https://www.smithlawfirmva.com/articles daily 0.75 2025-04-23 https://www.smithlawfirmva.com/articles/blog-post-title-one-w7lah-nlhhc monthly 0.5 2023-10-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651ec928a1a30f69adc46a89/a52f0c1f-dee1-4bec-861a-9d40d308e0a1/11-20-16-virginia-divorce-process.jpg Articles - The Divorce Process in Virginia - While every divorce is unique, they all have the same goal: end the marriage. Getting Started A divorce typically starts informally when the parties separate. While this may seem like the "easiest" part of a divorce, oftentimes it is the most critical part. Figuring out things such as parenting, financial responsibilities, and property division are very important throughout the divorce process but even more so before the actual breaking of the marital relationship occurs. https://www.smithlawfirmva.com/articles/blog-post-title-one-w7lah monthly 0.5 2023-10-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651ec928a1a30f69adc46a89/1696516959308-ZTQGS7Y4XI36O7724RRT/12-18-16-married-to-a-felon-in-virginia.jpg Articles - Complications from Marriage to a Felon or Prostitute - The sad truth is that people don’t always make wise decisions when looking for someone to marry. They ignore the advice and warnings of friends and relatives only to discover later on that their choice might not have been a wise one. This is particularly true when someone marries a person believed to be the perfect soul mate only to learn that the individual is a prostitute or a convicted felon. Beyond the obvious relationship issues that might exist, there are legal implications and complications of which individuals entering into or already in a Virginia marriage to a felon or to a prostitute should be aware. https://www.smithlawfirmva.com/articles/blog-post-title-one-w7lah-nlhhc-xe9ww-ejk4w monthly 0.5 2023-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651ec928a1a30f69adc46a89/22b92b8b-438e-4c74-8bc8-218f3958f846/10-17-16-virginia-reckless-driving-laws.jpg Articles - Virginia’s Reckless Driving Laws - Many drivers don't realize the seriousness of Virginia’s Reckless Driving laws before being charged with one of the many code sections that prescribe Class I misdemeanor punishment to different types of driving behavior. In Virginia, Class I misdemeanors carry the possibility of up to $2500 in fines and up to twelve months in jail. Additionally, Reckless Driving statutes allow judges the discretion to suspend the operator’s license of those convicted of Reckless Driving for up to six months. Even in situations where judges can be persuaded to give lighter sentences, the stigma of a criminal conviction and insurance ramifications can cause lingering hardships for those convicted of Reckless Driving. https://www.smithlawfirmva.com/articles/blog-post-title-one-w7lah-nlhhc-xe9ww monthly 0.5 2023-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651ec928a1a30f69adc46a89/ec16d27f-7c3f-4bac-9478-a81c63db7e8c/12-11-16-virignia-consent-to-vehicle-search.jpg Articles - Vehicle Consent to Search – Virginia Law - The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution reads, "[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." However, when it comes to vehicle searches specifically, there are several considerations to be aware of if a police officer has requested to a car search after a traffic stop. https://www.smithlawfirmva.com/articles/blog-post-title-one-w7lah-nlhhc-724gr-3736f monthly 0.5 2023-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651ec928a1a30f69adc46a89/dd649874-0e1b-4945-b46e-f4d697a2a042/12-04-16-virginia-criminal-expungement.jpg Articles - Understanding Criminal Expungement in Virginia</a> - If you have been arrested, you may find that having a conviction on your record makes it difficult to find a job or closes doors to other opportunities. Even if you were not convicted of the crime, the mere existence of an arrest on your record can cause problems. In some cases, it is possible to seek to have your record cleared or expunged. People have many reasons to seek an expungement. Oftentimes a person is seeking a job or is just trying to put the charge(s) behind them. The person may also be years removed from the incident, seeking to adopt or become a foster parent, or find themselves in a situation requiring an extensive background check. https://www.smithlawfirmva.com/articles/blog-post-title-one-w7lah-nlhhc-724gr-3736f-lzjlk monthly 0.5 2023-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651ec928a1a30f69adc46a89/a3b00e90-8b26-429d-9131-c9f8dcf51a69/11-27-16-virginia-juvenile-crimes.jpg Articles - Juvenile Crimes in Virginia - Virginia law generally treats juvenile defendants differently than adults, making it especially important to find an attorney with the experience and knowledge required to handle these unique cases. A skilled juvenile defense attorney is oftentimes a litigator and a counselor, who works with the family to identify any issues that may impede a child’s growth. While the courts and the public generally want to punish the child for their wrong doings, they also want to identify and address any problems that may exist in the child’s life to help him or her become a productive adult. https://www.smithlawfirmva.com/articles/blog-post-title-one-w7lah-nlhhc-8kndk monthly 0.5 2023-10-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651ec928a1a30f69adc46a89/45bfc0e2-6d40-42e7-b4af-ea02aea69b96/11-13-16-military-divorce-virginia.jpg Articles - <a href="https://www.smithlawfirmva.com/virginia-military-divorce-2/">Virginia Military Divorce</a> - Hampton Roads Virginia is home to many military service members and their families. Unfortunately, many marriages, including military marriages, end in divorce. Military divorces present numerous legal issues as well as many difficult decisions that must be made in conjunction with separation and divorce. When one or both spouses are service members, there is an added layer of complication. You may be surprised to learn that military divorce differs in many respects from a civilian divorce. Before you begin the process of obtaining a divorce, it is critical that you understand the differences between military divorce and civilian divorce. https://www.smithlawfirmva.com/articles/blog-post-title-one-w7lah-nlhhc-8kndk-tf4n7 monthly 0.5 2023-10-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651ec928a1a30f69adc46a89/1696529719827-2Q9F9QX9TNLXJJV327V8/11-06-16-virginia-prenuptial-agreements.jpg Articles - Premarital Agreements in Virginia - Over the years, the average age of people getting married has changed. As a result, couples today are older and more established in their career and have more assets than in the past. Sadly many marriages fail. Although discussing and negotiating a premarital agreement may not be comfortable or romantic, it may be less awkward and stressful to do at the outset of marriage, rather than at the time you and your spouse are separating or upon death of a spouse. The smart approach to crafting a premarital agreement designed to successfully protect your interests in the event things fall apart will be our top priority when you seek the services provided by the team at our firm. https://www.smithlawfirmva.com/articles/blog-post-title-one-w7lah-nlhhc-8kndk-tf4n7-6t52m monthly 0.5 2023-10-06 https://www.smithlawfirmva.com/articles/blog-post-title-one-w7lah-nlhhc-8kndk-tf4n7-6t52m-gfngf monthly 0.5 2023-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651ec928a1a30f69adc46a89/e4139bbd-f4db-42cc-9ed3-fe9626b9e7fb/10-01-16-modifying-virginia-child-custody-order.jpg Articles - When Can a Virginia Child Custody Visitation Order Be Modified? - Life is dynamic, not static, and just because your life's situation was one way when you and your significant other initially separated does not mean that it will stay that way forever. Virginia family law understands that a person's marital status, economic situation, mental health and other life events may change over time and those changes may necessitate an amendment to an existing Child Custody/Visitation Order. Every time a court addresses Child Custody/Visitation, it must do so based on what is in the best interest of the children. In doing so, the court must consider ten (10) factors: https://www.smithlawfirmva.com/articles/blog-post-title-one-w7lah-nlhhc-724gr monthly 0.5 2023-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651ec928a1a30f69adc46a89/3395be6f-ec7f-4925-8b64-6018bcc630e5/10-07-16-finances-after-divorce.jpg Articles - The Divorce Process in Virginia (Copy) - Divorce can be stressful on many levels and questions always linger: who gets what; where am I going to live; what about my retirement; what about our children; how am I going to pay my bills. Most people can be especially intimidated by the thought of managing money, oftentimes for the first time in their lives. Fortunately, under most circumstances and with the right help, you can become a relative expert in managing your personal finances in as little as an hour. 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