Virginia Lawyers Weekly VA Lawyers Weekly

The circuit court did not err in not continuing a hearing to terminate a father’s parental rights while he was incarcerated; nor did it err in determining that termination was in the child’s best interests. The father had minimal contacts ...

Tagged with: Judge Teresa M. Chafin Parental Rights Unpublished Opinion Virginia Court of Appeals

After a divorced couple’s former residence was significantly damaged by fire, the husband was entitled to reimbursements from the wife for his outlays to return to property to saleable condition. The trial court did not err in decreasing the wife’s ...

Tagged with: Contract Domestic Relations Family Law Judge Jean Harrison Clements Virginia Court of Appeals

The circuit court did not err in modifying a husband’s spousal support obligation from about $7,800 to $4,800 based on his ability to pay, but it also properly declined to make the modification retroactive. Background Husband and Wife married in ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations Family Law Judge Rudolph Bumgardner III Virginia Court of Appeals

The circuit court did not err in concluding that, despite their willingness to care for a child, the mother’s relatives were not suitable placements due to concerns about their age, health, living conditions, potential criminality, and attentiveness. Background Appellant Paula ...

Tagged with: Family Law Parental Rights Per Curiam Opinion Virginia Court of Appeals

The trial court erred in holding a father in contempt for failing to notify the mother of their child of the date of their son’s first communion. Background Father and Mother, who separated in 2008, are subject to a final ...

Tagged with: Civil Procedure Domestic Relations Family Law Judge Rosemarie Annunziata Virginia Court of Appeals

Despite a support order entered in 2004, a husband didn’t owe arrearages dating to 2006. He’d stopped paying when the couple reconciled, resumed living together as husband and wife, and had two more children supported solely by the husband’s income. ...

Tagged with: Contract Domestic Relations Fairfax County Circuit Court Family Law Judge David Bernhard Virginia Circuit Courts

A wife was entitled to enforce a marital agreement’s division of assets in the event of divorce. The evidence did not support her husband’s claim that she fraudulently induced him to sign the agreement by misrepresenting her intention to continue ...

Tagged with: Contract Domestic Relations Family Law Judge Michelle J. Atkins Norfolk Circuit Court Virginia Circuit Courts

The circuit court did not err in holding that a father in prison on his third shoplifting offense could not meet his child’s need for stable housing, language development, and proper nutrition and clothing, even upon release. Background The Charlotte ...

Tagged with: Family Law Parental Rights Per Curiam Opinion Virginia Court of Appeals

Although a mother had gotten a job, completed parenting classes, and attended counseling, her housing was not stable enough to provide care for her three young children, two of whom needed therapy. Background Appellant Misty Watkins and Johnathan Watkins are ...

Tagged with: Family Law Parental Rights Per Curiam Opinion Virginia Court of Appeals

The circuit court did not err in finding that, in light of both parties’ respective contributions to the breakdown of their marriage and the wife’s substantially lower economic prospects, an award of spousal support to her was warranted despite her ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations Family Law Judge Richard Y. AtLee Jr. Virginia Court of Appeals