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Whether you are relieved or upset by the decision to file for a divorce, it is essential to understand that your divorce might take longer than expected. The legal process for marriage dissolution can be lengthy and challenging for you to handle while going through emotional turmoil. If you need help with a contested or uncontested divorce in Northern Virginia, contact the experienced divorce attorneys at the ShounBach law office today. What is the Residency Requirement in Virginia for Getting a Divorce? Before you can file for a divorce in Virginia, you must meet the residency requirement. For the divorce process to go forward in front o…

Divorce can be emotionally draining, distracting, and devastating to your life. It makes it harder to focus on basic tasks or think clearly, especially regarding important things like work and even issues of estate planning. Many people do not consider how divorce affects a will, for example. Understanding the divorce process and implementing the essential changes you must make before your divorce is finalized can save you all manner of headaches and ensure that your assets are distributed exactly as you wish. The knowledgeable Virginia family law and divorce lawyers at ShounBach are here to help you with estate planning after a divorce. T…

With nearly 39 percent of marriages ending in divorce, chances are you know someone going through a divorce or has gone through one recently. Even if your friend is leaving an unhappy marriage, divorce is difficult to endure. If you have never experienced the end of a marriage, you may be at a loss regarding how to help with the pain and heartbreak your friend suffers. At ShounBach, we help our clients through the legal process of getting a divorce in Northern Virginia while lending a listening ear. Here are some tips you can apply to help a friend or loved one as they go through a divorce. If you or your friend needs a divorce lawyer, ca…

No matter the circumstances, a divorce can be complex. When there is a substantial amount of assets to be divided, negotiations can be precarious, and tensions can quickly escalate. Relationships that once were steadfast can be torn apart. Hiring a divorce lawyer can not only help alleviate some of the stress, but it can also smooth over the process and even help to manage expectations so that some semblance of respect the couple had for one another remains. Our team of skilled attorneys is ready to guide you through the process of dividing assets in your divorce. What Are the Divorce Proceedings in Virginia? Divorce proceedings in Virgini…

The divorce process in Virginia can be very hard on you and your entire family. Knowing who you can trust while dissolving your marriage can be difficult. However, rest assured that if you hire a Virginia divorce lawyer from ShounBach, they will have your best interests in mind from the moment you hire their legal team. Emotions run high during the dissolution process, and it can be easy to lose your cool. However, decisions you make while you are angry, disappointed, or upset may not be good ones and could have lasting effects. Therefore, staying calm, cool, and collected is the best way to make it through the divorce process. Your divorc…

ShounBach has been ranked in the 2023 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list regionally in 2 practice areas. Firms included in the 2023 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. The 2023 edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”; includes rankings in 75 national practice areas and 127 metropolitan-based practice areas. Additionally, one “Law Firm of the Year” was named in each nationally-ranked practice…

The divorce process can be painful and devastating to your emotional well-being and can affect your time, money, and, most importantly, the relationship you have with your children. During a divorce, it is important to keep the needs of the children at the forefront. Going through the process of divorce can be anguishing and, even after the divorce is finalized, it can be a difficult time adjusting to your new situation for both you and your children. The divorce attorneys at ShounBach are ready to assist you with your divorce as you transition with your children into the next phase of your life. To learn more about how our divorce lawyers…

ShounBach has been ranked in the 2021 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list regionally in 2 practice areas. Firms included in the 2021 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. The 2021 Edition of “Best Law Firms” includes rankings in 75 national practice areas and 127 metropolitan – based practice areas. Ranked firms, presented in tiers, are listed on a national and/ or metropolitan scale. Receiving a tier designation reflects the high …

Susan Butler has recently earned the designation “Certified Divorce Financial Analyst.” The role of the CDFA® is to help the client understand how the financial decisions made today will impact the client’s financial future. A CDFA® is someone who comes from a financial planning, accounting or legal background and goes through an intensive training program and written exam to become skilled in analyzing and providing expertise related to the financial issues of divorce.

With July 1 each year, comes a host of new Virginia laws. The vast majority of the new laws go into effect on July 1, although a few have delayed effective dates. The subject of the new laws runs the gamut from minimum wage, marijuana decriminalization (for simple possession), driver cards for immigrants, guns, casinos/sports betting and more. The following laws impact the domestic relation / family law arena: HB 623. Gender-neutral terms; prohibitions on same-sex marriage and civil unions removed from Code; certain gender-specific crimes; penalty. Replaces the terms “husband” and “wife,” as well as related terms, with gender-neutral term…

In 2018 alone, over 21,000 divorces took place in Virginia, according to the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Health Statistics. With the prevalence of divorce comes the challenge of dividing up retirement assets among divorcing spouses. You have worked hard for your pension, but you are now facing a divorce. You may be considering whether your pension or your spouse’s pension is considered separate or marital property. How do Virginia courts divide up retirement accounts such as Thrift Savings Plans, defined benefit plans (pensions), 401(k)s and IRA accounts? Virginia Courts May Treat Retirement Accounts As Marital Property In V…

For those wondering whether you’re able to deny child custody or visitation arrangements during the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic, this one’s for you.  Child custody and visitation exchanges are exempt from the Governor of Virginia’s stay-at-home order. While school is out, working together to create a predictable and concrete schedule for custody and visitation can reduce stress and bring both parents and children comfort.  However, practicing common sense during these exchanges is key while the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic is ongoing.  Before the child returns, ask everyone in the house to do a symptom check.  Let the ch…