Agenda / Content Covered

Morning Session - 9:00 - 12:00
Panelists: Hon. Kevin M. Duffan, Hon. Lyn M. Simmons, and Hon. Larry D. Willis Sr.
Moderator: Besianne Tavss Maiden

1. Local Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Procedure: What Attorneys MUST Know
2. Case Scheduling and Keeping the Court Apprised of Case Updates
3. Parenting Time/Custody - Critical Factors That Help the Judges Make Decisions
4. The Role of Psychological Evaluations and Court Investigations
5. Support Orders and Deviation from Guidelines
6. Legal Ethics Mistakes Attorneys Need to Stop Making (11:00 - 12:00)
   1. Communication Between Bench and Bar
   2. Ethical Conduct in the Courtroom

Afternoon Session - 1:00 - 4:30
Panelists: Hon. Mary Jane Hall, Kathleen M. Edge, Richard E. Garriott Jr., Sheera R. Herrell, and Mark S. Smith
Moderator: Besianne Tavss Maiden

7. Equitable Assets/Debts Division: Specific Assets That Cause the Most Problems and Delays
8. Dissipation of Assets: What Proof is Needed?
9. How Income Disparity Between Spouses Affects the Judges' View of the Case as it Pertains to Spousal Support and Equitable Distribution
10. Admissibility of Smartphone and Social Media Evidence
11. Issues that Should be Resolved Without the Judges' Involvement
12. Case Presentation: What Judges Prefer and Prohibit
13. Contempt in Circuit Court Cases
14. How Judges Determine Enforceability of Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements
15. Custody and Support in Pendente Lite
16. Custody on Appeal and at Time of Final Divorce Trial

HON. KEVIN M. DUFFAN is a District Court Judge in the 2nd Judicial District's Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

KATHLEEN M. EDGE is the founder and owner of Edge Law, P.C. Ms. Edge specializes in family, criminal and traffic law. She has lectured at both Regent Law School and the Marshall Wythe School of Law on topics such as family law and military divorce issues. Ms. Edge received her B.A. degree from Providence College and her J.D. degree from the College of William & Mary. She is a member of both the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Beach Bar Association.

RICHARD E. GARRIOTT JR. is a shareholder with the law firm of Pender & Coward, P.C. Mr. Garriott is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and focuses his practice in the areas of family law and civil litigation. As president-elect of the Virginia Bar Association, Mr. Garriott is recognized statewide as a pre-eminent advocate in divorce and custody disputes. He received his M.A. degree from Ball State University and his J.D. degree from the University of Richmond T.C. Williams School of Law.

HON. MARY JANE HALL is a Circuit Court Judge in the 4th Judicial Circuit.

SHEERA R. HERRELL is the managing partner of the Hofheimer Family Law Firm. Ms. Herrell practices primarily in representing women in divorce and custody cases. She is also a certified financial planner™ and is exceptionally skilled at handling cases with complicated equitable distribution issues. Ms. Herrell received her B.A. degree from George Washington University and her J.D. degree from Albany Law School.

HON. LYN M. SIMMONS is the Chief District Court Judge in the 4th Judicial District's Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

MARK S. SMITH is an attorney with the law firm of Christie, Kantor, Griffin & Smith, P.C. Mr. Smith practices primarily in the areas of family law, including separation, divorce, custody, child and spousal support, equitable distribution (including all retirement issues and business valuation issues), and criminal and traffic law. He is a member of the Family Law and Criminal Law sections of the Virginia State Bar, the Family Law section of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Virginia Beach Bar Association. Mr. Smith received his B.A. degree from the University of Virginia and his J.D. degree from the College of William & Mary.

HON. LARRY D. WILLIS SR. is the Chief District Court Judge in the 1st Judicial District's Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

MODERATOR - BESIANNE TAVSS MAIDEN is a partner in the law firm of Tavss, Fletcher, Maiden & Reed, P.C. where she has practiced since 1991. She concentrates her practice in family law matters, including divorce, custody and child support. Ms. Maiden is a member of the Virginia State Bar, Virginia Beach Bar Association and Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association. She is a member of Collaborative Divorce Solutions of Tidewater, and a member of the Virginia Collaborative Professionals and International Association of Collaborative Professionals. She earned her B.A. degree from Goucher College and her J.D. degree from T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond.