News


Keeping your legal expenses under control

Posted on September 11, 2011 in General News

I think our firm does a better job than most in trying to keep our clients’ legal costs down, and in being sympathetic to the notion that individuals do not have unlimited funds with which to resolve their legal troubles. Still, as with any firm, we do occasionally have clients who conclude their representation with us being dissatisfied with the magnitude of their legal bill.

Reaching Settlement

Posted on September 03, 2011 in Divorce, Family Law

Often in a divorce action, the departing spouse, remorseful, may be eager to end the marriage. In his or her eagerness, this spouse will often make a more than generous offer to settle the domestic issues. In these cases, I often urge my client to look to the future, not to the past,

Keep it legal…

Posted on August 31, 2011 in Divorce, Personal Representation

In my last post, I described a list of potential avenues to consider when seeking to preserve or obtain evidence which might corroborate that a spouse is cheating. In that post, I also tried to emphasize that any evidence-gathering should be done lawfully. After all, while striving to corroborate one crime (yes,

What to do when you think your spouse is cheating…

Posted on August 15, 2011 in General News

Perhaps one of the most devastating things a spouse could discover about his or her partner is that he or she is cheating. Obviously, even the thought that a spouse might be committing adulteryis an emotional issue, which is best addressed by counselors and other mental health professionals, rather than attorneys.

Working through a Property Settlement Agreement

Posted on August 03, 2011 in Civil Litigation, Divorce, Family Law, Personal Representation

A Property Settlement Agreement or Separation Agreement is a contract, executed by husband and wife, in which the parties divide their marital assets and debts as well as settle any other issues arising out of the parties’ marriage. The goal of the Property Settlement Agreement is to settle as many issues as possible between the parties to avoid the time and expense of litigation.

Making financial decisions for a cohabiting partner

Posted on July 31, 2011 in General News

Potential clients often approach me about what arrangements, if any, can be made to grant their cohabiting partner the authority to make financial decisions for him or her. Sometimes, they are surprised to hear that they have the same options as the members of a married couple.
Any individual over the age of eighteen years can execute a document called a Power of Attorney.

Disposing of real estate when the relationship ends

Posted on July 27, 2011 in Commercial Real Estate, Personal Representation

In May, I posted a blog in which I discussed buying real estate with a cohabiting partner. (If you have not yet read it, it is certainly not too late! Just scroll back through the previous blog posts, making sure to stop on any others that interest you along the way!) In that post,

Sam Kaufman elected President of URAA

Posted on July 25, 2011 in General News

The University of Richmond Alumni Association elected Owen & Owens partner Sam Kaufman as its 2011-2012 President. The URAA encompasses alumni from all colleges of the University and works to promote and foster a dynamic, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship between the University and its alumni, with opportunities for alumni to connect with each other through meaningful programs and activities.

FAQ Criminal Law – DUI

in Criminal Defense, Personal Representation

Even good people and their children sometimes find themselves having difficult discussions with the police, or worse under arrest. So what to do? Let’s look at some of the more common situations that occur with DUI.
What should I do when I see the flashing lights on the car behind me?

Determining a Fault vs. No-Fault Divorce

Posted on July 03, 2011 in Divorce, Family Law

In Virginia, couples face two options regarding the type of divorce sought. A divorce can be granted for fault reasons, such as adultery, cruelty or desertion. A “no-fault” divorce can be granted based upon a separation of the parties (one year if the couple have children under 18 years of age or six months if there are no minor children),