I moved from NC to VA almost 2 yrs ago with my kids. My ex and I are divorced b/c of his drug addiction and there is no custody agreement. He lives with his mom and they want to get the kids for the entire summer in NC. I'm afraid they might not return the kids to me here in Virginia. Can they... Read more »
In the absence of a court order addressing custody and visitation, both parents have equal rights to, and responsibility for, their minor children. Normally, a divorce case would address custody and visitation, so it is strange that there is no court order in effect. The solution is to file... Read more »
In Virginia, a personal property owner can file a Warrant in Detinue in General District Court for the return of personal property or an award of its fair market value. The Warrant in Detinue is a fill-in-the-blanks form. In Circuit Court, a Complaint for Detinue would have to be drafted by the... Read more »
Law students take classes in professional responsibility, and the issues are discussed in connection with other subject matters. The bar exams include ethics in questions or in a separate examination on professional responsibility.
The rules are not always as clear cut as they appear.... Read more »
Marriage is invalid under the United States Uniform Marriage for these reasons: a marriage in which one party has a sexual physical defect. American law also stipulates false marriages as invalid marriages. U.S. law provides for these conditions for revocable marriage: a marriage in which one party... Read more »
You have been misinformed and most of your statements are incorrect or erroneous. The validity of marriage is largely a state law matter. Different states have different requirements for a valid marriage. While there are some common elements in many states, any person considering the validity of... Read more »
His father barely sees him, and does not want to help financially, even though he said he would. He never offers anything and doesn't even help buy him anything. I don't know what I am supposed to do anymore.
Both parents have a legal duty to support their children. Child support is paid to the parent with primary physical custody or the parent to him a support obligation is owed under the shared custody guidelines computations. A child support case can be initiated in the Commonwealth of Virginia in... Read more »
A spouse is not required to make his or her spouse a beneficiary of a last will and testament; however, there are statutory rights for surviving spouses that limit the ability to completely disinherit a spouse in Virginia. A surviving spouse can effectively renounce a will and claim an elective... Read more »
My ex spouse filed for child support before we divorced (I have made every payment) and during our divorce we renegotiated our payments VIA our LAWYERS. I filed the official divorce decree that was signed by a JUDGE with the juvenile court in Chesapeake, VA which I was told to do by my lawyers so... Read more »
Parents cannot effectively bargain away their children's rights to child support. While a court will consider a written agreement between the parties, it is not binding on the court, and the court can order whatever amount is deemed appropriate after calculating the presumptively correct... Read more »
Grandmother has physical custody of two children, parents share joint custody. Mother is in jail, and father wants to know his rights about getting custody of his children.
Custody cases in Virginia are routinely handled by family law lawyers and divorce lawyers.
Kid’s mom and lawyer refuse to sign child support order, because it didn’t go her way.
Most court orders are ghostwritten by one of the lawyers on behalf of the judge. The judge will typically request the lawyer for the party who substantially prevailed to draft the order. If the lawyer for the opposing party refuses to endorse the order, the proper procedure is to move the court... Read more »
I've a signed prenuptial agreement indicating the ownership of my property.
You should consult with an experienced Virginia divorce lawyer to discuss all the circumstances and your best course of action. You may want to record the prenuptial agreement in land records. You might discuss whether you can just change the locks and notify him that he is no longer welcome... Read more »
Mom had dementia. she had the original of her will but then lost it. My sister who is her executrix has a certified copy of the will but is told she can't use that to probate. Since the original is lost, can her certified copy be used?
Yes, a copy of a will can be established through a proceeding in the appropriate Circuit Court in Virginia to be the last will and testament of a decedent. A probate clerk may not accept a copy, however, for the cheaper and faster ex parte probate process available. You should consult with an... Read more »
My significant other says he will call law enforcement and say I kidnapped my own son if I take him to Florida to visit with my family. We are not married, can I leagally take my son and unborn child to florida without his permission?
Unless and until there is a court order, both biological parents have equal rights to and responsibilities for their child(ren). Either could travel with the child for a family visit within the U.S. If there is a court order in place, taking against the terms of the order might be considered... Read more »
payments to me by check, he stopped paying. I continued to pay my share and his share. Can I sue him for the amount he was supposed to pay, but did not? Thanks, Cathleen
Thank you for your reply. I don't understand the cited text from the statute. If my ex and I agreed to pay for our... Read more »
Parents in Virginia have no legal obligation to support their capable, able-bodied adult children. However, the parents of a child may create a binding legal obligation to pay for their child's college education. Virginia Code Section 20-155 validates marital agreements provided they are in... Read more »
bankruptcy would include credit cards and medical bills only
It depends on the type of bankruptcy and the title to the real property. For the most part, a bankruptcy trustee steps into the shoes of the debtor, a creditor of the debtor, or a good faith buyer of property, and can exercise those rights. The strong-arm powers of a trustee allows a trustee to... Read more »
My equipment is stored in a family friends shed his grandfather will not let him get it out it is locked, his grandfather just went into a retirement home. Legally how can I get my personal property from this friends grandfathers shed
Specific personal property or its fair market value can be recovered in Virginia by a Warrant in Detinue filed in the General District Court or Circuit Court, depending on the value of the property.
I have full legal custody of my two daughters. I moved on to Texas and signed a six-month long power of attorney over to my sister who lives in Virginia Beach so my girls can finish school. My sister is now telling me I am not allowed to get my daughters that she is going to keep them. Shes... Read more »
Certain powers are non-delegable - they cannot be given to someone else because of the personal nature of the power. You cannot effectively give parenting power by a power of attorney to someone. I am surprised anyone accepted your sister's power of attorney for you. Even parents, with... Read more »
This was a murder suicide. I understand slayer deemed to have died first in these cases and victims family becomes heirs to everything. What happens to skaters debt, and who pays slayers funeral expenses?
The Virginia slayer statute does not address the slayer's debts or funeral expenses.
When a person dies, the debts become debts of the estate. Funeral expenses are normally paid by the next of kin.
I am the executor. But I have to wait to be qualified. Courts have been closed since March. Everything is delayed due to Supreme Court ruling in Virginia. My parent passed in early May. Bills need to be payed. I am willing to pay from my own money to keep power, water etc going as I already lived... Read more »
The courts are not closed. I have a client who qualified locally by videoconference. You just need to get in touch with the probate clerk and schedule an appointment.
My divorce was finalized in the Circuit Court, and I later was awarded sole custody in a suit in JDR, but support was not addressed. Should I also seek child support in JDR? Is support automatically remanded to JDR after a divorce is final?
Most of the final decrees I have seen now remand all matters concerning child custody, visitation and support to the appropriate Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. A parent should check the final decrees and orders in their cases to determine the appropriate court in which to file any... Read more »
There are also items from my childhood and property I am interested to divide up such as china, old coins, etc. My brother is hostile , we do not speak to one another. Though his is girlfriend, I am told he is stating "off limits "to his home and contents. What recourse do I have? If he... Read more »
A will typically might contain specific bequests of personal property, or reference to a list that may or may not be binding on the executor, specific devises of real property, and a residuary clause, which transfers all the rest of the estate to particular beneficiaries. Your question does not... Read more »
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