Modern technology complicates parentage under the law. In a recent, high profile case, a Pennsylvania judge ruled that actress Shari Shepherd was to be listed on the birth certificate of a child born via surrogacy. In that case, Ms. Shepherd and her former husband,...
Hot Topics In Family Law
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Four New Same-Sex Marriage Cases
Today, the Supreme Court of the United States agreed to hear four new cases regarding same-sex marriage. The case will be argued this April and a decision is expected in June. The Court will hear argument on two issues: 1. Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state...
Civil Conversations: Upcoming Discussion About Civility & Professionalism
Maddox & Gerock encourages fellow attorneys to attend an upcoming discussion on civility and professionalism. Partner Julie Gerock will be one of the speakers that afternoon.
Partners to Attend Upcoming Advanced Family Law Retreat Regarding Same Sex Family Law Issues
Maddox & Gerock encourages all Virginia family law attorneys to attend this amazing advanced family law retreat: Tying & Untying the Knot: Advocating Same Sex Family Law Issues. It will take place on February 20-21, 2015 at the Boar's Head Inn,...
The Impact of Bringing Sean Home
In 2009, David Goldman returned to the United States with his son, Sean, following a multi-year international custody fight. The two discuss their lives following the reunion and how the ordeal impacted...
Pause Before You Post to Facebook and Other Social Media
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case centered on a man's threatening posts to Facebook. Anthony Elonis was convicted of violating a federal law that forbids making interstate threats after he posted several threatening and often graphic...
Good news re: international custody abduction preventative measures
The International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. § 9101 et seq.), enacted in August, 2014, provides a new tool to prevent abductions from the United States by requiring Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to establish a program to prevent...
Maintaining Perspective During a Divorce
It's important to maintain perspective when you are divorcing. An Oklahoma wife is "disappointed" she only received $1B (yes, that's Billion) in her divorce. For more information, follow the link:...
Circuit Courts Now Split on Bans Against Same-Sex Marriage
Last week, the Federal Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit broke with a wide array of other federal courts when it upheld bans on same-sex marriage in four states: Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky. This decision directly conflicts with the Federal Courts of...
Updates in the Law: Income for Child Support Determinations
On September 9, 2014, the Court of Appeals of Virginia, in a case of first impression, held that a Mother's income from a Federal Pell Grant counted as income to her for the purposes of determining child support.Federal Pell Grants are issued "to help financially...