Family Law

Family law refers to all areas of legal practice related to close familial relationships. We have more than three decades of experience with this practice and can help clients navigate legal issues involving divorce, separation, child custody, visitation, child support and spousal support, and property division.

 

Contact us today to learn more about your options regarding…

 

• Divorce (Fault & No-Fault): In addition to its expected emotional toll, divorce can significantly impact your economic well-being. All marital property, business interests, retirement, and other assets are subject to division. Read more.

• Separation Agreement: A formal separation agreement outlines the obligations of each spouse while they are living apart. It can be an important tool to ensure that you receive the support you need as you contemplate divorce.

• Division of Property, Assets & Retirement Accounts: Through the course of your marriage, you and your spouse accrue marital property. This can include everything from homes and automobiles to stocks and retirement funds you built up while you were together. We will work with you to make sure you receive your share of all marital property once you’re divorced.

• Spousal Support: Spousal support, previously called alimony, is court ordered financial support from one spouse to the other. Typically, monetary payments are made by the higher-earning spouse to the lower-earning spouse so that he or she can maintain the type of lifestyle they lived while married and become independent. We can help you understand your options regarding spousal support and how it will factor into your separation and divorce.

• Child Custody: Child custody agreements are an important step in establishing the care and guardianship of children in your family. In cases of divorce or separation, we can help set up joint custody agreements or sue for sole custody of children when necessary. Additionally, when it may be in the best interest of the child to live with other family members such as grandparents, we can assist those family members in pursuing primary custody.

• Child Support: Child support is the court-mandated payment of funds from one parent to another to provide funds for raising and sheltering the children they share. We can assist you in determining the amount of child support to which you are entitled and pursuing regular payments from your child’s other parent.

• Visitation: The right of visitation sets the guidelines under which one parent can visit children that reside in the custody of another parent or guardian. We will work with you to establish these guidelines and make them a formal part of your custody agreement. If there is no existing custody agreement, we will represent you in custody proceedings in court.

• Protective Orders & Injunctions: A protective order protects one individual from the actions of another. It is often used to prevent one person from harassing or approaching another. An injunction is used to prevent one party from carrying out a specific action against another party. We can walk you through your options regarding both of these items and help you acquire them if necessary.

• Divorce and Family Owned Small Business: Interests in a business are included in your shared assets and need to be considered as you divide property. There are a variety of options regarding the maintenance and/or division of a small business and we can help you determine what steps are best for you.

• Grandparent Rights: Under Virginia law, grandparents may sue for visitation rights and for custody of a child under certain circumstances. These cases are often complex and require highly experienced counsel. We have many years of practice in grandparent rights cases and can help you understand all your options in regards to your grandchildren.