The Law Office of Thomas E.A. Bishop

July 1, 2021: The Commonwealth Goes Up In Smoke

The day long-awaited by many closet tokers has arrived in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Senate Bill 1406/House Bill 2312, approved by a majority of Virginia’s legislature, heralds in a new era—as of July 1, 2021, simple possession of nominal amounts of marijuana* and home grow operations for up to four (4) marijuana plants are legal in the state. But does this really mean weed is legal? Not so fast… There are a ton of resources Read more…

By Henrico Law, ago

TRADEMARK LAWSUIT: Protect Your IP

What Happened?: The creative person and the business-minded person are often one and the same, but sometimes, creative types can be so wrapped up in their artistic output—of any type or kind—that they forget about an all-too-common problem that affects the ability to earn a living off of that output: I’m talking about copycats, forgers, counterfeiters, and fraudsters. These are the kinds of people who think “why should I come up with something creative and Read more…

By Henrico Law, ago

What is a No-Fault Divorce and Can I Get One?

No-fault divorce or “Uncontested Divorce” is a means of divorce where the parties (the spouses) agree to “go their separate ways.” Unlike some contested divorce cases, in a no-fault divorce, it is not necessary to prove that either party deserted the other, committed adultery, or otherwise violated the sacrament of marriage. No-fault divorce is available to be sought in any Circuit Court in the Commonwealth of Virginia, including the Counties of Henrico, Hanover, Goochland, Powhatan, Read more…

By henlawadm, ago

2021 Change to Virginia Law Affects Restoration of Civil Rights

If you or someone you love in or around Henrico or Richmond, Virginia, has “an ‘F’ on his report card” and is interested in having civil rights restored in Virginia, read on for an explanation of the latest revision to Virginia’s § 18.2-308.2—it could affect your restoration process! This change affects restorations anywhere in the Commonwealth, including Hanover, Powhatan, Goochland, New Kent, King William, James City County, Prince George, Dinwiddie, Nottoway, Prince Edward, Amelia, Cumberland, Read more…

By Henrico Law, ago

I Did Work for Someone Who Didn’t Pay—Can I Sue?

I’ll issue a classic lawyerly response: it depends… I’m not kidding, it really does. The real questions you should ask yourself , though, aren’t whether or not you can sue, they are “Can I sue and win?;” and “Is it worth the hassle? Questions a lawyer might ask you before taking on your case might be: Did you have an agreement with the customer? Is it in writing? Did your customer sign it? Did you Read more…

By Henrico Law, ago

Need a Traffic Lawyer in Henrico?

What Happened?: So imagine you were rolling a little too fast on that stretch of Dumbarton Road that everyone seems to speed on, and on this particular day, one of the boys (or gals) in blue caught you red-handed and lead-footed. You get pulled, you get a ticket for doing 45 in a 35, and now you have to either A. pay the ticket and take the points, or B. go to court and try Read more…

By Henrico Law, ago
A drawing: a man hands a paper to another man dressed in a dark suit with a white dress shirt; a drawing of a blue gavel with a blue circle around it is shown in the top right hand corner,

Restore Your Gun Rights in Virginia

What happened?: You were convicted of a felony, and you lost the right to own a firearm. Hey, it happens. No one is perfect and no one should be judged on his worst mistakes alone—everyone deserves a chance to redeem himself. Now you’ve put your nose to the grindstone, and taken the steps to get your life back on track, you’re livin’ right, and you want your guns back, maybe for hunting, or for home Read more…

By Henrico Law, ago

Make It Official: Performance Contracts, Forming a Legal Entity for your Band, and Protecting Your Interests

What’s This All About?: As a new attorney with a background as a performing musician (mostly in my younger days), I can recall well, but not too fondly, the process of handling the “business side” of the bands I played with over the years. Bands can easily walk head-on into a number of pitfalls when they simply “show up and blow up” as the evening’s entertainment at any of your favorite local watering holes. I’ll Read more…

By Henrico Law, ago

¡SEPA SUS DERECHOS! La ley de los permisos para llevar armas ocultas ha cambiado en Virginia en 2021

¿Qué pasó?: En 2020, cambiaron una ley de Virginia (propuesto en House Bill 264 y Senate Bill 263)—el cambio tomó efecto el 1 de enero, 2021. ¡Los pasos para aplicar y obtener un Permiso para llevar Armas Ocultas en Henrico, Virginia (o en cualquier otra parte de la Mancomunidad de Virginia) han cambiado! No hubo ningún cambio ni restricción del derecho de llevar una arma oculta en Virginia, pero el procedimiento de aplicar y obtener un Read more…

By Henrico Law, ago