Defamation is when someone speaks falsely about someone else, either verbally (slander) or in print (libel), that causes harm to someone else. Other words for defamation may be used, such as character assassination, disparagement (mostly used for businesses), traducement, vilification, or calumny. You may rarely hear famacide, which is someone who destroys someone else's reputation. Defamation is …Read More
For over 20 years, social media, which is websites or applications that allow users to create and share content with friends, family, and whoever else is interested, is here to stay. From Facebook to Twitter and Instagram, social media is increasingly becoming a way many people also get their news and information. However, not all news and information on social media is vetted, meaning a lot of wh…Read More
Is it possible to persuade the prosecutor to change his or her mind and not prosecute you after you have been charged with a crime? If you suspect that you may be charged, is it possible to persuade the prosecutor not to bring charges? The answer is "yes" to both questions, but don't count on it. However, I am convinced that in many cases a major effort to convince the prosecutor not to proceed is…Read More
Over the last century, the number of bankruptcy filings in the United States had steadily increased. The majority of these bankruptcies, by a rather large number, are filed by consumers and not businesses. There are a variety of reasons why people file for bankruptcy. Whatever the reason you are filing for bankruptcy, it is a good idea to hire an attorney from the law firm of Tate Bywater in Fairf…Read More
In the ideal life, you fall in love, get married, have two wonderful children and live the rest of your life happy and in harmony. But as it turns out, there are many more ingredients other than love that make a marriage last. "Happily ever after" is a wonderful and meaningful phrase that we all hear at other weddings, in movies and on television shows, but you need to work very hard to reach such…Read More
How do you know if your spouse is cheating on you? If you are even asking this question, then you probably already suspect that you just might be the victim of infidelity. And at the very least, there could certainly be some trust issues in your marriage. In every relationship, the signs of infidelity are different. Of course, there are some common threads that everyone can look for. For example, …Read More
Staying in an unhealthy marriage is not good for you or your spouse. And if you have kids, it is a decision that should be revisited. If you stay in an unhealthy marriage, you will look back in 20 or 30 years and come to the realization that it was a bad choice. Some marriages are obviously broken beyond repair and no amount of therapy is going to save it. But rather than just accepting the fact t…Read More
While every divorce is unique, there is still a right way and a wrong way to go about it. Divorces can get intense and rather sticky, but there are still ways you and your spouse can make the process smoother and quicker. It is a sad thing, but there are those who intentionally commit common mistakes that often hinder the divorce process. There are also many people who hinder the divorce process u…Read More
Going through a divorce is highly emotional and very stressful, but that doesn't mean it has to be a drawn-out nightmare. While going through a divorce, you will experience a number of thoughts and feelings about your soon-to-be ex-spouse. You will probably experience anger, frustration, shame, rage and possibly even guilt. This is not wrong and it is perfectly normal to feel this way, but there i…Read More
Clients in a divorce proceeding have a lot to deal with, child support, custody, visitation, and the division of all the real and personal property that the parties own. I often receive the question, "how will the property be divided when we go to court?" In Virginia, the division of property in a divorce depends upon what kind of property must be divided as defined by Va. Code § 20-107.3. There …Read More
