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OfficesFairfax | Manassas
Family Law Attorneys · Arlington, Virginia
In Arlington, the biggest asset is often a condo, not a house.
Most Arlington couples do not have a single-family home with a yard to split. They have a condo, retirement accounts, and a life built in the city. Dividing that fairly takes a different kind of care. We help Arlington families do it, with the case heard at the Arlington County Justice Center. Reach us when you are ready.
A first call is calm, and it is free.
You Are Not Alone
Across Arlington's high-rises and tree-lined streets, couples are quietly working through the same thing. None of them do it alone, and neither will you.
Fair
not equal: how Virginia divides marital property
Va. Code § 20-107.3
Title
does not decide it: whose name is on the deed is not the answer
Marital vs. separate
17th
Judicial Circuit, where Arlington cases are decided
Arlington County Circuit Court
50+
years of combined family law practice
Three Northern Virginia offices
What We Handle
Family law help for Arlington residents.
When the marital estate is a condo and a set of accounts rather than a house and a yard, the division still has to be exact. Here is the work we take on.
Looking for a family law attorney in Arlington? NOVA Legal Professionals helps Arlington clients divide condos, accounts, and retirement, and handles custody, child support, and spousal support, with cases at the Arlington County Justice Center. Talk with an attorney at 571.260.0999.
01 /
The matter of dividing it all.
01
Contested Divorce
When you and your spouse cannot agree, an Arlington judge decides. We build the case, negotiate where we can, and try it when settlement is off the table.
When You Cannot Agree 02Equitable Distribution
Virginia divides marital property by what is fair, not a flat half. We work every factor so the split of your condo and accounts reflects the marriage.
Fair, Not Equal 03Asset Division
A condo, the equity in it, the accounts, and the retirement, we identify and value every marital asset so the division is clear and final.
The Marital Estate 04Separation Agreements
The separation agreement settles support, property, and parenting in one document. We draft yours so a shared condo and its mortgage are handled cleanly.
First Protection 05Child Support
Child support follows the state guideline, built on both incomes and the parenting schedule. We make sure the inputs are right so the number is fair.
Guideline & Beyond 06Custody & Parenting
A parenting plan should fit city life, school, and two working schedules. We build custody and visitation around how your family actually lives.
Parenting Time 07Spousal Support
Spousal support steadies a household while it resets. Whether you would pay or receive it, we work toward a fair amount and a fair term.
Maintenance 08Military Divorce
Arlington sits beside the Pentagon and a deep federal bench. We divide military and federal retirement, survivor benefits included, by their own rules.
Service MembersWhere Your Case Is Heard
Where an Arlington case is heard.
Arlington is compact, and its courts are central. A divorce is filed in the Arlington County Circuit Court; custody and support on their own go to the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, both inside the Arlington County Justice Center at 1425 North Courthouse Road.
Circuit Court
Arlington County Circuit Court
17th Judicial Circuit
HearsThe divorce itself, and the division of the condo, accounts, and debt.
DecidesEquitable distribution, plus support and custody when part of the divorce.
Where1425 North Courthouse Road, in the Courthouse neighborhood, the 17th Judicial Circuit.
NoteThe 17th Circuit also covers the City of Falls Church.
J&DR Court
Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court
Family matters outside a divorce
HearsCustody, visitation, child support, and protective orders on their own.
StartMost cases open at the intake desk before a hearing is set.
WhereThe same Justice Center on North Courthouse Road, Suite 4100.
NoteYou file where you and your spouse last lived together, which for Arlington couples is Arlington.
Alisa Chunephisal, Esq.Family Law Attorney
Attorney Insights
What I tell Arlington clients about the condo.
Dividing a condo is not like splitting a house. The mortgage, the equity, and who stays all have to be solved together, not one at a time.
- 1
A condo is one asset with three problems
The equity, the mortgage, and who lives there after all have to be decided together. Selling, buying out, or holding the unit each carries different tax and credit consequences, so the choice should be made with the full picture in view.
- 2
Title is not the same as ownership
A condo or account in one spouse's name can still be marital property if it was bought during the marriage. We trace what is marital and what is separate so the division starts from the right place.
- 3
Urban life changes the parenting plan
Two working parents, transit commutes, and small living spaces shape what a workable schedule looks like. We build plans around city realities, not a suburban template.
Why Families Trust Us
Help dividing an urban estate.
When the marital estate is a condo and a set of accounts, you want counsel who values it precisely and divides it cleanly.
Experience
50+
Years Combined
Years of dividing condos and urban estates for Arlington families.
Expertise
100%
Family Law Focus
Family law is the whole practice, property division included.
Authority
AV
Preeminent Rated
Peer rated AV Preeminent, listed in Super Lawyers, and rated 10.0 on Avvo.
Trust
5★
Verified Reviews
Verified five star reviews from Arlington families and others across Northern Virginia.
Recognition
Recognition Arlington can weigh.
We have helped Arlington families divide the condo, the accounts, and the retirement fairly, so each spouse walked away with a clean start and a clear balance sheet.
Our commitment to Arlington
From Our Clients
Arlington families in their own words.
Read what Arlington clients have shared about dividing an urban estate with our attorneys.
Questions People Actually Ask
Plain answers, about dividing an estate.
These are the questions Arlington clients ask first. If yours is not here, just ask.
Have a question about dividing a condo?Call 571.260.0999 or send us a message.
How is a condo divided in a divorce?
The condo's equity is marital property if it was bought during the marriage. The options are to sell and split the proceeds, have one spouse buy out the other, or hold it for a set time. Each choice carries different mortgage, tax, and credit effects, so we weigh them together.
Does it matter whose name is on the deed?
Usually not for division. Property bought during the marriage is generally marital no matter whose name is on the title. What you owned before the marriage, or received by gift or inheritance, can stay separate if it was kept separate. We trace it carefully.
Where is an Arlington divorce filed?
In the Arlington County Circuit Court at the Justice Center, 1425 North Courthouse Road, the 17th Judicial Circuit. Custody or support on their own start at the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in the same building.
How long will it take?
An uncontested divorce with a signed agreement can finish within a few months once the separation period is met. A contested case usually runs longer, often a year or more, depending on the issues and the court's calendar.
What is the separation requirement?
Virginia requires one year of living separate and apart, or six months if you have no minor children and a signed separation agreement. In a dense building you can sometimes meet it while still under one roof, but the conditions are strict.
Before You Decide
Reading before you divide.
Plain English guides Arlington clients reach for most while weighing a separation.
A
Who Pays the Bills?
How couples handle the mortgage, the cards, and everyday costs during a separation.
SeparationBHow Do I Get a Divorce in Virginia?
The plain English overview of grounds, timelines, and the steps to a final decree.
Virginia GuideCWhat to Expect in an Uncontested Divorce
The requirements, the timeline, and what makes a Virginia divorce uncontested.
Virginia GuideWhen You Are Ready
When you are ready, let's sort the estate.
Tell us what you and your spouse own, and we will help you divide your Arlington condo and accounts fairly.