Richmond Virginia Family Law Blog

Child support is one of the most important pieces of a divorce proceeding in Virginia and elsewhere because it directly pertains to the best interests of the child. In most cases, child support payment schedules will be included in the final divorce decree when sole or majority custody is granted. Essentially, this means that the parent who takes care of the child most or all of the time will be the one to receive payments. In addition, child support payments typically last until the child is no longer considered a minor at the age of 18, provided they have also graduated from high school. Otherwise, child support continues until the month the child graduates.

However, as WiseGeek points out, different states have different laws regarding how child support is handled. Some parents may also need to establish paternity or legal guardianship prior to child support being ordered in cases where parents are separating but were never married. In other cases, changes in income expectations or custody, such as when one parent remarries, may require an amendment to existing child support orders.

Whenever Virginia parents contemplate splitting up, their first concern is typically the details of the child custody and co-parenting arrangement. The type of agreement best suited for a family is largely dependent upon the nature of the parents' dealings with each other. If the parties are able to set aside hostilities and truly focus on the best interests of the children without bringing personal acrimony into parenting decisions, a collaborative agreement is recommended. Unfortunately, a large percentage of people are simply unable to operate with the level of cooperation needed for a collaborative parenting plan to effectively function.

An alternative for couples with substantial levels of hostility tainting their interpersonal relations is a parallel parenting plan. Under this type of agreement, the parties are guided by family law professionals in structuring a plan that accounts for most foreseeable contingencies. The goal is to limit required interaction between the parties by including specific guidance in the written document. The parties them are limited to communicating in a formal and businesslike fashion regarding mostly logistical matters. Email is generally the preferred method of communication, but third parties, texts or direct contact can take place under certain parameters such as medical emergencies.

When parents in Virginia get a divorce, their children may struggle to adjust. However, parents can take steps to make the process less difficult. They should avoid engaging in conflict in front of their children, and they should try to change their routines as little as possible. They should keep children in the same school if they can and should try to agree on a set of expectations that will be similar in both their homes. Children may lose touch with cousins and other extended family members on one side during a divorce, so parents should encourage these relationships.

Some parents go a step further and use a technique called "nesting" to keep their children's lives stable after a divorce. Nesting allows children and parents to stay in the family home, but the parents take turns living there. They also usually share another place nearby.

Raising a child is challenging. Parents must devote significant time and attention to caring for their children. A job loss, serving time in jail, an injury, or an addiction can impact a parent's ability to care for their child. Grandparents or other well-intentioned family members or friends might offer to help care for a child. However, they'll probably ask to have some legal authority to make school or medical decisions. They may ask for formal custody or to share custody with you while they care for a child.