Virginia Child Custody & Divorce Law
The courts in Virginia have always considered the best interests of the child while awarding child custody. Best interests of the child can be determined based on a number of factors such as age, physical and mental condition of the child, age, physical and mental condition of each parent, the relationship between each parent. The determination also considers the needs, including emotional, of the child and the ability of each parent to meet the needs. Courts can also award one parent sole custody, which means that parent has the power to make major decisions about the child including education, religion, and health care, and the responsibility to be the child’s primary caretaker.
The relationship existing between each parent and each child giving due consideration to the positive involvement with the child’s life, the ability to accurately assess and meet the emotional, intellectual, and physical needs of the child. The child custody laws in Virginia can make many parents afraid or nervous. Understanding child custody laws in Virginia may give you peace of mind as you file for divorce or prepare for custody proceedings.
The court will consider the following facts based on the best interests of the child:
- The age and physical and mental conditions of the child giving due consideration to the child’s changing developmental needs.
- The age and physical and mental conditions of each parent.
- The relationship existing between each parent and each child giving due consideration to the possible involvement with the child’s life, the ability to accurately assess and meet the emotional, intellectual, and physical needs 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 role, which each parent has played and will play in the future, in the upbringing and care of the child.
- The propensity of each parent to actively support the child’s contact and relationship with the other parent, 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 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
- Any history of family abuse and such other factors as the court deems necessary and proper to the determination
The SRIS Law Group can help you with your dissolution of marriage and child custody in Virginia. The most important thing is talking to a dissolution of marriage lawyer about your options. We will do our best to help you and obtain the best possible outcome based on the facts of your case. Talk to a child custody lawyer in Virginia today.
We have client meeting locations in Fairfax County, Prince William, Richmond.
If you need help with navigating the child custody laws in Virginia in: Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Arlington or Alexandria, do not hesitate to call us.
If you wish to consult the SRIS Law Group, P.C. attorney, call us at 855-696-3348. B
