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Virginia Child Custody Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Civil Rights for Virginia on
Q: Ex husband is narcissistic. Stalking my fiancé and threatening to call the cops when we’re at his place.

He threatens to tell lies on him of abuse and just pops up whenever he likes demand immediate access to the kids. I try and try to work with, but he so focused on hurting me. Is there any hope for full custody? Can my fiancé file for defamation of character?

Gary Kollin
Gary Kollin
answered on Jun 13, 2018

Why doesn't your fiance file criminal charges or seek a restraining order?

Why would you be at his place?

Go to court in your divorce proceedings and get judicial involvement in child visitation.

Consult with a lawyer whether you may record the conversations since it is...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Virginia on
Q: what is the law for serving by publication out of state

No prior child custody order was in place prior to me and our daughter moved from Va to Ga on July 28, 2017

father filed for Custody and Visitation on Feb. 22, 2018. I understand that Ga has do to our length of time here Jurisdiction. I have filed for child support in Ga in August and he... View More

Michael Christopher Miller
Michael Christopher Miller
answered on Jun 12, 2018

Service by publication is the last resort for service when one cannot find the person to be served.

Provide the GAL your address so the GAL can serve you directly.

Also, file your address with the court(s) so no one can say they don't know where to serve you.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Child Support for Virginia on
Q: Can a parent terminate their parental rights after losing custody in Virginia? Would child support still be obligated..

After termination? custody was filed under the false pretense the mother was unable to be contacted or located. And was excluded from the custody proceedings. Is termination of parental custody permanent if filed in state of Virginia?

Sharon R. Moss
Sharon R. Moss
answered on Jun 6, 2018

Did you lose custody or did the state terminate your rights? They are two very different things. If you lost custody, but not parental rights, then child support is still an obligation for the non-custodial parent.

A parent can not voluntarily terminate their rights to a child unless...
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2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody for Virginia on
Q: How would I go about filing for custody of a child who currently resides out of state?

I reside in Virginia currently and my child resides in North Carolina. Custody was granted under the pretense that I was no where to be found, when in fact the party knew of my where abouts. In addition, permanent custody (final decision, the paper says) was granted without my participation in the... View More

Sharon R. Moss
Sharon R. Moss
answered on Jun 5, 2018

It depends on where the last custody order was issued and how long the child has lived in North Carolina. If the child has lived in North Carolina, then the courts there have jurisdiction over the child, however, the current custody order is not from North Carolina, you will have to ask the North... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Virginia on
Q: what happens if a parent isn't following a visitation order to see his children?

We have a court order in place that states the father of my children is supposed to have visitation with my children supervised at least once a week. He hasnt seen them in 3 weeks and hasnt even bothered to contact me for 2 weeks.

Steve Miyares
Steve Miyares
answered on May 25, 2018

The court has no power to force a noncustodial parent to exercise visitation. When the court orders visitation, it is ensuring that the noncustodial parent is not denied an opportunity to spend time with their children. If the parent chooses to jot take that opportunity and chooses to not see... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Virginia on
Q: Hi there, I live in Marion VA. I have a daughter that is 15 years old. Can she have say so in visitation?

My daughter is 15. Her father lives in Kentucky. The visitation was set up when she was 6. She is getting older and would like to have some more say in the visitation scheduling. Her father said he wanted that as well. But, If it doesn't benefit him he doesn't want her to have any say.... View More

Steve Miyares
Steve Miyares
answered on May 25, 2018

One of the statutory factors a Virginia court must consider in visitation orders is the preference of the child in light of the child’s age and maturity level. Therefore, the court would not have put much weight on the preference of a 6 year old child, the court would give more consideration to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Family Law, Child Custody and Juvenile Law for Virginia on
Q: I'm 13 and want to live with my dad who lives down the street but my mom with full custody wont allow it....help?

He has wanted me to live with him for a while, i have a better relationship with him than my mom and step-dad. Those 2 abuse//hit me when there mad at me.

Wayne E. Holcomb
PREMIUM
Wayne E. Holcomb
answered on May 20, 2018

Hello. We would need to talk to your father I suppose. This is probably your only option right now. Hang in there.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Virginia on
Q: I'm moving to Canada and I have no court order to even have visitation of my son how do I make it so he can visit me?

His father has had full custody for 5 years but I see my son every other weekend. I have no legal standing because I couldnt make it to court I was in FL at the time. I dont want to take custody because my son wants to live with his dad but I want him to be able to visit. His dad wont let me take... View More

Steve Miyares
Steve Miyares
answered on May 15, 2018

Moving to Canad is a significant chamge in circumstances since the Court last made a custody decision 5 years ago. Based on the chang in circumstances, you can petitin the court to modify the visitation schedule from the prior order. You should consult with an attorney to help you pursue the best... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Virginia on
Q: How can I (the mother) get sole legal custody of my daughter?

My daughter was concieved against my will even though he and I were in a relationship. I was a 17 year old runaway, living with a friend (not him), and he was 28 and is a felon with drug abuse issues. He hid his age from me until I found his facebook. I have no idea where he is now. I know he does... View More

Steve Miyares
Steve Miyares
answered on May 15, 2018

You can petition the Jivenile and Domestic Relations Court to award full custody to you. The JDR court would also be wheee you petition for an order of child support from the father.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Divorce for Virginia on
Q: My wife was cheating on me (i can prove it), can i keep the custody of my kids

I work in the tech field and for the past year or so, my wife has been cheating on me..before her parents were with me but suddently they have made a u turn and are telling me to continue my life as is which means that i should be ok with her seeing the other guy (totally absurd). Ofcourse I am not... View More

Sharon R. Moss
Sharon R. Moss
answered on May 15, 2018

There is no presumption of mother over father for custody in Virginia. The court will look at what is in the best interests of the children when they are deciding on custody. You will need to have evidence that it is in the children's best interest to reside primarily with you rather than... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody for Virginia on
Q: My husband walked out on my son & I over a week ago. If he files for the divorce first, will he be able to take my son?
Michael Christopher Miller
Michael Christopher Miller
answered on May 9, 2018

Matters of custody and visitation are decided upon the "best interest of the child" factors at Va. Code 20-124.3. Who files when has nothing to do with the outcome.

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Virginia on
Q: I have two 18 year old that decided not to visit the father, can I be held contempt for this.
Steve Miyares
Steve Miyares
answered on Apr 16, 2018

If your children are over age 18 then they are adults and free to decide what contact they want with their father. You are no longer responsible for their decision not to visit their father. You would jot face legal consequences for their decision to not visit their father

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Virginia on
Q: How to go about getting joint custody of my daughter in Fl. I live in VA.

My daughter's mother took my daughter and moved to various locations until settling down in Florida. I live in Virginia. I have not seen my daughter, since she was less than a year old. How can I go about establishing joint custody / visitations of my daughter? What do I need and how may that... View More

Sharon R. Moss
Sharon R. Moss
answered on Apr 16, 2018

It would depend on which court has jurisdiction to make the custody and visitation determination. Is there a current order in place for custody? If so, then you have to go to that court to start.

If not, how long has your daughter bene in Florida? If more than 6 months then that will be...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Virginia on
Q: Can my childs father tell me where i can live

I am engaged to be married and we did live together but a few months ago childs father said that my daughter couldnt live or staythere on the days i have ger because its 30 minutes from him can he do that? Can he tell me where i can live?

Michael Christopher Miller
Michael Christopher Miller
answered on Apr 12, 2018

No. You can live where you want.

However, he does have input on where your child lives.

If you can't agree, then you can go to court. A judge will hear both sides' position, and decide the child's residence.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Virginia on
Q: Can I move out of state with my son with no custody agreement?

My son is 17 months old, his father left us (at his mothers) for someone else and then wound up back in jail feb 2018 on a probation violation(7 time felon) and failed cocaine test. he has not financially helped since may 2017, theres no custody agreement. I have no one in VA and want too take my... View More

Michael Christopher Miller
Michael Christopher Miller
answered on Apr 9, 2018

If there is a Virginia custody order, there will be a provision in it that requires you to give 30 days advance notice of a relocation.

If you and your son move, the father can do nothing, or he can seek to compel your son to return to Virginia. The father cannot make you move.

If...
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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Child Custody for Virginia on
Q: Do police have to read me my Miranda Rights before asking me an incriminating question in a non-custodial interview?
Steve Miyares
Steve Miyares
answered on Apr 6, 2018

No. The Miranda warnings are require during custodial interrogation. However ifyou are in a consensual non-custodial conversation with police, there isno rquirement that the police issue the Miranda warnings. The issue is going to be whether or not the police interaction with you was... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Child Support for Virginia on
Q: In VA does my child support have to be re-ordered every time one of my 4 kids graduates or turns 18?

I have 1 monthly child support payment, all 4 kids are different ages. Do I have to go back to court when each one graduates and or turns 18?

Michael Christopher Miller
Michael Christopher Miller
answered on Apr 2, 2018

As a general rule, it takes a court order to change a court order. So, you have to keep paying the ordered amount of support until a new order says otherwise.

However, whether to modify support depends upon what the new support would be. Sometimes the current support for three children may...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Virginia on
Q: MY EX LIVING GIRLFRIEND MOVE OUT WITH MY SON NOW SHE WONT LET ME SEE HIM WITH OUT A CAUSE SHE IS NOT LEGAL IN THE US??

AGAIN SHE LEFT AND NOW SHE WONT LET ME SPEND TIME WITH MY KID SHE HAS NO LEGAL STATUS HERE IN THE USA

SHE SOME TIME HAS SAID SHE WILL DISAPPEAR WITH MY SON WHAT CAN I DO?

Matthew Lane Kreitzer
Matthew Lane Kreitzer
answered on Apr 1, 2018

You can hire a lawyer to file a custody petition with your local court before the child has been away for a significant period of time. Consult a lawyer soon.

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Family Law and Child Custody for Virginia on
Q: Do I have a winning case as the mother to keep my ex-husband’s girlfriend away from my child, due to her harassment?

I reside in Virginia. For about a year now, my ex-husband’s live-in girlfriend has been harassing me by text & email. She cc’s my ex on these things. She even verbally abuses my ex in these texts, but he allows her to continue to live there. He excuses her behavior due to her... View More

Wayne E. Holcomb
PREMIUM
Wayne E. Holcomb
answered on Mar 28, 2018

You can try to involve the police again to see if her harassment rises to the level of a criminal charge. I am not sure if it will, but it's a place to start. As to the custody issues here, this situation might be enough of a problem to address whether or not your daughter should be around... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Virginia on
Q: Can an 11yr old speak for herself in court. What paperwork would I need to file. I have Sole custody & she lives with me

He recently filed a motion to amend and wants joint physical custody

Michael Christopher Miller
Michael Christopher Miller
answered on Mar 26, 2018

Va. Code § 20-124.3. Best interests of the child

Many parents see "8. The reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be of reasonable intelligence, understanding, age and experience to express such a preference;" and want to drag their child to court to...
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