The end of a marriage is a difficult time. Some couples who are considering divorce, first file for legal separation as a trial run. Divorce proceedings legally dissolve the marriage. Legal separation allows the parties to lead separate lives but remain married.
Read More
In July, marijuana was decriminalized in the District of Columbia. This November, the residents of D.C. will vote on legalizing marijuana. In family law, this brings up the question: how does legalized marijuana affect custody disputes? Marijuana’s growing social acceptance is complicating the
Read More
When parents of minor children end their relationship, there are often questions about what to do about the children’s personal belongings. If the minor child is spending some time with each parent, here are some considerations both parents should keep in mind:
Read More
In Virginia, it’s illegal to be intoxicated by drugs or alcohol in public. The officer has the discretion to transport you to a detoxication center (or drunk tank) in lieu of arrest. Pursuant to Virginia Code 18.2-388, if any person “profanely curses
Read More
A question I get often is what are my parental rights if there is no custody order in place? In most states, the answer is it depends. If you were married to the other parent, and are listed on the child’s birth
Read More
At midnight, the District of Columbia ordinance reducing marijuana possession to a $25.00 fine went into effect. The legislation amended the possession or transfer of up to one ounce of marijuana from a criminal misdemeanor to a civil violation. The public consumption
Read More
Last week, the Senate held a hearing on child trafficking and re-homing. The practice of re-homing involves parents giving away their adopted children to strangers they meet online. The little-known practice gained some press when Reuters news service investigated the issue last
Read More
Many people wonder – can I move to another state with my civil protective order? How will the state enforce it? If you have a Washington, DC Civil Protective Order, it can be enforced in another state, as long as it meets
Read More
Sometimes parents will ask if the grandparents have any rights to visitation during their divorce or custody case. In 2000, the United States Supreme Court decided Troxel v. Granville, which stated that parents have a fundamental right to the “care, custody, and
Read More
A Virginia man, Jesse Lee Herald, chose to get a vasectomy as part of his plea agreement in a child endangerment case. The agreement will shave off up to five years of his of his prison sentence. Herald has at least seven
Read More