Marriage is a powerful institution. When a family has been created and is later dismantled, the rights of each person involved, father, mother, husband, wife, child, or grandparent, come into question.

Often people involved in divorce are concerned about their right to maintain parent-child or grandparent-child relationships, live in the family home, receive spousal support or child support, or retain possession of property they brought into the marriage. If you would like to discuss your rights under Virginia law with a divorce lawyer, contact our Richmond family law attorneys to arrange a consultation.

Questions About Rights:

Women’s / Mothers’ Rights:

• Am I eligible for alimony/spousal support?
• Can I stay in my home?
• Will my spouse be required to pay child support?
• How will custody and visitation be handled?
• Do I need a separation agreement?
• Will I have to go to court?
• How much will it cost?
• How long will it take?

Men’s / Fathers’ Rights:

• Will I have to pay alimony / spousal support?
• How can I protect my rights regarding custody of my children?
• How can I protect my economic assets?
• If my wife gets custody, how frequent can visitation be?
• How will child support be determined and when will it start?
• Will my spouse have to account for how child support money is spent?
• Will I have to go to court?
• How long will it take?
• How can we do this without spending a fortune?

Grandparents’ Rights

Virginia gives little legal protection to grandparents applying for visitation over the objection of parents, and grandparents have to be careful not to further erode their relationship by turning to the courts too quickly. It’s wise to speak with an attorney if you are considering legal action to assert your rights as a grandparent.

Children’s Rights

Children have the general right that all decrees and settlements must be made so that they are in the best interests of the child. A judge can appoint a guardian ad litem to represent a child, order mental health evaluations, or speak with a child in determining what is in the child’s best interests.

If you are concerned about your rights, contact our Virginia family lawyers today.

Family law attorneys and estate planning lawyers serving clients throughout Virginia since 1969, in communities including, but not limited to, Richmond, Petersburg, Chesterfield, Midlothian, Glen Allen, Hanover, Goochland, Amelia, Henrico, Powhatan, Buckingham, Cumberland, Louisa, and New Kent.