Monday - Friday8:30AM - 5PM
OfficesFairfax | Manassas
Family Law Attorneys · Westover, Virginia
After a long marriage, the question is how each of you moves forward.
In Westover's established homes, many divorces come after decades together, often near retirement. The hard questions are spousal support and how a lifetime of savings gets divided. We help Westover couples work through it with care, 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
Around Westover, couples who built a long life together are facing this later than they ever expected. None of them do it alone, and neither will you.
13
factors guide a Virginia spousal support award
Va. Code § 20-107.1
Duration
a long marriage shapes the amount and length of support
Va. Code § 20-107.1
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 Westover couples.
After a long marriage, the work is fair support and a clean division of what you built together over decades. Here is what we take on.
Looking for a family law attorney near Westover? NOVA Legal Professionals helps Westover couples with spousal support, the division of retirement and long-held property, custody, and divorce, with cases at the Arlington County Justice Center. Talk with an attorney at 571.260.0999.
01 /
The matter of a life built together.
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
Decades of savings, the home, and the retirement, Virginia divides the marital share by what is fair. We work every factor so a long marriage is reflected.
Fair, Not Equal 03Asset Division
The home, the pensions, and the investment accounts, we identify and value every marital asset built over the years so the division is complete.
The Marital Estate 04Separation Agreements
A clear separation agreement settles support, property, and the rest in one place. We draft yours so a long marriage closes cleanly, with nothing left open.
First Protection 05Child Support
If support for a child is in play, it follows the state guideline. We make sure the inputs are right so the number is fair.
Guideline & Beyond 06Custody & Parenting
A parenting plan, where children are still at home, should fit your real week. We shape custody and visitation around their routine.
Parenting Time 07Spousal Support
After a long marriage, support is often the central question. We work through the thirteen factors so the amount and the length are genuinely fair.
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 Westover case is heard.
Westover sits in north Arlington, a short drive from the courthouse. 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, spousal support, and the division of long-held property.
DecidesEquitable distribution, plus support and custody when part of the divorce.
Where1425 North Courthouse Road, in the Courthouse neighborhood, the 17th Judicial Circuit.
NoteSpousal support after a long marriage can be set for a defined or open term.
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 Westover couples about support.
After thirty years, a divorce is less about blame and more about arithmetic. Support and a fair split of what you built are what decide your next chapter.
- 1
Length changes everything about support
In a long marriage, spousal support is often larger and longer, sometimes without a fixed end date. The thirteen statutory factors, especially the standard of living and each spouse's earning capacity, do most of the work.
- 2
Retirement is usually the biggest asset
After decades, the pensions and retirement accounts often outweigh the house. Dividing them correctly, with the right orders, protects both spouses through the years ahead.
- 3
Health and age belong in the case
Near retirement, health, age, and earning capacity weigh heavily on support. We make sure the court sees the real picture of what each of you can do going forward.
Why Families Trust Us
Help after a long marriage.
When a marriage of decades ends, you want counsel who handles support and retirement division with care and fairness.
Experience
50+
Years Combined
Years of handling long-marriage divorces for Arlington couples.
Expertise
100%
Family Law Focus
Family law is the whole practice, spousal support and retirement 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 Westover couples and others across Northern Virginia.
Recognition
Recognition built over time.
We have helped Westover couples close a long marriage with fair support and a clean division of what they built, so each could move into the next chapter steady.
Our commitment to Westover
From Our Clients
Westover couples in their own words.
Read what Westover clients have shared about a long-marriage divorce with our attorneys.
Questions People Actually Ask
Plain answers, about spousal support.
These are the questions Westover couples ask first. If yours is not here, just ask.
Have a question about spousal support?Call 571.260.0999 or send us a message.
How is spousal support decided?
On thirteen statutory factors under Va. Code 20-107.1, including the length of the marriage, the standard of living, and each spouse's income and earning capacity. After a long marriage, support is often larger and longer.
Does a long marriage mean permanent support?
Sometimes. Virginia allows support for a defined period or, after a long marriage, without a set end date, subject to later change. The duration and amount turn on the factors and the facts, not a fixed formula.
How is retirement divided?
The marital share of pensions and retirement accounts is divided by equitable distribution, usually through specific orders the plans will accept. After decades of marriage, this is often the largest part of the estate.
Can support change later?
Often yes. Unless the agreement says otherwise, spousal support can be modified when circumstances change in a meaningful way, such as retirement or a change in income. We make sure the order reflects what you intend.
Where is a Westover 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.
Before You Decide
Reading before you decide.
Plain English guides Westover couples 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 GuideBWho Pays the Bills?
How couples handle the mortgage, the cards, and everyday costs during a separation.
SeparationCWhat 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 plan your next chapter.
Tell us about your marriage and what you have built, and we will help you work out support and a fair division in Westover.