A critical part of raising a child is to support them and their needs, both emotionally and financially. Even if a child's parents are not married, the responsibility to financially support the child often remains. Virginia family courts generally order the...

When parents get a divorce, one parent will almost always have to pay child support – even if they share joint custody. After all, in Virginia, children are entitled to access the same amount of financial support they would receive if the family still lived in...

Nowadays, blended families seem to be the norm. Statistics show that 16% of children live in a blended family. This could be the result of their parents remarrying after a divorce, as well as parents having children from a previous relationship. Finding love with a...

Sending kids off to college can be an emotional ordeal. After all, nowadays, college is considered one of the first steps towards adulthood.  However, college can also be as expensive as it is emotional. The expenses vary by the type of college students choose. But...

In a marriage, it is common for one spouse to take on most of the financial responsibilities. Perhaps they are more inclined towards math, so they keep track of all the couple's finances.  This may seem innocent during the marriage. However, spouses who were not...

Almost 40 million people in Virginia and around the country receive benefits administered by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to help them pay for food. The rules governing the program, which is sometimes referred to as food stamps, are laid down by SNAP...

When Virginia couples get a divorce and one person has to pay child or spousal support to the other, the court will take several factors into account in determining the amount. In addition to the regular salary a person earns, a court will look at other types of...

When parents in Virginia file their federal income tax returns, they can generally claim their children as dependents. However, if they are divorced or separated, they should make sure that the other parent is not claiming the children as dependents as well. If...