Police can detain you for as long as it takes them to conduct an investigation, but every encounter with police is different and can result in a longer detention period. It's important to know your rights and how long you can be detained by the police. Keep reading to learn how long you can legal...
Like DUIs, many assume there is no defense against a reckless driving charge. Changing your mindset about this is critical because these charges have severe consequences in Virginia, ranging from significant fines to losing your driver's license and potential jail time. When you face a reckless d...
Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a set of court-ordered financial payments made from one spouse to the other during divorce proceedings (called pendente lite spousal support) or after a divorce or both. These payments usually occur on a monthly basis and may be ordered either indefinite...
Bringing up a prenuptial agreement (generally called a premarital agreement in Virginia) to your soon-to-be spouse might feel unromantic, but in a state with the 14th highest divorce rate in the country, it should be a consideration for many couples. A Fairfax family lawyer can help you understan...
Asset division is a major part of any Virginia divorce. From real estate to investments, nearly everything owned by spouses must be divided between them. There are two ways in which asset division may be determined during the divorce process: by a mutual agreement between the spouses, or by allow...
Estate planning is critical in terms of protecting assets and ensuring your wishes are carried out. Although you may be an adult that has a plan in place, do your parents? The older a person is before getting a plan in place, the greater the risk that they will not have the capacity to sign their...
Settling the estate of a loved one after they pass away is complicated and emotional, even when they have a will. For families whose loved one dies without a will, the probate process and allocating their assets becomes even more complex. Dying without a will A will outlines how you want your as...
Virginia permits spouses to hold property in a number of ways, some of which offer additional creditor protections unique to married couples. However, regardless of how the property is titled during the lifetime of the married couple and the additional protections it may afford, how property is h...
You've worked hard to build a secure financial future. Unexpected events can put that security at risk, so it's important to have a plan in place that will help protect your assets and ensure their distribution according to your wishes. One way to do this is with a revocable trust. A revocable tr...
In March of 2023, we published a blog about how to split retirement accounts during a divorce. Because we have offices in Northern Virginia and North Carolina, our family law attorneys work closely with military members and people the government employs. In terms of the divorce process, a civilia...
When most people hear the word “assault,” they think of someone getting physically struck by another person. However, that is NOT the definition of assault in Virginia or many other jurisdictions. Assault means someone has only threatened to hurt another person physically and accompanied that thr...
The revocable living trust, sometimes called a living trust, has many attractive qualities that make it a powerful estate planning tool. One of these attributes is the ability to offer you incapacity protection over the assets that are placed into your trust during your lifetime. Incapacity plann...
When thinking of estate plans, most people think of wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, however, there are several documents that comprise a complete estate plan. There are different types of trusts and wills, and sometimes the use of one type of will, such as a living trust, will trigger the ...
Losing your job may be one of the most serious consequences that can result from an arrest, and it's often completely legal. Virginia and North Carolina are at-will employment states, meaning most employers can terminate an employee for any reason — including an arrest. However, this doesn't nec...
Following a divorce, there are several reasons why you might need a copy of your divorce decree. For example, if you're changing your name after your divorce, you'll need to present a certified copy of the decree to the Social Security Administration and the DMV. You might also need to provide a...
When a judge issues an order in a family law case, the parties are legally required to abide by its terms. If they fail to do so, they can be found in contempt of court. A contempt action can be either civil or criminal, so the penalty for contempt depends on the nature and severity of the viola...
Divorce inevitably brings a lot of emotional strain. In some cases, this heightened turmoil can lead to harassment by a former spouse. Harassment can take many forms — it's important to understand what constitutes harassment in order to protect yourself. If you believe you're being harassed by y...
Moving to a new state can be a logistical nightmare. Anything from your vehicle registration to your voter registration may be no longer valid in your new state, and it can feel like you're starting from scratch. Fortunately, this trend might not apply to your will. When you move to a new state,...
In Virginia, a judge may issue a bench warrant to any person who's found to have violated court rules or orders, including failure to appear in court. The bench warrant authorizes law enforcement to take you into custody at any time, in any place, even if you haven't been informed that the bench ...
Before the police can arrest someone who wasn't arrested at the time of the alleged offense, they must obtain an arrest warrant. This is a legal document that authorizes a law enforcement officer to take an individual into police custody should they come into contact with them or find them. If a...
Having a child brings many changes to your life, including your estate planning needs. When you have a child — whether it's your first or your third — it's important to review your will and make sure that it reflects your current wishes. Your will won't automatically update if you have a child, a...
One of the many reasons a divorce is such a significant event in your life is because it questions your future. Accumulating and protecting assets is a method for securing a future. Regardless of your long-term goals, you must be in the right financial position to pursue them. Think about how muc...
CNBC reported that 67% of Americans live without an estate plan. There is no singular explanation for why people avoid it, but several common themes exist. I don't have enough assets. (You have more than you think.) Everything will go to my wife, so I don't need one. (What happens when your ...
Select Law Partners, PLLC, houses attorneys skilled at estate planning and family law. Anyone who spends time understanding these practice areas will see how much overlap there is between them. When we work with clients with family law or estate planning issues, we notice a general expectation th...
Although this topic could apply to multiple practices, we are talking about it in the context of estate planning and family law. They are different sides of the same coin. Family law focuses on dividing your assets between you and your spouse, whereas estate planning is about preserving your asse...
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We'll gladly discuss your case with you at your convenience. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.