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Family Law Posts

Parks Zeigler provides compassionate family law services, including divorce, child custody, and adoption, tailored to clients’ unique needs.

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What Happens With Custody Of Children If Both Parents Are In The Military And Deployed At Same Time?

March 14, 2025 | Shelly F. Wood

Although the Virginia Military Parents Equal Protection Act helps define situations where a military parent is deploying, it…

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Will My Ex’s Unpaid Joint Debt Hurt My Credit?

February 28, 2025 | Shelly F. Wood

Yes, as long as your name is on the account or loan. If possible, get the debt entirely in your ex-spouse’s name. Transfer o…

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Clearing a Father’s Name: Fighting False CPS Allegations

February 26, 2025 | Brandon H. Zeigler

A quiet evening at home turned into a nightmare when a father was confronted with shocking allegations of child abuse. A Chi…

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Am I Responsible For My Spouse’s Debt Incurred Before Our Marriage?

February 13, 2025 | Shelly F. Wood

No. The Code of Virginia classifies property as separate, marital, or a hybrid of both. Property obtained or debt incurred p…

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In A Divorce, What Counts As Desertion Or Abandonment? Are They The Same Thing?

February 1, 2025 | Shelly F. Wood

While desertion and abandonment are usually used interchangeably in divorce cases, there is actually a distinction between t…

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Virginia Divorce Lawyer – Understanding The Issues Relating To Divorce

January 4, 2024 | Brandon H. Zeigler

For any couple contemplating divorce, understanding the surrounding legal issues can be overwhelming, especially given the e…

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What Rights do Grandparents Have in North Carolina?

August 15, 2023 | Shelly F. Wood

In the state of North Carolina, there are no laws that are legally defined regarding grandparent visitation rights. Neverthe…

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7 Questions about Child Support Answered

August 11, 2022 | Brandon H. Zeigler

At the very root of child support legislation lies the fundamental right for a child to be supported by both of their pare…

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Is It Legal For Me To Leave My Child Home Alone?

August 3, 2020 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Help! COVID-19 has shut down my child’s daycare. Is it legal for me to leave my child home alone? As we all try…

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Our Experienced Virginia Family Law Attorney Explains The Discovery Process

January 7, 2020 | Brandon H. Zeigler

What Is The Discovery Process? When a lawsuit is filed, it begins a procedure of steps leading up to the trial, provid…

Legal Separation Vs. Divorce: Know the Key Differences

December 31, 2019 | Andrew T. Shilling

Legal Separation & Divorce Are Not the Same Thing, and Knowing the Difference is Important if You’re Planning to Divorce…

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Can I Sue My Spouse For Adultery?

December 20, 2019 | Brandon H. Zeigler

The short answer to this question is yes. However, there are some things you should consider before making the decision to…

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Our Experienced Virginia Divorce Attorney Offers Tips On Reducing Divorce-Related Stress

November 20, 2019 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Reducing the Stress of Divorce Going through a divorce is one of the most stressful events a person can experience. In o…

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Learn How Your Divorce Settlement May Impact Your Estate Plan

September 4, 2019 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Divorce and Your Estate Plan When going through a divorce, it is vital to know how it will affect your estate planning d…

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Chesapeake Introduces New Hope Cards To Assist Abuse Victims

August 6, 2019 | Brandon H. Zeigler

The Chesapeake courts have started offering Hope Cards, a new way for domestic abuse victims with protective orders to prot…

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What Questions Should You Ask When Meeting With Your Virginia Divorce Lawyer?

June 20, 2019 | Brandon H. Zeigler

What questions should you ask your Virginia lawyer? The decision to meet with an attorney to discuss a separation c…

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Is Divorce A Possibility? If So, Meet With One Of Our Family Law Attorneys

May 31, 2019 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Is Divorce A Possibility? If So, Meeting With One Of Our Family Law Attorneys In Virginia Before Making A Decision…

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Navigating Summer Camps & Co-Parenting

May 1, 2019 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Three Questions For Co-Parents Picking Summer Camp – Experienced Virginia Family Law Attorney Says You Should Ask When Sel…

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Work & Divorce In Virginia – Managing Your Professional Obligations And Personal Stress During Divorce

April 25, 2019 | Brandon H. Zeigler

The Distraction of Divorce When you’re going through a divorce, it can become an all-consuming presence during your…

What Are Your Options If Your Spouse Is Unwilling To Grant A Divorce?

April 16, 2019 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Divorce is an extremely difficult and emotionally trying process with two spouses who both agree on the separation, but it…

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Our Experienced Virginia Divorce Attorney Answers A Question About Spousal Support Termination In Virginia

March 12, 2019 | Brandon H. Zeigler

When Can Spousal Support Be Terminated? I recently had a client ask this question as she was advised by her previous att…

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Four Steps That Will Help You Hire The Right Tax Preparer In Virginia

March 8, 2019 | Shelly F. Wood

Finding The Right Tax Preparer It’s tax time, and before hiring someone to do your taxes, it’s wise to do some rese…

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Four Ways To Avoid Smartphone Wars In A Joint Legal Custody Battle

December 4, 2018 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Our Lives On Smartphones Smartphones play an important role in our lives, and for families, they offer a lot of adv…

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The Growing Issue Of Student Loan Debt Can Weigh Heavily On New Marriages

September 5, 2018 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Marriage and Money While it isn’t the most romantic discussion, debt is an important topic that needs to be addressed in…

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A New Proposal Attempts To Even The Playing Field Between Spousal Support Payors And Payees In Virginia

May 1, 2018 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Spousal Support Changes The future may hold some relief for spousal support payors. Last year Sen. Emmett Hanger of Augu…

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Important Points to Remember About Gray Divorces and Virginia Divorce Laws

April 6, 2018 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Over the past two decades, overall divorce rates have remained stable (some demographics have even seen a decrease), but “…

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What Is The Legal Definition Of A Parent Under Virginia Law?

March 27, 2018 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Parental Rights in a Same-Sex Relationship Attorney Brandon Zeigler at Parks Zeigler recently won a victory for par…

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Tax Reform Brings Changes For Spousal Support In Virginia

March 8, 2018 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Replacement Tax Law Congress passed sweeping tax reform legislation and it was signed into law by President Trump on Dec…

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What Do The Changes In Military Retirement Mean For You?

November 16, 2017 | Brandon H. Zeigler

A lot of changes were made with regard to military retirement on December 23, 2016, when the National Defense Authorizatio…

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A Local Virginia Court Denies Grandparents Visitation Rights.

October 15, 2016 | Brandon H. Zeigler

We are often asked about grandparents visitation rights. In Virginia, the courts use a number of factors to determine wh…

“Big Bang Theory” Star Mayim Bialik Offers Valuable Advice On Co-Parenting After Divorce

September 16, 2016 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Recently, Mayim Bialik, the actor who plays Amy Farafowler on CBS’s The Big Bang Theory, posted a rather candid video blog a…

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The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act

September 15, 2016 | Brandon H. Zeigler

In July, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against a credit union after it repossessed a car purchased by a Private…

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Fault And No-Fault Divorce In Virginia

September 2, 2016 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Virginia law recognizes both “no fault” and “fault” divorces, and it helps to understand these distinctions and what they m…

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What Is A Prenuptial Agreement, And Is It The Right Choice For Your Marriage?

June 16, 2016 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Are “Prenups” Bad? The word “prenup” can incite an array of impassioned positions that reflect personal values asso…

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Key Points On Parenting To Remember When You Go Through Divorce Or Custody Proceedings

October 21, 2014 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Keep your divorce between you and your estranged spouse. Your children need to understand you are not divorcing the…

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Separating Property When Divorcing In Virginia.

January 24, 2014 | Brandon H. Zeigler

The classification of property is governed by the Code of Virginia.1 There are a large number of cases discussing each…

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Creating Your Own Roadside Emergency Kit

December 18, 2013 | Shelly F. Wood

Having a cell phone is great for emergencies, but what if you can’t get service or your battery dies? What if you get stuc…

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Virginia Child Support Laws

December 6, 2013 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Virginia Child Support Laws and Guidelines Divorcing parents not only have to decide on the custody of children but also…

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5 Tips To Avoid Stress Due To Divorce, Custody And The Holidays

November 13, 2013 | Brandon H. Zeigler

The Holiday season is here and it can be a tough time for divorced couples with children. We wanted to share some helpful…

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Divorce and Credit Scores

October 28, 2013 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Everyone knows divorce can be a messy, complicated, and overwhelming process, even with amicable splits. There are so many…

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Virginia Deploying Military Parents and Custody Issues

August 30, 2013 | Brandon H. Zeigler

There is a high concentration of military families in the area so it’s no surprise we have many clients and friends of the…

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Military Deployment and Child Custody

July 22, 2013 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Military deployment and/or relocation causes unique concerns over custody/visitation. Family care plans are required by t…

Electronic Footprints In Domestic Cases

May 1, 2013 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Times have changed and depending on which side of a domestic issue you are on, it could be for the better or worse. In the…

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Five Myths About Military Divorces

April 29, 2013 | Brandon H. Zeigler

Military Spouses will not receive custody False. While deployment creates unique child care issues, it does not, in its…

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Divorce Rates Rising Among Veterans

February 20, 2013 | Brandon H. Zeigler

The recent wars are having a negative impact on military marriages, as the rate of divorce is the highest it has been since…

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Deb Dishes – Lara’s Sugar Cookies

January 18, 2013 | Shelly F. Wood

Lara’s Sugar Cookies 400* 8-10 mins (Named after my daughter’s imaginary childhood frien…

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Practice of Divorce Has Evolved and So Have the Statistics

November 12, 2012 | Brandon H. Zeigler

While the overall divorce rates have been decreasing, the rate among baby boomers has increased. Bowling Green State Univer…