle

If you are involved in a child custody battle, there are certain things you should not do because they will only serve to adversely affect your case. You should not represent yourself under any circumstances. Although custody litigation is complicated and expensive, representing yourself could have unfavorable consequences. Because you are emotionally involved in the […]

Prenuptial agreements can help couples protect separate assets

Asset preservation has become an increasingly important factor in marriage as well as estate planning, particularly as divorce and blended families become more common realities in the United States. The rising popularity of prenuptial agreements is a notable reflection of the changing matrimonial landscape in this country. In an October 2013 survey of 1,600 members […]