Harrisonburg Virginia Legal Blog

The differences between joint and sole custody

On behalf of Big Valley Law Martin & Hahn, PLLC posted in child custody on Thursday, August 9, 2018.

Putting a child through a divorce can be hard on a Virginia parent. Although untangling their lives from those of their spouses can make them happier people and therefore more attentive parents, individuals may worry about what the stress of divorce will do to their kids. One of the ways that they can smooth the transition for their children is through creating custody plans that serve their kids' needs.

Child custody deals with important details of a child's post-divorce life, such as where they will live and which parent will have the power to make decisions about their upbringing. In many cases a child's two parents may share these responsibilities in a joint custody plan, but if certain factors warrant it a court may only give one parent these rights in a sole custody plan.

Do you have to let police into your house?

On behalf of Big Valley Law Martin & Hahn, PLLC on Thursday, July 26, 2018.

Have you ever been relaxing at home when a sudden, unexpected knock at your door catches your attention? Situations like this can immediately cause unrest, especially because you weren't planning on having any visitors, so you're not sure what's going on or who is on the other side of your door. If you live in a neighborhood where it's common for people to pop in unannounced, it's probably no big deal.

What should you do, however, if, as you make your way to the door, you get a glimpse through a nearby window and see what appears to be several uniformed police officers standing on your front porch? Do you open the door? Must you let them in if they ask to come inside? It could be that they have the wrong address. However, it might be something far more serious, in which case, how well you know your rights may impact the outcome of the situation.

Love the nightlife in Virginia but DUI not so much?

On behalf of Big Valley Law Martin & Hahn, PLLC on Thursday, July 26, 2018.

It's fun to get together with friends after a long, stressful work week to kick back and relax in your free time. Virginia has a vibrant nightlife, especially in the hub of regions that are close to the nation's capital. If you are age 21 or older, you can toss back a couple cold beers, glasses of wine or other alcohol without worrying about legal repercussions; that is, unless you later plan to drive a motor vehicle the same night.

That's another issue altogether. Like most responsible residents of Virginia, the law trusts you to make good decisions regarding alcohol intake and operation of a motor vehicle. It's easy to lose track of how many drinks you've had when you're partying with friends. There are several things you can do to avoid drunk driving, which in turn should help you avoid a DUI conviction.

Report: Virginia very strict on speeding

On behalf of Big Valley Law Martin & Hahn, PLLC posted in reckless driving on Tuesday, July 24, 2018.

Recently, WalletHub looked into how strict the different states are regarding speeding and reckless driving. The report ranked Virginia among the nation’s strictest on this front.

Specifically, it tied with three other states for being the 8th most strict overall when it comes to speeding and reckless driving. The states that tied Virginia for this spot were Illinois, Alabama and Washington.

Virginia's demerit point system

On behalf of Big Valley Law Martin & Hahn, PLLC on Friday, July 13, 2018.

On your commute to work, you probably witness countless traffic violations. Drivers are speeding, changing lanes without signaling, tailgating and even texting while driving. It can be infuriating, especially when you know that such behavior selfishly places your life and safety in danger.

If you are honest with yourself, you know that you have probably had more than one morning when your alarm clock didn't do its job, and you found yourself racing along Interstate 81, no holds barred, to get to work on time. If you ended up with a traffic citation, you may think it's no big deal. In Virginia, however, it can be a very big deal, and understanding the potential ramifications of violating the traffic code may prompt you to take the necessary actions to avoid a conviction.

Financial issues that trip up amicable divorces

On behalf of Big Valley Law Martin & Hahn, PLLC on Thursday, July 12, 2018.

If you and your spouse have decided to divorce, you may have weighed several options for going through the process. You may be like many couples who prefer to keep the breakup simple and as amicable as possible, perhaps using collaboration or mediation to avoid a drawn-out court battle. As far as you know, things should go smoothly, but if this is your first experience at a marriage breakup, you may be unsure of what to expect.

While every marriage is unique and every divorce has its special circumstances, some issues commonly arise when most couples reach the point of dealing with the financial aspects of their marriages. If you fail to gain the appropriate information about these issues and secure legal advice that will protect your rights, you may find that your plans for an amicable breakup may quickly lose footing.