Monday - Friday8:30AM - 5PM
OfficesFairfax | Manassas | Fredericksburg
Family Law Attorneys · Dunn Loring, Virginia
Not every divorce belongs in a courtroom.
Plenty of Dunn Loring couples want the same thing: to end the marriage without a public, drawn out fight. Mediation lets you decide the terms yourselves, in private, with guidance instead of a gavel. We help you do it well, with the case filed in Fairfax County. Reach us when you are ready.
A first conversation is calm, and it is free.
You Are Not Alone
Across Dunn Loring, couples are choosing a quieter way through this. None of them do it alone, and there is no need for you to.
6 mo.
of Virginia residency before you can file
Va. Code § 20-97
You decide
mediation keeps the terms in your hands, not a judge's
Va. Code § 20-124.4
Private
mediation stays out of the public courtroom
Confidential by design
50+
years of combined family law practice
Three Northern Virginia offices
What We Handle
Family law help for Dunn Loring families.
When two people want to settle this themselves, the right help makes it fair and final. Here is the work we take on, in or out of the courtroom.
Looking for a family law attorney near Dunn Loring? NOVA Legal Professionals helps Dunn Loring clients with divorce mediation, separation agreements, custody, child support, spousal support, and property division. Talk with an attorney at 571.260.0999.
01 /
The matter you would rather settle.
01
Contested Divorce
If a fair settlement is out of reach, a Fairfax judge decides. We prepare every case fully, but we steer toward agreement whenever it serves you and your family.
When You Cannot Agree 02Equitable Distribution
Virginia divides marital property by fairness, not a flat half. We help you reach a division that holds up, by agreement where possible and by the factors where not.
Fair, Not Equal 03Asset Division
The home, the accounts, the cars, and the retirement, we identify and value every marital asset so a mediated split is built on real, honest numbers.
The Marital Estate 04Separation Agreements
A separation agreement is where a mediated divorce lives. We draft yours to settle property, support, and the parenting plan clearly and completely.
First Protection 05Child Support
Child support follows the state guideline, built on both incomes and the custody schedule. We make sure the agreed number matches what the guideline expects.
Guideline & Beyond 06Custody & Parenting
A parenting plan you build together tends to last. We shape custody and visitation around school, work, and the routine your children rely on.
Parenting Time 07Spousal Support
Spousal support turns on income, need, and the length of the marriage. We help you settle a fair amount and term without a courtroom battle over it.
Maintenance 08Military Divorce
Some Dunn Loring families include a service member or federal worker. We divide military and federal retirement, survivor benefits included, by their own rules.
Service MembersWhere Your Case Is Heard
Where a Dunn Loring case is heard.
Dunn Loring is part of Fairfax County, so if a case does reach court it is heard in downtown Fairfax. Both courts share the Fairfax County Courthouse at 4110 Chain Bridge Road, though a mediated divorce keeps most of the work out of the courtroom.
Circuit Court
Fairfax County Circuit Court
19th Judicial Circuit
HearsThe divorce, and how marital property and debt are divided.
DecidesEquitable distribution, with support and custody when they sit inside the divorce.
WhereDowntown Fairfax at 4110 Chain Bridge Road, southwest of Dunn Loring.
NoteAn agreed, mediated divorce is largely paperwork once the terms are signed.
J&DR Court
Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court
Family matters outside a divorce
HearsCustody, parenting time, child support, and protective orders on their own.
StartMost cases open at the Court Services Unit intake before a hearing.
WhereInside the same Fairfax courthouse on Chain Bridge Road.
NoteYou file where you and your spouse last lived together, which for Dunn Loring couples is Fairfax County.
Alisa Chunephisal, Esq.Family Law Attorney
Attorney Insights
What I tell clients weighing mediation.
A judge hands you a ruling. Mediation gives you a say, and people tend to keep the deals they helped make.
- 1
Mediation keeps you in control
A judge applies the law to your family from the outside. Mediation lets the two of you shape the outcome to fit your real lives, which is why mediated terms tend to hold.
- 2
Know your numbers first
Mediation works best when both people see the full financial picture. We help you gather and value everything first, so the agreement is fair, not just fast.
- 3
Get the agreement drafted right
A handshake is not an order. We turn what you agree on into a separation agreement that a court will accept and enforce, with no loose ends.
Why Families Trust Us
Help for a calmer resolution.
When you would rather settle this than fight it, you want counsel that can guide a fair agreement and still protect you.
Experience
50+
Years Combined
Years of guiding Dunn Loring families through mediated and agreed divorce.
Expertise
100%
Family Law Focus
Family law is the whole practice, from mediation to a contested trial when needed.
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 Dunn Loring families and others across Fairfax County.
Recognition
Recognition that reflects steady judgment.
We have helped Dunn Loring couples resolve a divorce privately and fairly, with agreements they shaped themselves and could live with afterward.
Our commitment to Dunn Loring
Client Voices
Dunn Loring families in their own words.
Read what Dunn Loring clients have shared about resolving a divorce calmly with our attorneys.
Questions People Actually Ask
Plain answers, about settling it.
These are the questions Dunn Loring clients ask first. If yours is not here, just ask.
Have a question about mediation?Call 571.260.0999 or send us a message.
Which court hears a Dunn Loring divorce?
Dunn Loring is in Fairfax County, so the divorce and property division go to the Fairfax County Circuit Court at 4110 Chain Bridge Road. Custody or support on their own start at the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court in the same building. A mediated divorce keeps most of the work out of court.
What is divorce mediation?
It is a process where the two of you, with guidance, decide the terms yourselves instead of leaving them to a judge. You keep control of the outcome, the discussions stay private, and what you agree on becomes a binding separation agreement.
Is mediation right for us?
Often, yes, when both people are willing to be honest and reasonable, even if you do not agree on everything yet. It tends not to fit when there is hidden money or a real power imbalance, and we will tell you honestly if litigation would serve you better.
Do I still need a lawyer if we mediate?
Yes. A mediator stays neutral and cannot give you advice. You still want your own attorney to protect your interests, check the numbers, and draft or review the agreement so it is fair and enforceable.
How long does a mediated divorce take?
Usually less time than a contested one. Once you reach agreement and the separation period is met, an uncontested divorce can be finalized within a few months, largely on paperwork.
Before You Decide
Reading for the calmer path.
Plain English guides Dunn Loring clients reach for most while they weigh the calmer path.
A
What to Expect in an Uncontested Divorce
The requirements, the timeline, and what makes a Virginia divorce uncontested.
Virginia GuideBSeparating Under One Roof
How to live separate and apart inside the same home in Virginia, and what makes it count.
Virginia GuideCWho Pays the Bills?
How families handle the mortgage and the cards during a separation, before any support order.
SeparationWhen You Are Ready
When you are ready, let's settle it calmly.
Tell us what is going on in your Dunn Loring case, and we will help you resolve it with as little conflict as possible.