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Wedding rings resting on a pillow, representing divorce cases in Roanoke Virginia

How Does Spousal Support Work in Virginia?

Spousal support – what most people still call alimony – is often the least understood piece of a Virginia divorce. There is no simple formula for final awards, no automatic entitlement, and enormous room for advocacy. Here is the framework Roanoke and Salem courts actually apply. The Purpose Spousal support exists to cushion the economic gap divorce creates when one spouse earned substantially more, or when one spouse sacrificed career growth for the household. It is not a reward or… Read More »How Does Spousal Support Work in Virginia?

Hand signing a legal document, representing marital agreements in Salem VA

Imputed Income in Virginia Child Support: When Courts Assign You a Paycheck

Virginia child support runs on income – so what happens when a parent’s income conveniently disappears right around the time support is calculated? Courts have an answer: imputed income. When a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court can calculate support as if they earned what they reasonably could. It is one of the most litigated issues in Roanoke Valley support cases, on both sides. When Courts Impute Income A parent quits a job or takes a lower-paying one… Read More »Imputed Income in Virginia Child Support: When Courts Assign You a Paycheck

Family holding hands at sunset, representing family law services in Roanoke and Salem VA

Does 50/50 Custody Mean No Child Support in Virginia?

It is one of the most common assumptions we correct in consultations: “We’re doing week on, week off – so no one pays child support, right?” Not quite. In Virginia, equal time changes the math, but it does not automatically zero out support. Here is how the shared custody formula actually works. The Ninety-Day Threshold Virginia’s shared custody guideline applies when the parent paying support has the children for more than ninety days per year. A “day” is generally a… Read More »Does 50/50 Custody Mean No Child Support in Virginia?

Parent lifting a child at dusk, representing child custody cases in Roanoke Virginia

When Child Support Isn’t Paid: Enforcement Options in Roanoke, VA

A support order is only as good as its enforcement. When payments stop, Virginia gives custodial parents real teeth – and gives non-paying parents very little room to hide. Here is how enforcement works for families in Roanoke and Salem. The Enforcement Toolbox Income withholding: support deducted directly from wages – the default for most orders, and extendable to new employers Contempt of court: a show-cause proceeding in J&DR court where the non-payer must explain the failure; consequences run from… Read More »When Child Support Isn’t Paid: Enforcement Options in Roanoke, VA

Father holding hands with his daughter, representing parenting time in Virginia

Modifying Child Support in Virginia: When and How the Number Changes

A child support order is built on a snapshot of two incomes and a custody schedule – and life does not hold still. Virginia law allows modification when circumstances materially change, but the rules reward parents who act quickly and punish those who wait. Here is what Roanoke and Salem parents need to know. The Standard: Material Change in Circumstances Either parent may petition to modify support upon a material change since the last order. Common qualifying changes: Job loss… Read More »Modifying Child Support in Virginia: When and How the Number Changes