Adoption can be an enriching experience. When a biological parent passes away or has abandoned a child, step-parents may choose to adopt the child formally. Though you must take several legal steps, an attorney can guide you through this process. If you are considering a step-parent adoption, understand that it may not be as complex as you assume. Here are some of the benefits of step-parent adoptions:   Not All Read More

Some big new changes have come to Virginia law and went into effect on July 1st. These include upcoming alcohol delivery, changes to Marijuana laws, and cracking down on various areas of criminal law. Here are all of the important changes to watch out for in Virginia law: Police Ticketing Quotas Already in effect, a new piece of legislation restricting police departments from setting quotas for ticketing has been Read More

The most commonly cited reason for not establishing an estate plan is that it’s a confusing topic, which is understandable - there is a lot of complexity and detail that goes into estate planning, and overlooking even a small part of the process can result in an ineffective or invalid estate plan, sending you back to square one. Our goal is to build up an effective estate plan by meeting all of your needs while also Read More

Virginia has imposed mandatory minimum sentences for a wide range of offenses ever since 1968, arguably leading to more and more incarcerations yearly. This policy can create much longer sentences for those convicted, and also force many defendants into plea deals, rather than trying their case to a judge or jury. Because fighting a case at trial runs the risk of being found guilty, and thus facing the mandatory Read More

  We’re happy to announce that we’re relocating just six miles south into historic Fredericksburg, allowing our firm to provide quality legal counsel to an even wider area than before. We will now be operating from the Hugh D. Martin House, located at 1103 Princess Anne Street. We’re excited about the move, and even though we’re changing locations, we haven’t changed what Norton Pelt stands for.  Our new location Read More

For those currently going through a divorce case or a child support case outside of divorce in Virginia, the issue of child support may be a significant one among the many others you’re facing right now. Thankfully, Virginia uses a series of guidelines to ensure that child support determinations are consistent and fair. These guidelines are consistent enough that calculators are available online which can Read More

Before a Virginia judge passes down a criminal sentence, they must consult a document called the sentencing guidelines, which shows them the past sentences and circumstances of cases for the purpose of sentencing similar cases. Because the circumstances of a crime change, these aren’t hard and fast rules that the judge has to follow, but rather a general guide to reference which will help them decide on an Read More

You may have heard of a DNR, otherwise known as a Do Not Resuscitate order. The DNR is a form you can request through your healthcare provider which ensures you will not be resuscitated in the case of a respiratory or cardiac arrest. While the DNR is a good option, it is very limited in its scope. Thankfully, Virginia has made available Advance Medical Directives, which give you much more control over your medical Read More

Medicaid planning is a vital part of any good estate plan. Most of us will eventually require nursing home care in our old age, and such care is expensive: the average yearly cost for a semi-private room in Virginia is over $90,000, which can deplete your savings fast.  Most private healthcare policies will not cover long-term care costs unless you paid for an applicable rider, and Medicare does not cover such Read More

Divorce is seen, more or less, as an adult matter. And, for the most part, it is. However, any child of divorce can tell you that divorce, child custody, and other legal issues involving minor children are best settled when those children have a legal advocate on their side. Therefore, judges often appoint what’s called a guardian ad litem for cases that involve the welfare of children. The main role of a guardian ad Read More