Without proper advice and counsel, the emotional impact of a family law legal dispute, such as a divorce or child custody disagreement, can linger for an extended time. Even if you believe that you have a resolution, your agreements can be affected by state laws and regulations.
An experienced Henrico County family lawyer from The Capital Family and Divorce Law Group of Price Benowitz can help you reduce that emotional stress while advocating for your and your family’s best interests throughout divorce, child custody, visitation, adoption, and civil protection order proceedings. Our attorneys stand ready to pursue the optimum and most equitable conclusion to your family matters.
Common Family Law Issues
Pre- and post-marital issues are a common focus of family law matters. An experienced family attorney in Henrico County could provide advice regarding issues, such as:
Property Issues
Property division in divorce and separation cases is governed by the Commonwealth’s equitable distribution standards. Those standards seek to provide a fair resolution of property disputes rather than allocating property equally between divorcing spouses. Among other matters, property division in a divorce decree will generally reflect:
- Whether either spouse acquired property or incurred debts before the marriage, in which case that property or debt is typically not a marital asset or liability, but could be hybrid property
- How long the parties were married and the spouses’ relative contributions to a marital estate, as well as the age and health of each spouse
- The tax impact of property distributions on each spouse
- The nature and character of the parties’ assets (e.g. whether assets are liquid or prospective, such as retirement benefits that accrued during the marriage)
- The causes and motivations of the termination of the marriage.
Child Custody Issues
Child custody matters always reflect the child’s best interests, particularly in view of each child’s age, health, and relationship with each spouse. Factors that can affect child custody include whether either spouse desires to move out of Virginia, avoidance of any interference in the relationship between a child and a parent, and appropriate visitation schedules to balance the child’s time with each parent.
Custody orders will also reflect:
- The parents’ legal custody rights to make decisions regarding the child’s education, healthcare, and religious and moral upbringing
- Physical custody of a child, which defines the location of the child’s legal permanent residence
- Whether one spouse will have sole legal or physical custody over the child or if custody will be shared jointly.
Both property and child custody issues can change based on unexpected circumstances or new opportunities, in which case a spouse may seek modification of the controlling order.
A Family Law Attorney Can Provide Valuable Counsel on Other Matters
Henrico County residents will also need representation from a family law attorney when they are:
- Adopting a child, which may involve multi-state legal issues and contractual issues, particularly where spouses are adopting a child through surrogacy
- Seeking protective or restraining orders to preclude stalking or harassment by a vindictive spouse
- Considering a trial separation that may be a preface to a divorce
- Drafting a pre-marital agreement that provides a framework for matters in the event of a subsequent separation or divorce.
Call the Capital Family & Divorce Law Group to Work With a Family Attorney
A Henrico County family lawyer is your best resource for trusted advice when you or your family are facing legal challenges. Please call our office at any time to schedule a private and confidential consultation with one of our attorneys.
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