Many Virginia teenagers look forward to getting their driver’s license and their first car, loving the freedom that comes along with it. However, the inexperience of youthful drivers sometimes leads to traffic citations. This could lead to your child’s first interaction with the Virginia court system and it is important to know what to expect. Some of the most common juvenile traffic charges Common traffic offenses among juvenile drivers include texting while driving, distracted driving and speeding. Inexperience also leads to less serious offenses such as failing to use a turn signal, obey a ..read more

When you’re accused of criminal wrongdoing and formal charges are levied against you, there’s a good chance that prosecutors are going to approach you with a plea bargain. But if the plea deal is insufficient or you think that you can beat the prosecution’s case altogether, then you’ll need to prepare for trail. While that includes gathering physical evidence and witness testimony to support your arguments, you’ll ultimately have to decide as to whether testifying in your own defense is wise. Many accused individuals think that if they can get on the witness stand and tell their side of the st ..read more

Drunk driving charges can pose a significant threat to your future. The allegations alone could damage your standing in the community and your relationships with others, but a conviction could lead to jail time, license suspension, fines, and derailment of your career. And as you navigate your DUI case, the evidence mounted against you could leave you feeling hopeless for a decent outcome. Yet, even when the evidence seems unbeatable, there may be criminal defense strategies that you can utilize to protect your future and even beat the prosecution. To find the best arguments, you have to analy ..read more

Divorce is oftentimes an emotional experience. Untangling your life from the one you’ve built with your spouse can be difficult to say the least, riddling you with anger, anxiety, fear, and depression. But as hard as divorce can be for you, it can be earth-shattering for your children. Over the years, your marriage has provided your children with a sense of stability and normalcy. All of that can feel threatened, though, when you go through a marriage dissolution. This is especially true when there’s fighting between parents, emotional turmoil amongst the parents, less parental focus on the ch ..read more

While the holiday season is meant to be a fun and enjoyable time with family and friends, the season often brings extra stress and challenges to our lives. The holiday season can be especially difficult if you are splitting custody time with a former spouse or partner. Not having your children with you for the entire holiday season takes some getting used to, but co-parenting over the holidays can be complicated even if you have been doing it for years. Here are some helpful tips that apply to almost any situation. Children come first Remember that your holiday custody schedule takes precedenc ..read more

When you’re charged with a criminal offense, you hope is that you can beat the prosecution one way or another, thereby escaping conviction and the harsh penalties that often accompany it. But in many criminal cases, the evidence against the defendant is significant, making it difficult to find ways to effectively avoid conviction. That said, not all hope is lost. Before your case heads to trial, you’ll have the opportunity to negotiate a plea deal. That might not sound like a great option, as it will likely require you to plead guilty to something, it can be an effective way to minimize the pe ..read more

Virginia law enforcement is perpetually on the lookout for drivers who might be under the influence. This is true year-round. However, there are times that law enforcement believes drivers might have a greater propensity to drink and drive. With that, law enforcement will move forward with a more aggressive enforcement period. Recently, the commonwealth initiated an annual crackdown called “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” Increase in DUI accidents The justification for the enhanced enforcement is the number of accidents in 2022 that were connected to alcohol use. More than 6,900 accidents occ ..read more

Teenagers are known for breaking the rules and testing their limits. In some cases, that involves experimenting with drugs and alcohol. But what happens when the police get involved? Teenagers under the age of 18 who are found in possession of illegal substances may face criminal charges in juvenile court. Under Va. Code 18.2-250, it is illegal for anyone to knowingly possess a controlled substance without a valid prescription. Drugs are divided into categories, from Schedule I to Schedule VI. Schedule I drugs, such as heroin, are considered the most serious as they have a high likelihood of b ..read more

Child support can be a contentious issue, whether the parents were ever married or not. And once the parents have gone through all the work of establishing how much one parent must pay, they are reluctant to make any changes. Of course, a lot can happen after a court issues a child support order. Sometimes, due to circumstances out of the parents’ control, even the best child support orders can become unworkable. When that happens, either parent can request a modification. Child support basics Before we explore the topic of child support modification, we should first talk about the idea behind ..read more

You are probably familiar with DUI checkpoints but may never have encountered one. A DUI checkpoint is a location where police officers are stationed to stop cars to check if drivers are intoxicated. DUI checkpoints must be announced ahead of time so drivers know when and where they will be. Many Virginia residents get nervous when they must stop at a DUI checkpoint, for obvious reasons. No one likes being stopped and talking to the police. However, Virginia takes DUI seriously and a DUI conviction comes with major penalties including fines, loss of a driver’s license and potential jail time ..read more