Divorce and Family Law: Frequently Asked Questions

Highly Qualified to Answer Your Questions

Divorce is not easy. Aside from the emotions, with all the laws and procedures involved, you can become overwhelmed. At ShounBach, we understand your situation and want nothing more than to provide you with peace of mind.

Our firm practices nothing but family law, and as one of the largest family law firms in the state, our attorneys have over 200 years of collective legal experience. As a result, we have a broad range of knowledge, training, and experience, which allows us to quickly and thoroughly answer your questions. To begin with, here are a few common questions related to divorce cases. For more details, contact a Northern Virginia divorce lawyer from our firm by calling our offices today.

How do I find the right lawyer?

One of the most important steps in divorce is selecting the right lawyer. If you and your spouse are seeking a resolution through mediation or Collaborative law, you will need an attorney who is experienced in mediation or is Collaboratively trained. If you believe you may need a more aggressive approach through divorce litigation, you will want to select an attorney who can thoroughly defend your assets and fight for what is rightfully yours in a persuasive and effective manner. Click here for more answers relating to selecting the right lawyer.

How do I protect my children in a divorce?

Divorce can be a very difficult experience for children. One of the best ways you can protect them in the Commonwealth of Virginia, is to retain counsel who will proceed in a manner that is in the children's best interest. Child support is generally determined by a state-wide child support guideline, and is primarily calculated based on the parents' incomes. Click here for more answers relating to child support.

I depend on my spouse for income! What do I do?

You may be eligible to receive spousal support, which would require your spouse or former spouse to pay you a certain amount of money per month, either for a limited amount of time or indefinitely, depending on certain factors. Alternatively, you may be eligible for a lump sum of spousal support. This support is meant to provide for or contribute to your monthly expenses or to allow you to complete any schooling or training, so that you can become self-supporting. Click here for more answers relating to spousal support.

How do I keep my access to my child?

One of the most difficult areas of divorce is child custody and visitation rights. Our firm prefers to identify these issues as parental responsibilities. Parental responsibilities are composed of decision making and parenting time. The main goal is ensuring that you will always be involved in a meaningful way in your child's life. Click here for more answers relating to child custody and visitation.

I know nothing about getting a divorce. What are some important things to know?

First of all, you should know whether or not you have grounds for divorce. In Virginia there are no-fault grounds and fault grounds. No-fault grounds require a six-month separation and signed settlement agreement which resolves all of the issues if no minor children involved, or a twelve-month separation and a complete, written agreement if minor children are involved. Fault grounds include adultery, cruelty, and/or desertion or abandonment. You are not eligible to file for divorce until you have grounds for divorce. Click here for more answers relating to common divorce topics.

What should I expect in a divorce case?

Everyone has their own idea of common divorce scenarios. Contrary to popular belief, you cannot necessarily throw your spouse or their personal items out of the home, and you may be liable for your actions if you do. You should also be very careful how you obtain information from your spouse in a divorce case, particularly through electronic means. Click here for more answers relating to common divorce scenarios.

Where to Find a Divorce Attorney in Northern Virginia

Whatever your divorce case, ShounBach can provide legal counsel and representation that fits your specific needs. As one of the largest family law firms in Virginia with over 200 years of combined legal experience, you will not have to worry whether your attorney will be able to provide the answers you need. Our firm is also AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and our attorneys have been recognized by numerous publications and our peers for their capability.

Contact a Northern Virginia divorce lawyer from ShounBach for skilled legal counsel and representation.