Category: Family Law

congratulations-maryse-c-allen

Congratulations Maryse C. Allen

Compton & Duling would like to congratulate Partner Maryse C. Allen for being recognized by The Virginia Law Foundation, which inducted her as a Fellow in 2022. This distinction is limited to only 1% of Virginia Lawyers. Congratulations and great job Maryse.

guardians-ad-litem-what-are-they-and-do-i-need-one

Guardians Ad Litem: What Are They, And Do I Need One?

A recent article in Virginia Lawyers Weekly described the Guardian ad Litem system as broken. While the system isn’t perfect, Guardians ad Litem and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) play a critical role in our cases. A Guardian ad Litem (or GAL) is a court-appointed attorney whose job is to represent the interests of someone […]

new-law-life-insurance-can-be-spousal-support-in-virginia

New Law: Life Insurance Can Be Spousal Support In Virginia

As of July 1st Virginia judges have the power to order a support-paying spouse to maintain an existing life insurance policy for the spouse receiving support. As reported in Virginia Lawyers Weekly, this new statute fills a gap in the law.  Previously the court had authority only to order the support-paying spouse to maintain an […]

how-does-your-divorce-affect-your-estate-plan

How Does Your Divorce Affect Your Estate Plan?  

Can you disinherit a spouse? Virginia law was changed this year to adjust a spouse’s “elective share” rights in Virginia under Code § 64.2-308.4.   Prior to the passage of this law, a surviving spouse could claim up to one-third of their deceased spouse’s “augmented estate” (a calculation that takes into account all of the various […]

what-do-unmarried-separated-or-divorced-parents-need-to-know-about-imputed-income

What Do Unmarried, Separated or Divorced Parents Need to Know About Imputed Income?

By Kristina J. Wenberg All parents have a duty to support their children under Virginia law. Virginia courts must follow specific statutory guidelines to calculate child support in all child support cases, and the guideline calculation is presumed correct. However, courts may deviate from that guideline calculation by considering several statutory factors. One such factor […]

the-high-cost-of-a-diy-divorce

The High Cost of a DIY Divorce

By Maryse C. Allen You have installed tile in your kitchen and refinished furniture, painted the children’s bedrooms and even built your deck.  You are a resourceful, intelligent and thrifty person.  Why not do your own divorce?  All it should take is a little research on the Internet, maybe a trip to a law library, […]

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General Assembly Changes Law Related to “Pendente Lite” (Temporary) Support

By Krista N. Yancey, Associate Attorney The Virginia General Assembly has recently changed the law pertaining to pendente lite support orders. The amendment—which overwhelmingly passed in both the Senate and House of Delegates and will become effective July 1, 2016—provides that “[pendente lite support] shall be paid from the post-separation income of the obligor unless […]