We are now accepting new clients in the areas of:

DIVORCE / SEPARATION:

• Uncontested Divorce ( no issues in dispute)
• Contested Divorce (one or more issues in dispute)
• Mediation Agreements (The parties meet together with a neutral mediator to reach an agreement that will be made part of the Final Decree of Divorce.) (I can serve as mediator or lawyer)
• Property Settlement and Stipulation Agreements (The parties enter into a written agreement on issues such as property division, custody and support.)
• Premarital and Marital Agreements (The parties can enter into a written agreement to decide in advance what will happen to property and money in the event of a divorce.)
• Collaborative Divorce (with other collaborative professionals)

Many divorces involve issues that require specialized experience. Mary G. Commander has extensive experience in military and civil service divorces. We know the DFAS and OPM rules.

Mary G. Commander also has experience in handling the separation of parties who, though not married, have joint property and debts that require division.

• What to expect when you're expecting to get a divorce.


• How to Lose Your Custody Case


• Practical Divorce Advice


• When Can I Get An Annulment?

CHILD CUSTODY / SUPPORT / VISITATION:

• Whether in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations or the Circuit Court; whether representing the mother, father, grandparents, or other interested party; whether the parties are litigating, mediating, or ageing, this firm can meet your needs.
• We also handle child support collection and arrearage cases in court and in proceedings with the Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE).

ADOPTIONS:

• We handle step-parent, single parent, adult, parental placement, agency, international, and interstate adoptions. We literally wrote the book - "Adoption Procedures and Forms: A Guide for Lawyers."
• We also handle surrogacy and assisted conception contracts.

MILITARY DIVORCE

• Military divorces require specialized knowledge. We have extensive experience addressing issues with DFAS, TriCare, SGLI, Thrift Savings Plans (TSP), military pensions, Survivorship Benefit Plans (SBP), disability payments, Voluntary Separation Incentives (VSI), Special Separation Benefits (SSB), the Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act (USFSPA).

MEDIATION:

• All disputes can be mediated, if the parties agree to participate. We have a Supreme Court Certified Mediator with more than a decade of formal mediation experience to assist you. Have your dispute mediated by the mediator who teaches other mediators.
• If you are interested in mediation, make an appointment for you and the other party to come together for the mediation. We can not meet with you separately, since the mediator must remain unbiased.

Collaborative Law:

• Collaborative law is a process in which specially trained attorneys and other professionals (which can include financial and mental health professionals), work together with the clients to try to reach a settlement of areas of concern. The issues are decided by the clients.
• This requires both parties to commit to collaborative law and to retain collaborative law attorneys. This is a relatively new process in the Tidewater area, although it is in great use in other parts of the state. Because of this, the number of trained attorneys is limited. Our office will provide you with a list of trained attorneys.
• Settlement meetings will be conducted with all parties present. There are no court hearings.
• This process greatly reduces costs and emotional wear and tear.
• To discuss whether collaborative law may be appropriate for you, please call to schedule a consultation. You also may want to review the articles at www.divorcemag.com/proforum/collaborativelaw.shtml.

ESTATE & LIFE PLANNING:

• We prepare Wills and Powers of Attorney, as well as Advance Medical Directives. Despite concerns about recent legislation, these remain effective and legally valid documents.
• We also prepare contacts, leases and deeds that can be used for planning purposes.

OTHER MATTERS:

• Contact our office regarding other legal matters that may arise.

Serving Hampton Roads, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Isle of Wight, Hampton, Newport News, & York County.