Jefferson County, West Virginia, Family Law Blog

For fathers, divorce can pose a set of unique concerns. These men often worry about how often they will see their children or whether they will be able to effectively parent without the help of their soon-to-be exes. Despite these worries, fathers in West Virginia and across the rest of the country are coming to a surprising conclusion -- sharing joint custody may make them better fathers.

The role of fatherhood is changing in today's society. Social scientists are beginning to argue that the idea of an unengaged, weekends-only dad who would rather spend time with his various girlfriends is not only inaccurate but is a product of unfair custody agreements. According to these scientists, both fathers and children have been starved of important relationships because of long-held beliefs that regarded mothers as better at raising children.

Spousal support is an important part of securing financial stability after a divorce. However, in a great many cases, spousal support -- also called alimony -- is not indefinite. There are often time limits on how long a person may receive support, and their actions may even mean that support could end early. For West Virginia residents currently receiving support, getting married often means that they no longer qualify to receive support from their ex-spouse.

An out-of-state woman may have found a way around this problem. After 29 years of marriage, she and her husband divorced back in 2014. Her ex-husband was ordered to pay $10,000 per month as alimony for a period of 10 years. If she remarries before the 10 years is up, her ex can stop paying spousal support. About a year or so after finalizing the divorce, the woman had a wedding ceremony with another man and told others that she was married; as a result, her ex stopped paying.

Getting divorced can be difficult no matter a person's age or the length of the marriage. However, couples who are closer to retirement may have to deal with issues that are specific to their ages and unique circumstances. Specifically, how to secure financial stability for retirement after a divorce is often a central focus in these situations.

Most people in West Virginia begin saving for retirement early on in their careers. But what happens to the years or even decades worth of savings when a married couple decides to divorce? Like other marital assets, couples must divide their retirement savings. Doing so can be tricky though, particularly if one person started saving through a specific account before marriage and then continued contributing to it after tying the knot. The type of account can also impact how a couple divides their assets.

Most parents in West Virginia just want was is best for their children. Securing things like financial support after a divorce is often key to that hope. However, child support is not necessarily as cut and dried as some parents might think.

Figuring out the correct amount of child support takes time and a bit of flexibility. Judges generally consider things like parents' incomes and earning potential as well as parenting time and the child's standard of living. Judges also have the discretion to consider other factors that they deem relevant to the situation.