A witness may be asked about felony convictions and misdemeanors involving moral turpitude - lying, cheating and stealing. These types of crimes reflect on the credibility of the witness.
Father passed a month after aunt did. So where does his portion go, his wife is still alive. And if it goes to 'him' does it go to my mother (his wife) or to my fathers estate?
If a Virginia resident dies intestate - without a will, his or her assets, including the present right to an inheritance, are part of his or her estate and would pass, if at all, according to the law of intestate succession, as administered by the personal representative of the estate - an... Read more »
Do I have to call him or does he need to call the kids since he left?
An important factor in custody and visitation disputes between fit parents is the propensity of each parent to allow the children to have a relationship with the other parent, in fact, ideally, to promote that relationship. Visitation is a privilege, not a responsibility. No one can make a parent... Read more »
There are a number of different methods employed in pre-trial discovery. The most common methods are interrogatories, request for production of documents, requests for admissions, depositions, and subpoenas duces tecum. Interrogatories are written questions that must be answered, or objected to,... Read more »
What should I do ?
Unless there is a court order in place addressing custody, visitation and support, both parents have equal rights to, and responsibilities for, their minor children. After the parties have separated, a parent may file petitions for the determinations of child custody, visitation and child support... Read more »
The sole trustee cannot be the sole beneficiary. Can my designated trustee also be the sole beneficiary?
This is question requires a complex answer that should be discussed thoroughly with an experienced Virginia estate planning attorney, with particular reference to Virginia Code Section 64.2-776, part of the Uniform Trust Code, dealing with the discretionary powers of a trustee. The short answer is... Read more »
My mom passed away a few months before my uncle, but we have been advised that my brother and I are valid heirs. I read about the 120 hour rule, but that does not seem to apply here, because my mom has living sons. He had three sisters, including my mom. One of the two living sisters is... Read more »
The course of descents in Virginia is set forth in Virginia Code Section 64.2-200 as follows:
"1. To the surviving spouse of the decedent, unless the decedent is survived by children or their descendants, one or more of whom are not children or their descendants of the surviving... Read more »
How can I get a subpoena without a lawyer?
May I object to questions on interrogatories due to dress? The questions are absolutely placing me under duress and giving him all of the criminal evidence used against him
Virginia allows both attorney-issued subpoenas and clerk-issued subpoenas. A party or his or her counsel can file a request for a subpoena to the clerk with any service of process fees.
A party can object to discovery requests in accordance with the Rules of Court, the Rules of Evidence,... Read more »
A Virginia resident can file a Warrant in Detinue for the return of specific personal property or its fair market value. A person who converts another's property to his or her own use has committed the tort of conversion. If someone takes someone else's property with the specific intent... Read more »
I grew up with my dad but with my mom's last name, but we are in America and I've lived with my dad the most of my life. I am now 18 and is willing to change my last name to his.
A name change petition is an easy, routine legal matter. Many Virginia circuit courts have fill-in-the-blank form packets for residents, as the requests for assistance would otherwise take up their valuable time. Anyone considering a name change should visit the local city or county circuit court... Read more »
Pay after settlement We have been separated for two years now
Fees are negotiable between client and lawyer. Although there are often substitutions of counsel in family law matters, which tend to be more emotional than other practice areas, many lawyers would be concerned about a client who has had unsatisfactory working relationships with two lawyers. You... Read more »
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 »
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