Legal Question in Family Law in Virginia

Re: child support with live-in girlfriend

Explanation of the COLORADO RULE in Virginia:

The "Colorado Rule" named for the state that first started giving parents monetary credit for after-born children. Historicaly (and some think more intelligently) the first born were entitled to the MOST money and were not to be devalued by the exitence of "after-born" children. Why should your kids suffer because he decides to populate the world after them?

Well, welfare and the millenium made it so that the "Colorado" rule now RULES in most if not all 50 states. For several years it has been the law in Virginia (the law that would control if that is where the support Order is from or, if an original petition, where the children reside.

Virginia law (20-108.2) will give him credit off of his gross income proportional to what he would have to pay that mother for the child. The child must either live in his household or there has to be a valid support order from that other jurisdiction.

Research this issue on an Internet search engine like FINDLAW - type in VA and then search the code or the Court of Appeal cases on the "Colorado Rule".

Finally, as a responsible attorney, I would never advise any person to represent themselves in Court. Too many slick lawyers out there.

Good luck.