37th Annual Family Law 2018 Seminar Materials

Publication Date:	October 2018
Available Formats:	Print and Searchable PDF via immediate download, CD-ROM, or USB Flash Drive
Pages:	429

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This comprehensive, stand-alone publication is direct from an October 2018 seminar cosponsored with the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar.

For over three decades, this annual event has brought together family law attorneys from across Virginia for an indispensable educational and networking opportunity. This year’s topics include:

Bi-annual Case Law and Legislative Updates
A CPA’s perspective on the recent tax law changes and their effects on family law matters
A clinician’s perspective on the different types of forensic psychological evaluations in the domestic relations context, and when and how to use them
A lawyer’s perspective on using and defending forensic physiological evaluations in the domestic relations context
The ethical issues involved with attorney trust accounts and handling your client’s money

HANDLING YOUR CLIENT’S MONEY ETHICALLY
Susan M. Hicks

I. Trust Accounts - The Basics

II. Trust Account Hypotheticals

III. Ethics Violations in Virginia - Rel-life Issues

IV. Fee Disputes with Clients

V. Methods of Payments by Clients

VI. Entering into Retainer Agreements

VII. Attorney Liens

UPDATE ON VIRGINIA FAMILY LAW
Edward D. Barnes

I. Introduction
       A. Abbreviations
       B. Published and Unpublished Cases

II. Procedural Issues

III. Marriage

IV. Divorce
       A. Grounds
       B. Attorney’s Fees

V. Spousal Support
       A. Determination
       B. Modification
       C. Pendente Lite Support

   VI. Premarital and Property Settlement Agreements
       A. Enforcement
       B. Interpretation
       C. Performance

VII. Equitable Distribution
       A. Classification
       B. Valuation
       C. Dissipation and Waste

VIII. Child Support
       A. Determination
       B. Modification

IX. Custody and Visitation
       A. Contempt

X. Parental Rights
       A. Termination of Parental Rights/Foster Care/Findings of Abuse
       and Neglect

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: 2018 GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION
Lawrence D. Diehl

I. In General
       A. Summary List of 2018 Legislation
       B. General Overview of 2018 Session

II. Marriage
       A. None

III. Equitable Distribution
       A. None

IV. Divorce
       A. Jurisdiction and Remand to Juvenile Court

V. Child Support
       A. Filing of Child Support Guideline Worksheets
       B. Mixed Custody Guidelines

VI. Spousal Support
       A. Modification of Spousal Support in Written Agreement Where
       PSA is Silent as to Modification Upon a Material Change in
       Circumstances
       B. Retirement and Modification of Spousal Support

VII. Custody/Visitation
       A. Joint and Sole Custody Options

VIII. Miscellaneous
       A. Protective Orders - Cell Phones
       B. Access to Child or Spousal Support Case Files

WHEN AND HOW TO USE FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY EVALUATIONS:
A DOCTOR’S PERSPECTIVE
Keith Fender

I. Introduction

II. Forensic Evaluation v. Therapeutic Evaluations

III. Improving the Utility of Forensic Evaluations in the Psycho-Legal
Setting

IV. Forensic Evaluations

V. Forensic Mental Health Consultation

VI. Case Examples and Discussion

WHEN AND HOW TO USE FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS:
A LAWYER’S PERSPECTIVE
Charles E. Powers

A. Domestic Relations “Context”

B. “Forensic” Evaluation

C. Expert Witness

D. Admissibility

E. Applicable Standards

F. American Psychological Association (APA) Guidelines for Child Custody
Evaluations in Family Law Proceedings

G. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology (AACAP)
Practice Parameters for Child Custody Evaluations

H. Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) Model Standards
of Practice for Child Custody Evaluation and American Academy of
Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) Child Custody Evaluation Standards

I. Diagnosis

J. Psychological Testing

K. Contents of Evaluation

L. Challenges

M. Procedures

N. Conclusion

EFFECTS OF THE NEW TAX LAW CHANGES ON FAMILY LAW MATTERS:
A CPA’S PERSPECTIVE
Mark C. Vogel
Richard L. Wolf

I. Current Tax Law Regarding Alimony
       A. Alimony is Currently Taxable
       B. Requirements for Alimony
       C. Alimony Recapture

II. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”)

III. Impact of TCJA on Alimony

IV. Additional Impact of the TCJA on Divorcing Couples
       A. Increase in Standard Deduction
       B. Elimination of Personal and Dependency Exemptions
       C. Increase in Child Tax Credit
       D. Change in Section 529 Plans
       E. Business Valuations

V. Additional Provisions of the TCJA
       A. Individual Tax Rate Brackets
       B. Deduction for Qualified Business Income
       C. State and Local Tax Deduction
       D. Mortgage Interest Deduction
       E. Miscellaneous Itemized Deductions
       F. Head of Household Due Diligence Requirements
       G. Moving Expense Deduction
       H. Major Sunset Provisions of the TCJA

VI. Additional Materials - Do They Qualify as Alimony?
       A. Mortgage Payments for Ex-Spouse
       B. Prepayments of Future Alimony
       C. Excess Payments
       D. Underpayments of Alimony
       E. Is Interest on Late Alimony Deductible?

Authors

Edward D. Barnes

Lawrence D. Diehl

Dr. Keith E. Fender

Daniel L. Gray

Susan Hicks

Charles E. Powers

Craig W. Sampson

Mark C. Vogel

Richard L. Wolf