Virginia child support may include more than base salary. Restricted stock units (RSUs), bonuses and other executive compensation can count as income when the court calculates support. The main questions are when they count as income and how regularly they appear....
Fairfax Family Law Blog
Can you travel abroad with your child without father’s consent?
A family vacation can become stressful when the child’s father refuses to approve the trip. Even a familiar destination may raise questions about passports, border checks and parenting time. If you share custody after divorce, knowing the rules before booking flights...
2 ways employment changes affect divorce odds
Divorce rates are often impacted by someone's employment situation. There are certain issues that can cause the odds of a divorce to go up. For example, when someone loses their job, some studies have found that their odds of divorce go up by around 74%. Even when...
Can unmarried parents get child support in Virginia?
You may worry about your child’s financial security when you and the other parent never married. Virginia law requires both parents to support their child. However, before you receive a support order, you must establish legal parentage. A court or state agency may...
Divorce rights for a stay-at-home mother
When you have stayed home to raise children while your spouse earned most or all of the household income, divorce can feel financially uncertain. Still, a higher-earning spouse does not automatically control the outcome or leave you without support. Your rights may...
What does legal custody address?
Legal custody rights, which can be divided between parents during a divorce, address how those parents should make future decisions for their child. While they are married, parents have the authority to jointly make decisions on the child's behalf. After a divorce,...
Can paying parents ask for an accounting of child support use?
People subject to child support orders often feel stressed about their financial obligations. Fulfilling the order may leave them with very little disposable income to spend on personal needs each month. They may resent their obligations and even question whether the...
Why dividing gifts in divorce isn’t always straightforward
Divorcing couples sometimes end up battling over things they didn’t realize they even cared about until it came time to decide who got to keep them. Among these are gifts they acquired throughout the marriage. When deciding who keeps an item that was a gift, the first...
How much weight does a teen’s wishes carry in Virginia court?
Parents of teens know they have opinions on just about everything, and they may not be shy about sharing their thoughts. During a divorce, those opinions often extend to where they want to live. Whether that wish is to stay with you or the other parent, it's crucial...
Is “birdnesting” a better custody option?
Going through a separation can feel emotional and confusing, especially when children are involved. You may want to protect your child’s routine while also adjusting to major life changes. One option some families consider is birdnesting. Birdnesting is a parenting...



