Monday - Friday8:30AM - 5PM
OfficesFairfax | Manassas
Family Law Attorneys · Virginia Square, Virginia
When you cannot agree on the children, the case becomes about proof.
Most custody is settled. When it is not, a Virginia Square parent faces a contested fight where the court decides on the child's best interest, and evidence is everything. We help parents prepare and present that case with care, with it heard at the Arlington County Justice Center. Reach us when you are ready.
A first call is steady, and it is free.
You Are Not Alone
Around Virginia Square, parents in hard custody disputes are more common than it looks from the outside. None of them do it alone, and neither will you.
Best
interest of the child decides a contested case
Va. Code § 20-124.3
Ten
factors the court must weigh in deciding custody
Va. Code § 20-124.3
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 Virginia Square parents.
When custody is genuinely contested, the work is building the record that shows the court what serves your child. Here is what we take on.
Looking for a family law attorney near Virginia Square? NOVA Legal Professionals helps Virginia Square parents with contested custody, visitation, support, and divorce, with cases at the Arlington County Justice Center. Talk with an attorney at 571.260.0999.
01 /
The matter worth fighting for.
01
Contested Divorce
When custody cannot be agreed, an Arlington judge decides on the child's best interest. We build the record, prepare the witnesses, and present your case fully.
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 your marriage.
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
Even a contested case can settle on some issues. We capture every agreed point in writing so the fight narrows to what truly remains.
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
Contested custody turns on the ten best-interest factors. We show the court your role in your child's daily life and why your plan serves them.
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 a Virginia Square case is heard.
Virginia Square sits between Ballston and Clarendon, minutes from the courthouse. Custody on its own runs through the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court; a divorce that includes custody is filed in the Arlington County Circuit Court, both inside the Arlington County Justice Center at 1425 North Courthouse Road.
Circuit Court
Arlington County Circuit Court
17th Judicial Circuit
HearsCustody when it is part of a divorce, and appeals from the J&DR Court.
DecidesEquitable distribution, plus support and custody within the divorce.
Where1425 North Courthouse Road, in the Courthouse neighborhood, the 17th Judicial Circuit.
NoteA custody decision from J&DR can be appealed here for a fresh hearing.
J&DR Court
Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court
Family matters outside a divorce
HearsContested custody, visitation, and child support brought 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.
NoteA guardian ad litem may be appointed to represent the child.
Alisa Chunephisal, Esq.Family Law Attorney
Attorney Insights
What I tell Virginia Square parents in a custody fight.
A contested custody case is decided on evidence, not emotion. Show the court the parent you are in your child's daily life, and the rest follows.
- 1
The ten factors are the whole game
Virginia decides custody on ten best-interest factors, from each parent's role to the child's needs and the relationship between them. A strong case speaks to each one with facts, not just feeling.
- 2
Document the daily parenting
The parent the court can see in the child's everyday life, the school runs, the appointments, the bedtimes, has the stronger case. Keep a clear record, because memory fades and the other side will have its own version.
- 3
A guardian ad litem may be appointed
In a contested case the court can appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the child's interests, and sometimes order a custody evaluation. We prepare you for both so they help your case rather than surprise it.
Why Families Trust Us
Help in a contested case.
When custody is fought, you want counsel who knows the best-interest factors and how to build the record an Arlington judge needs.
Experience
50+
Years Combined
Years of handling contested custody for Arlington families.
Expertise
100%
Family Law Focus
Family law is the whole practice, contested custody 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 Virginia Square parents and others across Northern Virginia.
Recognition
Recognition when it matters most.
We have stood with Virginia Square parents through hard custody fights, building the record that showed the court what served the child, and keeping the focus right there.
Our commitment to Virginia Square
From Our Clients
Virginia Square parents in their own words.
Read what Virginia Square parents have shared about a contested custody case with our attorneys.
Questions People Actually Ask
Plain answers, about contested custody.
These are the questions Virginia Square parents ask first. If yours is not here, just ask.
Have a question about contested custody?Call 571.260.0999 or send us a message.
How does a court decide contested custody?
On the child's best interest. Virginia weighs ten statutory factors under Va. Code 20-124.3, including each parent's role, the child's needs, and the relationship between them. The judge decides what arrangement serves the child.
What is a guardian ad litem?
An attorney the court can appoint to represent the child's interests in a contested case. The guardian ad litem investigates and makes recommendations to the judge. We prepare you for the interviews and home visits that can be part of it.
What is a custody evaluation?
A court-ordered assessment, often by a mental health professional, of each parent and the child. It can carry real weight with the judge. We help you understand the process and present yourself accurately within it.
Can a contested case still settle?
Often yes. Many contested custody cases resolve once each side sees the evidence, sometimes with help from mediation. We prepare to try the case fully, which is frequently what makes a fair settlement possible.
Where is a Virginia Square custody case heard?
Custody on its own runs through the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court at the Arlington County Justice Center, 1425 North Courthouse Road. Inside a divorce, or on appeal, the Circuit Court in the same building decides it.
Before You Decide
Reading before a custody fight.
Plain English guides Virginia Square parents reach for most.
A
How Do I Get a Divorce in Virginia?
The plain English overview of grounds, timelines, and the steps to a final decree.
Virginia GuideBCo-Parenting and Notice
How notice and a parenting schedule work between two homes.
Co-ParentingCWho 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 build your case.
Tell us about your children and what is in dispute, and we will help you prepare a strong custody case in Virginia Square.