Roanoke Divorce Law Blog

In the state of Virginia, there are no specific laws addressing the rights of grandparents to have visitation time with their grandchildren. This may make it more challenging to obtain visitation or custody in the event that one or both parents object. However, this doesn't mean that it is impossible or isn't important for grandparents to try to spend time with their grandchildren.

Although divorce may be necessary in a number of cases, it's still an emotional and complex time. If any children are involved in the split, they will have to adjust to new living arrangements and changes in the days and times they see each parent. During this time of transition, grandparents can play an important role by providing love, support and assurance.

For the last few years, there has been something of a lessening in the divorce rate. To some degree, it has been related the fact that fewer people have been getting married. But after the collapse of the housing market and the economic crises, some married couples have been unable to afford to go through with a divorce. The problem is often tied to the value of the home and an underwater mortgage.

In most divorces before the real estate crises, the family home was typically the most valuable asset of the marital estate. As part of the property division, one party would either buy the other's share of the home and remain in the house after the divorce, or they would sell the home and divide the proceeds.

During a divorce, there are a myriad of financial things to think about. What will the property division look like, and what is meant by equitable division? If you have children, what type of custody arrangement will you have and how will that affect whether you pay or receive child support and how much? Will the court award spousal support, if it is necessary, and the amount. If you have a family home, should you keep it or sell it?

All of the financial questions, combined with the often-overwhelming emotions you may experienced during a divorce, could leave some items overlooked. One item that is often missed in the aftermath of a divorce is Social Security. If your marriage lasted the required time period, you may be eligible to receive spousal and survivor benefits. If your spousal support payment is low and the property division was less than generous, these Social Security benefits can help augment your retirement.

With a divorce, you want to minimize the number of trips you have to take to the courthouse. When you have to go back to court, it costs you time and money. Courts are busy and the delays can be frustrating. And one area where you really want to do it right the first time, is your property settlement. If you make a mistake with your property settlement, a court is not very likely to give you a second chance.

This makes sense, as courts do not want to have contentious couples returning time and time again to complain that they did not get a particular piece of personal property or some other property was worth more than they received or less than they paid. By making a property settlement difficult to modify, courts save resources and prevent divorce cases from turning into a modern day equivalent of Dickens' Bleak House.