Child support is an important obligation that both of a child's parents must maintain after they go through a divorce, separation, or end to a non-marital relationship. The Commonwealth uses a set of complex guidelines to decide how much money each parent should pay in order to provide for their child, and based upon the incomes of the parents and other factors different families may end up with different child support orders. As such, readers should seek their own legal advice on their unique child support questions as this post offers general information only.
Child support in Virginia
What is the difference between sole and joint custody?
The divorce or separation of two Virginia parents can be hard on everyone in their family as they sort out the details of their futures. When it comes to the care and support of the individuals' children, however, important decisions must be made to ensure that those kids are properly provided for as they transition away from their two-parent home. These decisions revolve around child custody and how the parents should share it.
What happens if I lose legal custody of my child?
There are two types of child custody: physical custody and legal custody. Some parents focus on physical custody when they go through separations and divorces because physical custody revolves around where a child will live. A parent who has physical custody of their child is charged with providing for that child's day-to-day needs. Parents can share physical custody, or it may be given to just one of a child's parents.
Parallel parenting may be an option in high-conflict divorces
Not every divorce in Virginia ends amicably. However, when parents are undergoing a high-conflict divorce, they will have to face the reality that they will have to continue to work together, at least to some extent, to raise their child even though they are no longer in a relationship with one another.
Frequent communication can help children when parents divorce
When parents in Virginia divorce, decisions will have to be made about who will have the child in their care and when. While sometimes parents share joint physical custody, other times one parent will have sole physical custody and the other parent will have visitation rights. However, does this mean that the noncustodial parent cannot maintain a meaningful relationship with their child?
Legal help can be sought for complex child support issues
Child support is an important issue in a divorce, as it can have a major effect on the well-being of the child. It is important that the child's needs are met, but it is also important that the amount of child support owed is fair to both parents. Virginia has established statutory guidelines dictating how much child support will be owed.
Are Virginia's statutory child support guidelines rebuttable?
Virginia law has statutory guidelines regarding how much child support to award. However, there can be a deviation from these guidelines if adherence to the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate. The finding that rebuts the statutory child support guidelines needs to state how much child support would have been awarded per the statutory guidelines, why a deviation is justified and evidence of the following factors.
Celebrities exemplify co-parenting following a divorce
Do all child custody issues need to become a heated, emotional affair? Not necessarily. Parents in Falls Church who are pursuing a divorce can learn from one recent celebrity divorce where the parents are putting the child's needs first.
How should child custody time-sharing schedules be handled?
Most parents in Virginia understand that their divorce can be difficult on their child. Their child may wonder if the divorce was his or her fault, or he or she may be concerned about having to live with each parent separately at different times. Parents can do a lot to ease the transition for their child. This includes developing a fair and workable time-sharing schedule that meets the best interests of the child.
Providing compassionate guidance in child custody matters
Divorce can be a difficult time for a child. They may not understand why their parents are no longer in love with one another. They may even think that the divorce was somehow their fault. If not handled properly, a messy divorce could affect a child for the rest of their life.
