Source: https://divorcelawyerprincewilliamvirginia.wordpress.com/tag/divorce-virginia/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 18:15:25+00:00

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One of the first questions in a divorce in Prince William, Virginia is who will get custody of the child or children?
Child custody in Prince William, Virginia is a legal term used to qualify the relationship the child or children has between the parents. A determination of child custody in Prince William, Virginia will resolve issues such as which parent will the child or children spend the majority of time with or will the parents equally share their time with the child or children. Also, a determination of child custody in Prince William, Virginia may have an impact on child support payments and a determination of who are the payer and the payee.
If you are in need the help of a lawyer in Prince William, Virginia for a child custody case, turn to the Prince William, Virginia attorneys of SRIS, P.C. for help. We have client meeting locations in Virginia to better serve you.
The following is a general overview of some of the issues that a parent may face in regards to child custody in Prince William, Virginia.
The child custody courts in Prince William, Virginia will frequently use the term “best interests of the child” in making a determination as to child custody in Prince William, Virginia. Although the courts in Virginia will generally consider all the factors in a child custody determination, some factors will be given more weight than others.
although it is very important that you do not allow false allegations to go unchallenged, child custody battles can be very expensive. If both parties engage in making speculative allegations in a child custody case, this will only drive up the cost of litigation.
When child custody disputes arise in Prince William, Virginia, it is not uncommon for one of the parents to attempt to engage in forum shopping in an endeavor to gain an unfair edge against the other party. Forum shopping is basically looking for a state or country that may have more favorable laws towards one of the parents in regards to child custody. Many countries have become a part of the Hague Convention to prevent forum shopping between countries. Additionally, in the United States, an act called the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) was enacted and adopted by every state to prevent forum shopping in child custody cases. The essence of this act is to require all the states to defer to the jurisdiction of the home state of the child or children. The Prince William, Virginia attorneys of SRIS, P.C. have represented clients who have to deal with the other parent attempting to engage in forum shopping. It is very important to hire the services of a lawyer when faced with an issue of forum shopping. The statutory designation of “home state” lasts only for a certain period of time.
The attorneys of SRIS, P.C. do truly care about you and your children and we look forward to helping you.
Please feel free to call us at 888-437-7747.
Our attorneys and staff speak the following languages in addition to English: Tamil, Arabic, Hindi, Telugu, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Malaysian & French.
Frequently, the clients we represent in Virginia are inundated with variety of different terms regarding child custody and support. In an endeavor to better assist them understand the different terms used, the following are some of the official definitions from the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act and the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.
But what exactly determines this “best interests of the child” criteria?
Do Mother’s Have More “Clout” When It Comes To Retaining Child Custody?
It’s one of the sadder parts of any divorce – determining child custody and visitation. In deciding which parent (or both) gets custody, the court takes into account a multitude of factors.
In almost all courts in every state, the standard is: “The child’s best interests.” In deciding child custody issues – this one aspect is given the highest priority.
The child’s preference, if the child is above a certain age (usually about 12).
In many cases, there are no clear cut answers in determining which parent clearly “outranks” another in fulfilling these custodial factors. Each may be equally (or nearly) qualified in providing for the child’s welfare and well being.
In divorce and child custody law cases like these, the courts focus on which parent will provide the child with the more stable environment, including maintaining a healthy relationship with the other parent. When a child is young, special attention is given to the parent who has been the child’s primary caregiver. However, with older children, the parent who is best able to provide continuity in education, neighborhood life, religious institutions, and peer relationships may be awarded primary custody.
Also, the judge in child custody cases in Virginia will place great weight upon the fact if the children will be remaining in the home where they were raised and lived as a family, if they will be continuing in the same school, participate in their usual activities and generally enjoy their regular routines. A judge will be adverse to changing these normal physical locations, conditions and schedules.
Another factor that comes into play with child custody cases is when one parent moves out of the house, leaving the child or children with the remaining spouse. This can adversely affect the chances of the distant parent gaining custody – even if they left in order to avoid highly unpleasant or even dangerous situations.
If the situation is so volatile, then seriously consider taking the children with you. If you don’t, the court may properly assume you considered the options and believed the remaining spouse was a competent caregiver – regardless of the situation between the two parents. If you do leave with the children, file as quickly as possible in family court for temporary child custody and child support. Speed is of the essence, because if you don’t act first, the other spouse may go to court first and allege that the kids were taken without that spouse’s knowledge.
Family law judges don’t look very highly on a parent who removes the children from the home without seeking legal recognition. A judge may order the children be returned to the family home, pending future proceedings to determine physical custody.
Every state now takes into consideration the fitness of both parents – the mother no longer automatically enjoys a de-facto privilege when custody is being determined. Most states require their courts determine custody on the basis of what’s in the children’s best interests, without regard to the parent’s gender.
Many divorcing parents do agree the mother will have custody after a separation or divorce, with the father exercising reasonable visitation rights. If this happens because both parents agree the mother has more time, a greater inclination in parenting, or a better understanding of the children’s daily needs – then all is well and good. But many times the father presumes the mother will automatically be awarded custody and never pursues the matter – or because the mother is more tenacious in seeking custody.
As a father, if you want to ask the court for physical custody, don’t let gender stereotypes stop you. If both you and the mother work full-time, and the kids have after-school care, you may both be on equal footing. In fact, if you have more flexible hours than the mother, you could be at an advantage. In any event, the judge will look at what’s best for the children in custody cases.
So if you as father think you are the better caregiver and should have primary custody – it’s up to you to convince the judge that it’s in the kids’ best interests to stay with you. If you present yourself as a willing and able parent, it will go a long way towards challenging any lingering prejudice against you as a father.
The former wife claimed that, when she was served with process, the former husband told her that the allegations in the bill were untrue and that she should disregard the papers. During the pendency of the divorce, the wife claimed that the husband, who had rented a nearby hotel room, came to her home daily where he ate, slept, resumed marital relations, and cohabited with her as if he wished to remain lawfully married. As a result, the wife did not contest the divorce proceeding. The husband denied inducing the wife to not contest the divorce and contended that he advised her to seek legal advice. On appeal, the court affirmed the trial court’s refusal to set aside the divorce decree.
Cohabitation between husband and wife during the pendency of the suit for divorce is considered a sufficient reason for the defendant’s belief that plaintiff spouse had abandoned the suit, and a justification for not appearing to make a defense. But where it is sought to set aside a decree on the ground that during the pendency of the divorce action the spouse who obtained it had condoned the other’s offenses by cohabiting as before, the burden of proving such cohabitation and condonation rests upon the assailant of the decree.
Upon a hearing before a judge without a jury, the judge’s finding upon the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony stands on the same footing as the verdict of a jury and should not be disturbed on appeal unless plainly wrong or without evidence to support it.
The wife sought a divorce from the husband on the ground of wilful and long continued abandonment and desertion as stated by the law. The husband did not appear. The lower court refused to award a divorce, and the wife appealed. The court reversed the judgment, holding that: (1) courts had to consider the testimony in an uncontested application for a divorce with the most painstaking and scrupulous care, and relief would be denied if there was collusion or consent; and (2) the evidence of the wife and the witnesses that the husband was a drunk, that he did not contribute to the support of the wife and their children, that he had been absent without detaining cause for about 12 years, and that the conduct of the wife afforded no cause for the husband’s action was sufficient to establish the allegation of wilful abandonment and desertion, and entitled the wife to a divorce a vinculo matrimonii and custody of the children.
The policy of the law is against divorce by consent, and if the sanctity of the marriage tie is to be preserved and divorces by consent prevented, full and satisfactory evidence should be required, so that the court may determine the legal questions involved from the facts presented, and a decree for an absolute divorce for desertion should not be granted unless the evidence proves wilful desertion without justification or excuse.
Where the uncontradicted evidence shows that, without adequate cause, the husband abandoned his wife, with the declared purpose of not returning to her, and that during that time he has not cohabited with her, has had no communication, has made no effort to have her resume marital relations, and has contributed nothing to her support, the facts constitute such proof of desertion as entitle the wife to a decree of divorce from the bond of matrimony.
Plaintiff husband and defendant wife challenged a judgment of the Circuit Court, which granted the wife a no-fault divorce and which denied the wife spousal support because it was found that she had not established a need. The husband had filed an action against the wife alleging constructive desertion. The wife had filed a cross-bill charging desertion and cruelty.
Upon decreeing that neither party is entitled to a divorce, the trial court may make such further decree as it shall deem expedient concerning spousal support, provided that no award shall be entered against either if there exists in his or her favor a ground of divorce. Va. Code Ann. § 20-107. The same laws prevail when the marriage is terminated by a no-fault divorce. Va. Code Ann. § 20-91(9)(c).
Both parties appealed from the decree of divorce entered in the Circuit Court, which granted defendant husband a divorce for desertion and ordered spousal support and a pension fund award to plaintiff wife. The husband appealed the financial provisions, and the wife appealed the finding of fault and the spousal support award.
Where a wife leaves the marital home and alleges her leaving to have been caused by the misconduct of the husband who remains in the family residence, such misconduct must be proved to be so serious that it makes the marital relationship intolerable or unendurable. The duty of going forward with the evidence of justification rests upon the party who leaves, unless the justification appears from the testimony adduced by the remaining party. The judgment of the trial court is presumed correct, and will not be disturbed on appeal unless the record reveals that it is plainly wrong or without evidence to support it, pursuant to Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-680.
Va. Code Ann. § 20-107.1 deprives the trial court of jurisdiction to award spousal support to a spouse found at fault. It provides that any maintenance and support shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Va. Code Ann. § 20-109, and no permanent maintenance and support shall be awarded from a spouse if there exists in such spouse’s favor a ground of divorce under any provision of Va. Code Ann. § 20-91(1), (3), (6), or § 20-95.

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