Monday - Friday8:30AM - 5PM
OfficesFairfax | Manassas | Fredericksburg
Family Law Attorneys · Merrifield, Virginia
A divorce splits more than the savings. It splits the debt too.
Around Merrifield, plenty of couples built a life on two incomes and a few balances: the cards, a car loan, maybe student debt. When you divorce, Virginia divides what you owe, not only what you own. We help you do it fairly and protect your credit, with the case filed in Fairfax County. Reach us when you are ready.
A first call is a calm, clear conversation.
You Are Not Alone
All around Merrifield and the Mosaic District, people are untangling a shared financial life. None of them do it alone, and you will not have to start over by yourself.
6 mo.
of Virginia residency before you can file
Va. Code § 20-97
Both
the court divides marital debt along with marital property
Va. Code § 20-107.3
Marital
debt run up during the marriage is usually shared, whoever signed
Equitable distribution
50+
years of combined family law practice
Three Northern Virginia offices
What We Handle
Family law help for Merrifield families.
Splitting a shared financial life means dealing with the debts as squarely as the assets. Here is the work we take on to make the division fair and final.
Looking for a family law attorney near Merrifield? NOVA Legal Professionals helps Merrifield clients with divorce, dividing marital debt, property division, custody, child support, and spousal support. Talk with an attorney at 571.260.0999.
01 /
The matter you are sorting out.
01
Contested Divorce
When you cannot agree on who owes what, a Fairfax judge decides. We prepare the case fully, settle where we can, and litigate the division when it is worth it.
When You Cannot Agree 02Equitable Distribution
Virginia divides marital property and debt by fairness, not a flat half. We work the statutory factors so what you keep and what you owe both come out fair.
Fair, Not Equal 03Asset Division
Accounts, a car, a condo, and the balances against them, we identify and value every marital asset and debt so the division is clear and complete.
The Marital Estate 04Separation Agreements
A clear separation agreement settles the debts, the property, and any support before you file. We draft yours so no balance is left hanging over your credit.
First Protection 05Child Support
Child support follows the state guideline, built on both incomes and the custody schedule. We make sure the inputs are right so the number is fair.
Guideline & Beyond 06Custody & Parenting
A parenting plan should fit your real week. We shape custody and visitation around work, school, and the routine your children rely on.
Parenting Time 07Spousal Support
Spousal support turns on income, need, and the length of the marriage. Whether you would pay or receive it, we work toward a fair amount and a fair term.
Maintenance 08Military Divorce
Some Merrifield 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 Merrifield case is heard.
Merrifield is part of Fairfax County, so a Merrifield case is heard in the county courts in downtown Fairfax. Both share the Fairfax County Courthouse at 4110 Chain Bridge Road, and the division of debt is decided there alongside the property.
Circuit Court
Fairfax County Circuit Court
19th Judicial Circuit
HearsThe divorce, and how marital property and debt are divided.
DecidesEquitable distribution, which covers what you owe as well as what you own.
WhereDowntown Fairfax at 4110 Chain Bridge Road, west of Merrifield.
NoteThe court can assign responsibility for a debt between the spouses as part of the division.
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 Merrifield couples is Fairfax County.
Alisa Chunephisal, Esq.Family Law Attorney
Attorney Insights
What I tell clients about the debts.
People plan for who keeps what. Fewer plan for who owes what, and that is where a divorce can quietly cost you.
- 1
Marital debt is usually shared
Debt run up during the marriage is generally marital, no matter whose name is on it. We sort what is truly marital from what is separate so you are not stuck with a balance that was never yours.
- 2
A decree does not bind your lender
If the court assigns a joint card to your spouse and they stop paying, the bank can still come after you. We use refinancing, payoffs, and indemnity terms to close that gap.
- 3
Protect your credit early
Joint accounts can be run up or left unpaid during a separation. We help you take sensible steps, separating accounts and watching the balances, before it shows up on your report.
Why Families Trust Us
Help that protects your finances.
When the split is as much about debt as assets, you want counsel that thinks about your credit and your future, not just today's deal.
Experience
50+
Years Combined
Years of guiding Merrifield families through divorce, property, and debt division.
Expertise
100%
Family Law Focus
Family law is the whole practice, the financial untangling 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 Merrifield families and others across Fairfax County.
Recognition
Recognition worth noting.
We have helped Merrifield couples divide a tangled financial life fairly, with the debts settled and their credit protected as they started over.
Our commitment to Merrifield
From Our Clients
Merrifield families in their own words.
Read what Merrifield clients have shared about working through divorce and the financial split with our attorneys.
Questions People Actually Ask
Plain answers, about the money.
These are the questions Merrifield clients ask first. If yours is not here, just ask.
Have a question about the debts?Call 571.260.0999 or send us a message.
Which court hears a Merrifield divorce?
Merrifield is in Fairfax County, so the divorce, property, and debt 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.
How is debt divided in a divorce?
Along with the property, by the equitable distribution factors. Debt run up during the marriage is generally marital and shared, whoever signed for it, while debt from before the marriage usually stays separate. The court can assign who is responsible for each balance.
Am I responsible for my spouse's credit card?
It depends on when and why the debt arose. Balances built during the marriage are usually treated as marital even if only your spouse's name is on the card. Debt one spouse hid or ran up wastefully can be assigned back to that spouse.
What if the decree says my spouse pays, but they don't?
The lender is not bound by your divorce. If a joint account goes unpaid, the bank can still pursue you. That is why we use refinancing, payoffs, and indemnity language so a missed payment does not land on your credit.
How do I protect my credit during a divorce?
Separate joint accounts where you can, keep an eye on the balances, and avoid taking on new joint debt. We help you take these steps early and build the protections into your agreement.
Before You Decide
Reading on the financial split.
Plain English guides Merrifield clients reach for most while they untangle a shared financial life.
A
Who Pays the Bills?
How couples handle the mortgage, the cards, and the balances during a separation, before any order.
SeparationBWhat to Expect in an Uncontested Divorce
The requirements, the timeline, and what makes a Virginia divorce uncontested.
Virginia GuideCSeparating Under One Roof
How to live separate and apart inside the same home in Virginia, and what makes it count.
Virginia GuideWhen You Are Ready
When you are ready, let's untangle it.
Tell us what is going on in your Merrifield case, and we will help you divide the debts and the assets cleanly.