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Divorce, custody, support & property divisionNorthern Virginia

Clear goals. A deliberate plan.

Most family law cases are decided by choices made in the first weeks. I identify early where your case is likely to end, then build every step toward that result.

Request a Consultation (571) 328-5020
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Recognition

Where to begin

Where are you right now?

Choose the situation closest to yours: what to do now, what to avoid, and what to gather.

The Roadmap

How a contested Virginia divorce actually unfolds.

The date of separation starts Virginia’s statutory clock, and what happens in the first weeks becomes the record. Before anyone moves out, financial records are preserved, access to accounts is protected, and a parenting schedule is set that will hold up in court.

From the blog

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10300 Eaton Place, Suite 520, Fairfax

Getting started

What happens when you reach out.

  1. Contact the firm for a conflict check

    Call or send the form. We confirm the county and the parties and complete a conflict check before any details of your matter are discussed.

  2. Schedule a consultation

    A confidential meeting to review the facts, the documents you have, and any immediate deadlines or risks.

  3. Leave with a plan

    You leave with a realistic assessment, the options available under Virginia law, and the first steps to take.

In their words

What clients say.

From the very beginning, Jason approached every challenge with a thoughtful, strategic mindset. Rather than focusing on obstacles, he consistently presented two or three practical solutions, clearly explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each so I could make informed decisions.

Sarah S., military family · Google review

He took the time to explain complex legal issues in a way I could understand, presented different options and possible outcomes without ever pressuring me, and helped me make informed decisions that aligned with my goals and comfort level.

Jessica E. · Google review

In court, he was prepared, confident, and articulate. … I was impressed with Jason’s knowledge of the legal issues, the evidence, and the evidentiary rules and potential objections and responses.

Jeanne B., a client who is also an attorney · Google review

These testimonials reflect the experiences and opinions of individual clients. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future matter.

Blog

Analysis of Virginia family law.

Property Division

How Virginia Courts Value Closely Held Businesses in Divorce

If you or your spouse owns a closely held business — a medical or dental practice, a government contracting firm, a professional services company, or any other privately held enterprise…
  1. Marital Fault

    Repair or File? How Marital Conduct Affects a Virginia Divorce

  2. Trial Presentation

    Who Pays Expert Witness Fees in Virginia Custody?

  3. High-Asset Divorce

    High-Asset Divorce in Virginia: Classifying, Valuing, and Dividing a Complex Estate

  4. Custody and Visitation

    How Virginia judges decide custody cases, and which factors actually determine outcomes

Read the blog

How I can help

Practice areas

  • Contested Divorce

    Fault and no-fault divorce in Fairfax, Loudoun, and neighboring circuit courts, including cases where grounds, the date of separation, or marital conduct are in dispute.

    Grounds and fault

  • Custody & Visitation

    Initial custody determinations, modifications, and relocation disputes, decided under the best-interests factors of Va. Code § 20-124.3.

    Custody and visitation

  • Spousal Support

    Establishing, defending, and modifying spousal support, from temporary awards while the case is pending through permanent support, including support affected by fault.

    Spousal support

  • Child Support

    Guideline calculations, deviations, imputed income, and support where parental income exceeds the guideline schedule.

    Child support calculator

  • Equitable Distribution

    Classification, valuation, and division of marital, separate, and hybrid property: real estate, retirement accounts, and investment portfolios.

    Equitable distribution

  • Business Owners & Professional Practices

    Valuation of closely held businesses and professional practices, including goodwill, owner income for support purposes, and tracing of separate contributions.

    Business valuation

  • Executive & Government Contractor Compensation

    Stock options, restricted stock, deferred compensation, bonuses, and federal benefits, and the practical effect of a divorce on a security clearance.

    Executive and contractor divorce

  • Military Divorce

    Division of military retired pay, Survivor Benefit Plan elections, and custody arrangements that account for deployment and permanent change of station.

    Discuss your matter

  • Agreements & Post-Decree Matters

    Premarital and marital agreements, property settlement agreements, and enforcement or modification of existing support and custody orders.

    Discuss your matter

Also: Loudoun County high-net-worth divorce · All practice areas

Where I practice

Northern Virginia courts

Where I Practice

Northern Virginia Courts

Map of Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Arlington, and AlexandriaFairfaxLoudounPrince WilliamArlingtonAlexandriaLoudounFairfaxPrince WilliamArlingtonAlexandriaMarylandD.C.

Fairfax County

Including the City of Fairfax and Falls Church. Fairfax Circuit Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Executive and government contractor divorce →

Loudoun County

Loudoun Circuit Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. High-net-worth divorce →

Prince William County

Including Manassas and Manassas Park. Prince William Circuit Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

Arlington County

Arlington Circuit Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

City of Alexandria

Alexandria Circuit Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

Also admitted in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Court links for each jurisdiction →

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Before You File

A two-page checklist of the records to gather and the steps to take, and avoid, before a high-asset divorce in Northern Virginia.

Download the checklist (PDF)

If you share a computer or phone, save it somewhere private.

How long must we be separated before a divorce can be granted in Virginia?
A no-fault divorce from the bond of matrimony (a final divorce) requires one year of continuous separation without cohabitation. The period drops to six months if you have signed a separation agreement and there are no minor children. Va. Code § 20-91(A)(9)(a). Since July 1, 2026, either spouse may file for a divorce from bed and board as soon as the parties separate, provided at least one of them intends the separation to be permanent. Va. Code § 20-95. A bed and board decree does not end the marriage, and a final divorce is still subject to the separation periods above. Related: Changes to Virginia Divorce Law on July 1, 2026.
Does adultery still matter in a Virginia divorce?
Yes, but the 2026 amendments narrowed it. Adultery is now a ground for divorce only if it occurred before the parties’ last separation. Va. Code § 20-91(A)(1). Adultery can also affect spousal support. Permanent support is generally barred for a spouse against whom an adultery ground exists, unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that denying support would be a manifest injustice. Va. Code § 20-107.1(B). Whether to plead fault is a strategic decision, and it should be made early. Related: Repair or File? How Marital Conduct Affects a Virginia Divorce.
Is there a presumption of joint custody in Virginia?
No. The court may award joint legal, joint physical, or sole custody, but the statute provides that “there shall be no presumption in favor of any form of custody,” and no presumption in favor of either parent. Va. Code § 20-124.2(B). The decision rests on the child’s best interests, measured by the factors in § 20-124.3. Related: How Virginia Judges Decide Custody Cases.
What is pendente lite relief?
It is temporary relief ordered while the divorce is pending. Under Va. Code § 20-103, the court may address spousal and child support, custody, exclusive use of the family residence, payment of debts, and orders preserving either spouse’s estate. The pendente lite hearing is often the first contested hearing in a case, and its result can set the terms of everything that follows.
What should I bring to an initial consultation?
Bring whatever you have readily available: recent pay records, the last three years of tax returns, recent account and retirement statements, any agreement you or your spouse has signed (prenuptial, postnuptial, or separation), and any existing court orders. If a business is involved, bring its recent financial statements and tax returns. Incomplete records are common and are not a reason to delay the meeting.

More resources →

Consultation

Discuss your matter in confidence.

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