There are two bases for spousal support: 1. an award by the court; or 2. a stipulation by the parties. An award by the court may be modified upon a material change in circumstances not anticipated by the parties, or the nonoccurrence of a change anticipated by the parties at the time of the award.... View More

The land records in Virginia, recorded in the Circuit Court for the county or city where the property is located, show an entire history of the transactions concerning the property. Past transactions are not removed, or replaced, by the most recent transactions.

A refinance loan would be... View More

A seller's and purchaser's contractual rights under a written sales agreement depend on the provisions contained in the writing. There are causes of action outside the contract, that led to the formation of the agreement, including fraud and duress. A contract may be voided as... View More

There is currently no formula for permanent spousal support, the type awarded upon decreeing a divorce, in Virginia. An award of permanent spousal support, which may be for a fixed term, in a lump sum, or indefinitely until either party dies, or until the payee spouse remarries or cohabits in a... View More

It is not clear from your answer if you have a recognized legal civil relationship or not. If so, you may have the option of divorce with equitable distribution of property.

If any person sharing a household with another is suffering from family abuse, a defined term in Virginia, he or she... View More

In a legal proceeding involving custody and/or visitation, a guardian ad litem can be appointed by the court to represent the interests of the child in the event that the parents do not adequately represent the interests of the child. This almost always occurs when there are allegations of abuse... View More

In the absence of legal justification, any spouse who leaves the marital residence with the intention to separate permanently risks having the other spouse claim the fault ground of desertion and abandonment in a divorce case. Most divorce lawyers will advise a client not to leave the marital... View More

It depends on the type of lender. Credit unions have greater rights than banks. Most credit unions have a cross-collateralization clause in their loan agreements. That makes any debt owed the credit union secured by collateral given on any other debt, so the credit union may not release the... View More

An e-mail may be admissible in evidence if a party can establish a hearsay exception and authenticate the communication. Hearsay is an out-of-court statement a party wants to introduce into evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted. If made by a party, an e-mail may qualify as a party... View More

Depending on the circumstances, a divorce is typically filed in either the state where the defendant resides, or the state where the plaintiff (filer) resides. The place of marriage is irrelevant.

Due process requires notice and an opportunity to be heard. Further, if property rights,... View More

That reads just like the kind of agreement reached in mediation - it is vague enough that both parties can interpret it to their own satisfaction. Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done to enforce it. Far better is to have a fixed schedule from which the parties can deviate if they so... View More

A divorce is initiated by the filing of a Complaint in the appropriate Virginia Circuit Court. A divorce based on fault must include the basic elements of the fault ground that the Plaintiff will rely on, in numbered paragraphs in the Complaint. A party or counsel signing a pleading, such as a... View More

Spouses can enter into enforceable separation agreements in Virginia. The agreement must be in writing and signed by both spouses, or recited in front of a court reporter. A separation agreement is not a requirement for a divorce in Virginia, although it allows a no fault divorce based on a six... View More

Divorces easily fall into one of two categories: contested and uncontested. An uncontested divorce typically proceeds as a no fault divorce based on a signed written separation agreement between the spouses. All the incidents and consequences of the marriage have been addressed: spousal support;... View More

Credit card lawsuits typically involve two different jurisdictions - the issuer's home state and the borrower's home state, and the shorter of the two may apply in Virginia. In Virginia Code Section 8.01- 232, there are three conditions on the enforceability of a waiver of the right to... View More

Unjustifiably withholding visitation can result in a change of primary physical custody of a child. A custodial parent must do everything within his or her power and authority to allow visitation to occur, absent some credible evidence of family abuse which would justify a modification of a... View More

A will may be modfied with a codicil. Most attorney advise against the use of a codicil for various reasons. As it requires the same formalities as a will, the testator is often better off by simply writing a new will.

A trust may be modified in accordance with its terms, or, in certain... View More

Under Virginia Code Section 16.1-278.15, child support may be ordered to continue for an adult child in the following circumstances:

"...The court may also order that support be paid or continue to be paid for any child over the age of 18 who is (a) severely and permanently mentally or... View More

While the Virginia Court of Appeals has decided that it is possible for spouses to live separate and apart under the same roof, not all Circuit Court judges readily accept that idea. The idea is more popular in certain areas of the state, such as Northern Virginia, where the costs of housing is... View More

An important issue in chapter 13 cases is whether to pay the vehicle loan directly outside the plan as a long-term debt, or in the plan by the trustee as a secured claim. The downside of putting it in the plan is an early dismissal produces an immediate default. Unless you are cramming down the... View More