Family Law in Richmond: Real Cases, Real Results
At Clay Law, we know that every case is deeply personal and often life changing. As a trusted legal advisor in the Greater Richmond area, I guide clients through challenging situations with empathy, discretion and a proven track record of creative solutions. Whether you’re facing custody, visitation, child support, no fault divorce, paternity, or grandparents’ rights issues, we are here to help you find clarity and peace of mind. Below, you will find snapshots of cases that we’ve successfully resolved for clients. The names and details have been altered to protect the privacy of the clients and their families.
Sarah’s Situation: Protecting Privacy and Peace of Mind
Our client, Sarah, had a child 40 years ago when she was a young woman. The child was adopted by distant relatives. Only Sarah and her parents knew about the child. Recently, the now adult child contacted Sarah and threatened to show up at her home or business to introduce herself. Sarah was shocked, scared and embarrassed. She contacted Clay Law for guidance. We acted quickly to protect her privacy by communicating directly with the other party and requiring the other party to contact us instead of Sarah.
How we helped Sarah:
Met with Sarah and assured her that she was under no obligation to engage with the other party
Contacted the other party and firmly but gently told her to stop contacting Sarah directly and to direct all contact to us
Advised Sarah of her legal rights if the other party contacted her again
Our swift and effective intervention gave our client the space and security that she needed to make decisions free from pressure or fear, and she was shielded from unwanted contact with the other party.
Robert’s Case: Defending Parental Rights & Family Connections
Robert is the single father of a 6-year-old son, Ethan. Ethan’s mother is deceased. Ethan’s maternal grandmother, Shirley, has frequent contact with Ethan, and she has a few weeks of extended visitation with him every summer. Robert has no family in the Richmond area, and he is planning to return to his hometown, Jacksonville, FL. When Shirley learned about Robert’s plans to leave the state, she filed a “Miscellaneous Motion” in Henrico Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in an attempt to prevent Robert’s planned move to Florida. I leveraged the latest appellate law about grandparents’ rights and negotiated a visitation schedule that safeguarded our client’s parental rights while preserving the child’s relationship with his grandmother. Additionally, I negotiated a settlement that required the grandmother to pay our client’s attorney’s fees.
How we helped Robert:
Filed a motion to dismiss the grandmother’s motion based on the new case law
Assertively defended Robert’s parental rights in negotiations
Saved our client the expense of a costly appeal by agreeing to a reasonable visitation schedule
Secured a settlement that required the other party to pay our client’s attorney’s fees
By leveraging recent appellate law and negotiating assertively, we protected Robert’s parental rights while maintaining his son’s relationship with his grandmother.
Charlotte’s Issues: Untangling Divorce & Paternity
When she was 18 years old, our client, Charlotte, married 40 year old Stewart. It was a marriage of convenience for Charlotte. The marriage failed quickly, and Charlotte and Stewart went their separate ways. Five years after Charlotte and Stewart separated, Charlotte had a child with her boyfriend, Michael. Charlotte hired me to represent her in a no fault divorce. Charlotte and Michael were shocked to learn that Stewart was the baby’s legal father. We helped Charlotte disentangle herself from a complicated legal situation involving marriage, paternity and parental rights. By carefully drafting the pleadings, we secured her divorce and disestablished Stewart as the child’s legal father.
How we helped Charlotte:
Carefully drafted the pleadings so that it was clear that Stewart was not the biological father of the child in question
Communicated directly with Stewart to secure his signature on the divorce papers
Submitted all pleadings and forms to the Richmond Circuit Clerk’s Office and secured Charlotte’s divorce from Stewart that included language disestablishing Stewart as the child’s legal father.
With our help, Charlotte and Michael were able to move forward together as a family.
If you are facing a difficult family law issue—no matter how complex or sensitive—Clay Law is ready to help. We offer confidential consultations, honest advice, and tailored solutions to protect your rights and your future. Call 804.238.7737 today to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward peace of mind.
