Jana Nattermann

Yes. In Virginia, both parents are responsible for supporting their children. The state calculates support using specific guidelines when a parent has the children for more than 90 days a year. The calculation looks at each parent’s income, the number of children, childcare costs, health insurance, and any support paid for children from another relationship. The amount can change if there are unusual medical expenses, a child’s special needs, travel costs for visitation, or other circumstances that make it reasonable to do so.

A parent who plans to move must give the other parent and the court at least 30 days’ written notice. If a parent challenges the move, the judge decides whether it’s in the children’s best interests. The judge can consider the distance of the move, the reason for relocating, the effect on school and community life, how both parents will maintain contact, and any other factors affecting the children’s well-being.

In a divorce, the court can divide retirement savings earned during the marriage. Savings from before the marriage or after separation stay with the person who earned them. How the court divides the account depends on any prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, the amount accumulated during the marriage, and other financial details the court reviews.

There’s no single set time for spousal support in Virginia. How long it lasts depends on the length of the marriage, each person’s income and earning ability, and the roles each person had in the household. The court can also consider age, health, time spent out of the workforce to care for children, and any agreements between the spouses.