Monday - Friday8:30AM - 5PM
OfficesFairfax | Manassas
Family Law Attorneys · Fairfax, Virginia
Family law attorneys for Fairfax, Virginia.
If your marriage is ending, or custody and support are now on the table, you do not have to work it out alone. NOVA Legal Professionals represents Fairfax families from our office at 4122 Leonard Drive, minutes from the county courthouse. Call when you are ready to talk.
First call is a conversation, not a commitment.
You Are Not Alone
Hundreds of Fairfax County families face this every year. None of them do it alone, and neither will you.
6 mo.
Virginia residency
required to file
required to file
Va. Code § 20-97
1 yr.
Separation with
minor children
minor children
Va. Code § 20-91
19th
Judicial Circuit that
hears Fairfax County cases
hears Fairfax County cases
Fairfax County Circuit Court
50+
Years of combined
experience at the firm
experience at the firm
Across three NoVa offices
What We Handle
Family law help for Fairfax families.
From the simplest uncontested case to a contested trial at the Fairfax County Courthouse, here is the work we take on.
Looking for a family law attorney near Fairfax? NOVA Legal Professionals represents Fairfax clients in divorce, custody, child support, spousal support, and the division of property, from our office at 4122 Leonard Drive. Reach an attorney at 571.260.0999.
01 /
The matter you are facing.
01
Contested Divorce
When you and your spouse cannot agree on the big issues, a Fairfax judge decides. We prepare hard, negotiate where we can, and try the case when settlement is off the table.
When You Cannot Agree 02Equitable Distribution
Virginia divides property fairly, not always equally. We walk every factor under Va. Code 20-107.3 so the split reflects your marriage.
Va. Code 20-107.3 03Asset Division
From bank accounts to the family home, we identify, value, and divide marital assets so the result holds up the day the divorce is final.
Marital Property 04Separation Agreements
The first document that actually protects you. We draft yours to cover support, property, and the children, so nothing comes back later.
First Protection 05Child Support
We make sure support is figured the right way under the state guideline, with the add-on costs and the custody schedule accounted for.
Guideline Formula 06Custody & Parenting
We build parenting plans around how your family actually lives, whether custody is agreed between you or decided by the court.
Parenting Plans 07Spousal Support
Whether you are asking for support or being asked to pay, we work through what is fair on amount, duration, and later changes.
Asking or Paying 08Military Divorce
Fairfax sits near several commands. We handle the pension division, residency rules, and the SCRA protections that civilian divorces never face.
Service MembersWhere Your Case Is Heard
Two courts, both in downtown Fairfax.
Most family matters in the county run through one of two courts, and both sit inside the Fairfax County Courthouse at 4110 Chain Bridge Road. Which one you are in depends on what you are asking for.
Circuit Court
Fairfax County Circuit Court
19th Judicial Circuit
HearsThe divorce itself, and the division of marital property and debt.
DecidesEquitable distribution, and support and custody when they are part of the divorce.
Where4110 Chain Bridge Road, near Route 123 and Main Street.
NoteThe largest trial court in Virginia, so scheduling sets the pace of a contested case.
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 through the Court Services Unit intake before a hearing.
Where4110 Chain Bridge Road, in the same courthouse complex.
NoteYou file where you and your spouse last lived together, which for local couples is Fairfax.
Alisa Chunephisal, Esq.Family Law Attorney
Attorney Insights
A few things I wish people knew on day one.
"Day one matters. The choices you make in the first thirty days of a separation often shape the next two years of your case."
- 1
Do not move out before you talk to a lawyer
Leaving the home can hurt your case in ways that are hard to fix. Custody, support, and your share of the house can all be affected by who moved out and when. A short call before you pack a bag can save you months later.
- 2
Settle when you can, fight when you must
Most Virginia divorces never see a trial, and that is a good thing. A settled case is usually faster, less expensive, and easier on your kids. We push for the right settlement, and we go to trial only when the alternative is worse for you.
- 3
The agreement you sign today follows you for years
A separation or property settlement agreement controls who gets what, who pays what, and who lives where, long after the ink dries. Read every line. We make sure nothing slips through that you will regret later.
Why Families Trust Us
Built on experience, expertise, and a real track record.
A divorce attorney is someone you put a lot of trust in. Here is what we bring to the table.
Experience
50+
Years Combined
Decades of Virginia family law work behind every case we take, across the Northern Virginia courts.
Expertise
100%
Family Law Focus
We do this work and nothing else. The statutes, the judges, the procedures: this is the entire practice.
Authority
AV
Preeminent Rated
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent, Super Lawyers, Avvo 10.0, and Best of the Best Top 10 Family Law Firm.
Trust
5★
Verified Reviews
Real reviews from real Virginia clients. We earn each one by showing up, listening, and doing the work.
Recognition
Honored by clients and peers, year after year.
★★★★★
"She was responsive when I needed a response and looked out for my best interests. She was direct about how the process would go. I have already recommended her to friends."
Verified Client Review
More From Our Clients
Reviews from families we have stood beside.
Read what families across Northern Virginia have shared about working with our attorneys.
Questions People Actually Ask
The honest answers, no legal speak.
These are the questions we hear at the first call from Fairfax clients. If yours is different, we are glad to answer it directly.
Have a specific question?Call 571.260.0999 or send us a message.
How long does a Fairfax divorce take?
It depends on whether the case is contested. An uncontested divorce, where both spouses agree and have signed a settlement agreement, can be finished within one to three months once the separation period is met. A contested case at the Fairfax County Circuit Court usually runs twelve to eighteen months, longer if it reaches a full trial.
Do I file for divorce in Fairfax County?
You file in the Circuit Court for the county where you and your spouse last lived together, which for local couples is Fairfax. Virginia also asks that at least one spouse has been a resident of the state for six months before filing.
Which Fairfax court handles custody and child support?
When custody or support stands on its own, the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court at 4110 Chain Bridge Road decides it, often starting with the Court Services Unit. Inside a divorce, the Circuit Court can decide the same issues.
How much does a divorce cost in Fairfax?
It depends on how much you and your spouse can agree on. An uncontested divorce with a signed settlement agreement costs the least. A contested case that goes to trial costs the most. We tell you up front what your case looks like and how to keep the cost as low as your situation allows.
What counts as marital property in Virginia?
Under Va. Code 20-107.3, marital property includes most assets and debts either spouse acquired between the date of marriage and the date of separation, no matter whose name is on the title. Separate property is what you owned before the marriage, or received as a gift or inheritance to you alone. It is divided by equitable distribution, which means fair, not always equal.
Before You Decide
A little reading that tends to help.
Plain English guides Fairfax clients reach for most often while they are still weighing things.
A
Separating Under One Roof
How to live separate and apart inside the same home in Virginia, and the conditions that make it count toward your divorce.
Virginia Guide BWho Pays the Bills?
How couples handle the mortgage, the cards, and everyday costs during a separation, before any support order is in place.
Separation CCo-Parenting and Vacations
How to give proper notice and read your custody order the right way before you travel with the children.
Co-ParentingWhen You Are Ready
Take a breath. Then take the next step.
A first call is a conversation, not a commitment. Tell us what is going on in your Fairfax case, and we will help you see your options clearly. Three offices across Northern Virginia, one phone number.