Monday - Friday8:30AM - 5PM
OfficesFairfax | Manassas
Family Law Attorneys · Courthouse, Virginia
Your courthouse is right around the corner. Here is what happens inside it.
In the Courthouse neighborhood, the Arlington County Justice Center is practically your neighbor. If a divorce is ahead, the first thing most people want is a map of the steps. We walk you through each one and handle it with you, with the case heard a few blocks away. Reach us when you are ready.
A first call is clear, and it is free.
You Are Not Alone
In the Courthouse neighborhood, the law is close at hand, and so are the people working through it. None of them do it alone, and neither will you.
Steps
file, serve, exchange, settle or try, then the decree
The divorce process
6 mo.
Virginia residency required before you can file
Va. Code § 20-97
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 the Courthouse neighborhood.
A divorce is a sequence, not a single event, and knowing the order takes much of the fear out of it. Here is the work we take on, from the first filing to the final decree.
Looking for a family law attorney in Arlington's Courthouse area? NOVA Legal Professionals helps Courthouse-area clients through the divorce process, custody, support, and property division, with cases at the Arlington County Justice Center. Talk with an attorney at 571.260.0999.
01 /
The matter just down the street.
01
Contested Divorce
If you cannot agree, an Arlington judge decides the open issues. We prepare the case at every stage, settle what we can, and try the rest when needed.
When You Cannot Agree 02Equitable Distribution
Virginia divides marital property by what is fair, not a flat half. We work every factor so the division reflects the life you built.
Fair, Not Equal 03Asset Division
The home or condo, the accounts, and the retirement, we identify and value every marital asset so the division is clear and final.
The Marital Estate 04Separation Agreements
A signed separation agreement resolves most divorces. We draft a complete one so the rest of the process is mostly paperwork.
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 your family's real week. We shape custody and visitation around school, work, and your children's routine.
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 your case is heard.
The Courthouse neighborhood takes its name from the building at its center. 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 from the first filing to the final decree.
DecidesEquitable distribution, plus support and custody within the divorce.
Where1425 North Courthouse Road, a few blocks from home, the 17th Judicial Circuit.
NoteMost cases settle before they ever reach a trial date.
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 Courthouse-area clients about the process.
Fear of a divorce is mostly fear of the unknown. Once you can see the steps, the whole thing becomes something you can actually handle.
- 1
It moves in stages
A divorce runs in order: file the complaint, serve your spouse, exchange information, negotiate, and either settle or go to trial, then the final decree. Knowing which stage you are in tells you what to focus on next.
- 2
The separation clock runs alongside
For a no-fault divorce, the six-month or one-year separation period runs while the early steps happen. Starting the paperwork early lets the timeline and the wait overlap instead of stacking.
- 3
Settlement is the norm
Most divorces resolve by agreement before trial. We prepare every case thoroughly, which is what moves the other side toward a fair settlement and keeps you out of the courtroom when possible.
Why Families Trust Us
Help through every step.
When you want to know what happens and when, you want counsel who has walked these halls many times.
Experience
50+
Years Combined
Years of guiding Arlington clients through the divorce process.
Expertise
100%
Family Law Focus
Family law is the whole practice, every stage of it 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 clients across Northern Virginia.
Recognition
Recognition that guides you through.
We have walked Arlington families through the divorce process one step at a time, just blocks from the Justice Center, so the path was clear and the surprises were few.
Our commitment to the Courthouse area
From Our Clients
Arlington clients who trusted us.
Read what Arlington clients have shared about working through a divorce with our attorneys.
Questions People Actually Ask
Plain answers, about the steps.
These are the questions Courthouse-area clients ask first. If yours is not here, just ask.
Have a question about the process?Call 571.260.0999 or send us a message.
What are the steps in a divorce?
In order: file the complaint, serve your spouse, exchange financial information, negotiate a settlement, and either sign an agreement or go to trial, then the court enters the final decree. Most cases settle before trial. We handle each stage with you.
How long does it take?
It depends on the separation period and whether you agree. The no-fault wait is six months with no minor children and a signed agreement, or one year otherwise. An uncontested case can finish soon after the wait; contested issues add time.
Do I have to go to court?
Often not for a full trial. Many uncontested divorces in Virginia are finalized on affidavits, without a hearing. If issues are contested there may be hearings, but even then most cases settle before a judge has to decide.
When does the separation clock start?
When one spouse decides the marriage is over and you begin living separate lives, not when papers are filed. Pinning down that date matters, because it starts the six-month or one-year period a no-fault divorce is built on.
Where is the case heard?
At the Arlington County Justice Center, 1425 North Courthouse Road, the 17th Judicial Circuit. A divorce is filed in the Circuit Court; custody or support on their own start at the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in the same building.
Before You Decide
Reading on the divorce process.
Plain English guides Courthouse-area clients reach for most as they get started.
A
How Do I Get a Divorce in Virginia?
The plain English overview of grounds, timelines, and the steps to a final decree.
Virginia GuideBWhat to Expect in an Uncontested Divorce
The requirements, the timeline, and what makes a Virginia divorce uncontested.
Virginia GuideCWho Pays the Bills?
How couples handle the mortgage, the cards, and everyday costs during a separation.
SeparationWhen You Are Ready
When you are ready, let's map it out.
Tell us where you are starting from, and we will walk you through the steps of your Arlington divorce.