Practice Areas

Most people will agree that divorce can be one of the most stressful and emotionally draining situations one can experience in their lifetime. Because of the vast array of issues involved in a divorce, such as property, assets, retirements and pensions, children, support, and debts, it is important to have legal advice coupled with real-world experience to help you make decisions and pursue goals that will help stabilize life for you and your family as soon as possible.

Attorney Thomas B. Dance represents clients in Fredericksburg and King George and Caroline Counties in a wide variety of family law matters. Mr. Dance understands the struggles and fears that you may be dealing with if you are going through a divorce or considering one. 

Contested and Uncontested Divorce

For the most part, a divorce can either be categorized as contested or uncontested. 

A contested divorce means that the parties do not agree on all the issues involved such as the arrangements for:  child custody, child support and the division of their marital property.

The issues that are controversial in a contested divorce will usually be decided upon by a judge, and the legal fees for such divorces are usually much higher than for uncontested divorces in which the parties agree on all the terms regarding how to end their marriage. The Law Office of Thomas B. Dance, P.C., can help with both types of divorces.

Separation Agreements

Some of our clients have questions about legal separation and whether they need a separation or a marital agreement. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, married couples generally need to have been separated for at least one year to be granted a divorce by a judge. However, a separation agreement can help make the process faster if certain conditions are met. We can help you understand your rights and options regarding legal separation and marital/separation agreements, regardless of where you are in the divorce process.

Military and Government Employee Divorce

The proximity of Quantico, Fort Belvoir, and Northern Virginia to The Law Office of Thomas B. Dance, P.C., makes representing service members a vital part of serving the needs of those who live in the Fredericksburg area. We are experienced in representingservice members and spouses of service members in divorce cases. While all divorces share some of the same elements, divorce cases that involve service members often involve certain legal and financial issues that need to be addressed properly by a divorce lawyer experienced with those issues. We can help you answer these questions and resolve these issues.

If you are a parent, the care and custody of your child are likely among your very biggest concerns when going through the family law legal process. If you are going through a divorce or if you are an unmarried parent with a custody or visitation problem, you may have numerous questions about how to resolve your situation.

If you need legal advice and representation about child custody and visitation matters, we can help you address these vital issues and work toward acquiring a solution that will help serve the best interest of your children. 

Contact us by calling (540) 835-5013 to speak to an experienced visitation and custody lawyer in  in Fredericksburg, VA.

Skillful and Effective Representation for Custody and Visitation Disputes in Virginia

When parents cannot agree on who will have custody or visitation regarding their children, the Court determines these matters. The Law Office of Thomas B. Dance, P.C., works with Virginia parents, and out-of-state parents with children in Virginia, who are working to gain or preserve the custody and visitation of their children. 

HOW DO I FILE FOR PRIMARY CUSTODY?

In the state of Virginia, a parent may file a petition requesting visitation or custody of their child. 

 This petition should be filed in the Court Services Unit but will ultimately be decided by the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.  Because filing for custody can be a complicated process to the average parent and require an additional advocate beyond

paperwork, it may be best to work with a Fredericksburg child custody and visitation attorney for professional legal support in your custody case. 

How Can a Custody Lawyer Help Me?

The experienced visitation and custody lawyer at The Law Office of Thomas B. Dance can help in all steps of the legal process, such as:  Preparing and filing initial petitions with a Court for legal and physical custody of your child, Moving the Court to modify or amend an existing custody or visitation order, Enforcing, through the Courts, custody and visitation orders that are not being honored, Creating plans for holiday, summer, and school year visitation, Litigating grandparent visitation rights.

Divorce and child custody disputes can present many challenges, most notably financial ones. For many persons experiencing this type of case, spousal support, traditionally known as alimony, and child support are very important issues that need strong guidance and efficient legal advice.

At the Law Office of Thomas B. Dance, P.C., we understand how exactly how child support is calculated and how spousal support is awarded in Virginia. We can help you get the financial support you or your children need, or, if you are under a court order to make payments, we can advise and represent you in making sure that the amount you pay is accurate. 

What Is Child Support? 

Virginia law provides support guidelines that Courts use to calculate how much child support will be paid by one parent to another. 

How is Child Support Calculated in VA?

In determining the amount one has to pay, a judge will generally take into account factors that include: Custody and visitation arrangements, Incomes of both parents, The cost of health insurance, Child care expenses.

What Is Spousal Support?

Under Virginia law, spousal support is less formulaic than child support. 

How is Spousal Support Calculated in VA?

Spousal support is determined, either by a judge or by a settlement agreement, with the following factors taken into consideration: Relative incomes (or income potential) of both spouses, The higher-earning spouse's ability to pay and the needs of the recipient, The length of the marriage, The facts and circumstances that contributed to the dissolution of the marital relationship.

Divorce can be a complicated process that involves painful emotions, financial challenges, and profound relationship adjustments That need to be made. In some cases, the legal complexities of divorce in Virginia can be made easier — and the time frames and legal costs reduced — with the help of a separation and property settlement agreement.

At The Law Office of Thomas B. Dance, P.C., we can help you understand your options with regard to divorce and resolve your matter by agreement versus drawn-out litigation and guide you to make the best possible choices for yourself and your family. 

Simplifying the Divorce Process with a Separation Agreement 

A separation and property settlement agreement is essentially a legal document that resolves all the issues that exist between the parties without the need for litigation or Court involvement. If you do not have children with your spouse, and you do not own a significant amount of Property together — and you can agree on all the terms of the ending of the marriage — you may be able to secure a separation agreement that will enable you to obtain a divorce more easily and with substantially less legal expense. We can help you prepare the necessary documentation and represent you in legal proceedings if you qualify.

Experienced Attorney for Civilian, Military and Government Employee Separation Agreements

Contact us to speak to an experienced Fredericksburg marital agreement lawyer about your situation. We have helped both civilians and service members obtain separation and property settlement agreements.

Contact us to speak to an experienced Fredericksburg marital agreement lawyer about your situation. We have helped civilians, government employees and service members obtain separation and property settlement agreements.

A divorce case involves many issues, one of which is the division of property and money that were acquired and shared by married parties. Under Virginia law, property is not automatically split down the middle, since the principle of equitable distribution applies. Thus, dividing marital property can be complicated, requiring analysis and often involving aggressive negotiations. Having the help of a skilled divorce attorney with real-world experience can be extremely important in securing a fair division of property and debt.

At The Law Office of Thomas B. Dance, P.C., we provide our clients with practical legal advice and representation in matters involving the division of marital property. 

We can help you develop and implement a strategy regarding the division of assets such as: Bank accounts, Real property such as houses and investment properties, Personal property, Retirement accounts, state pensions, and military pensions, Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, Family businesses and professional practices, Categorizing and Distributing Property — and Debt.

Not all property is the same in the eyes of a family court judge. Property can be categorized by a court as marital, separate, or as a combination there of. For example, a house that you and your spouse purchased together and lived in may be considered marital, while a piece of jewelry that you inherited prior to your marriage would probably be deemed separate; a business that you started before your marriage but that your spouse built with you over a period of 10 years may fall into the combined category. 

Regardless of the types of property you own, we can help you understand your rights and options, and help you divide that property equitably.

In today's economic environment, the division of marital debt is an important topic for many couples. Whether you have credit card or loan debt, or your house is underwater, we can help you approach the division of your marital debt in a way that is practical and solution oriented.

We can help you deal strategically with property division as it relates to your divorce. We can answer your questions about real estate, investments, and military and government pensions in divorce.

The Law Office of Thomas B. Dance, P.C. serves individuals, families, and businesses in additional practice areas beyond divorce and family law. When faced with a business issue or dispute, the need for a comprehensive estate plan to protect your assets and your family, or a traffic citation that could cost you expensive fines or the potential loss of your license, it is best to be equipped with the knowledge and insight of an experienced attorney. 

Our Fredericksburg attorney can educate you on the laws pertaining to your issue, what your lawful rights and/or responsibilities may be, and help you navigate the legal process toward an optimum resolution. Our goal is to help you resolve matters efficiently and effectively, whether it involves creating a will or trust, negotiating a settlement in a business dispute, or defending you in traffic court. Our attorney provides professional service that focuses on a personalized attorney-client relationship to give you the best possible legal experience. 

FREDERICKSBURG BUSINESS LITIGATION ATTORNEY

As a small business owner, you may face many of the legal challenges that large businesses face, without the corporate lawyers that large companies can afford. When contract disputes, lease problems, and other issues arise that require the help of a reliable attorney, we can provide the advice and representation you need at a much lower cost than you would incur with a bigger law firm. We have represented clients in a variety of small business matters in district courts and circuit courts, seeking remedies to disputes. We can defend your interests in cases related to: Breach of contract, Property exchange and reclamation, Leases for commercial properties, Employment contracts and other employment matters, Purchase and sale agreements.

FREDERICKSBURG BUSINESS FORMATION ATTORNEY

If you are starting a business or are planning to make your existing business official, it is important to have a basic understanding of the legal aspects of doing business, including entity formation and contract law. Forming a legal entity can protect you from the loss of your personal assets, provide important tax benefits, and improve your clients perception of you and what you do. Having well-written contracts can protect you and your business from loss and help you capitalize on opportunities.

Our firm can help you form a corporation, limited liability company (LLC), or other business entity that will best meet the needs of your particular business. We can also advise and represent you in many other matters common to small businesses, including negotiation and litigation of disputes.

This area of practice can include matters related to:  Operating agreements, Corporate bylaws, Meeting minutes and proxy statements, Sale and purchase agreements, Leases for commercial properties, Employment contracts, Promissory notes, Non-disclosure, non-compete, and confidentiality agreements, Release of liability, Serving as a registered agent whether you run a family business or a professional practice, or you are marketing a product or service, we can provide affordable, practical legal guidance that will support your business efforts and help prevent problems in the future.