Child Custody

Keep the best interest of your child in mind

Keep the best interest of your child in mind

Call the child custody lawyers at Koehler & Vernail, Attorneys at Law in Leesburg, VA

Any legal professional will tell you that children should not be allowed to be impacted by a child custody battle. We pride ourselves on maintaining the rights and safety of any child or children involved in your case. We know that your child is the most precious and important part of your life, let us help you achieve the outcome you seek in order to give your child(ren) the home they deserve.

Call 703-669-5644 now to speak to an attorney.

How Virginia Decides Child Custody:

  • The age and physical and mental condition of the child, giving due consideration to the child's changing developmental needs
  • Whether both parents are fit to care for the child
  • The relationship each parent has with the child; the role each parent has played and will play in the upbringing of the child
  • The needs of the child, giving due consideration to other important relationships of the child, including but not limited to siblings, peers and extended family members
  • The propensity of each parent to actively support the child's contact and relationship with the other parent, including whether a parent has unreasonably denied the other parent access to or visitation with the child
  • The relative willingness and demonstrated ability of each parent to maintain a close and continuing relationship with the child, and the ability of each parent to cooperate in and resolve disputes regarding matters affecting the child
  • The reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be of reasonable intelligence, understanding, age, and experience to express such a preference

Child Support

Child support is a legal obligation of both parents. Child support guidelines are presumptively correct for most cases and the Virginia Department of Social Services provides a worksheet to help determine the presumptive amount of child support. The formula takes into consideration gross earnings, health insurance costs, work-related daycare costs, the number of children, and whether or not either party is obligated to pay child support for other children. The parent paying child support is entitled to visitation rights but has no control over the receipt of child support.

ADOPTION AND TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS

When one party is no longer actively parenting and a stepparent is interested in adopting the child, the state allows the parties to terminate the rights of the inactive parent in conjunction with the adoption by a stepparent. Additionally, where a person wishes to adopt, there are legal proceedings that must be completed for the adoption to be recognized.