Family Law Attorneys at General Counsel serve families throughout Northern Virginia providing comprehensive legal services involving family relationships, including divorce, property division, spousal support, and child custody and visitation. Our family law attorneys are experienced negotiating, reviewing, and drafting marital agreements, such as prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements, and separation agreements.
Our attorneys are also experienced representing clients in court in divorce and child custody proceedings. We can also work with clients interested in mediated or collaborative divorce, rather than litigating these issues in court. Whether you’re concerned with spousal or child support, property division or have international family law issues, our attorneys are knowledgeable and experienced in family law matters and are here to help you protect your rights. And, if you are considering filing for divorce, as discussed in this article, you should also consider updating your will, trust, and other estate planning documents and beneficiaries.
The Fairfax County Circuit Court considered a case asking the Court to modify an existing custody agreement based solely on the children’s preference to split time more equally between parents. This was a matter of first impression for the Court, and Judge Bernhard declined to recognize a child’s preference as the basis for a material...
Often, one of the largest assets married couples own are retirement accounts. As a result, these retirement accounts can become the focus of divorce proceedings if the parties seek court-ordered equitable distribution. In July, the Virginia Court of Appeals answered this question, ruling that a husband’s IRA retirement account was to be considered marital property...
Custody disputes commonly follow marital divorce proceedings. In determining custody, Virginia courts implement a best interests of the child analysis, pursuant to Virginia Code § 20-124.3. Recently, the Court of Appeals of Virginia was asked to decide whether living-out-of-state was in the best interest of the child, if the prospective custodial parent already lives out...
A Virginia Circuit Court Judge has ruled Virginia Code § 20-124.2(B2) unconstitutional because it does not require proof that grandchildren will face “actual harm” without the requested visitation. The statute allows a grandparent, who is related to a deceased or incapacitated parent, to petition for visitation of the parent’s minor child if the court determines...
If you have recently divorced, you cannot forget to revise the beneficiaries on your insurance policies. Separation agreements are often perceived as the “be-all, and end-all” of divorce. However, the case Hartford Life and Accident Insurance v. Herring and Crandall, underscores the importance of also changing the beneficiaries on your insurance policies. In Hartford, the...
Typically, a parent seeking a custody modification for their child must petition the court and follow the standard litigation procedure. However, in certain circumstances, courts may allow a parent to remedy a custodial dispute through a temporary restraining order (“TRO”). A TRO “is a drastic remedy intended to preserve the status quo until the Court...
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