Monday - Friday8:30AM - 5PM
OfficesFairfax | Manassas
Family Law Attorneys · Reston, Virginia
Two careers, one home, and a decision you did not want to make.
You have spent years balancing jobs, school runs, and a mortgage in a town you chose on purpose. A divorce touches every piece of that at once. We help Reston families carry it with clear heads and steady hands while the case proceeds in Fairfax County. Call whenever the moment is right.
No pressure and no rush, just a clear look at where you stand.
You Are Not Alone
From the lake to the town center, Reston families work through this every single year. None of them go it alone, and you will not be the exception.
6 mo.
of Virginia residency before a case can begin
Va. Code § 20-97
1 yr.
living apart before a no fault filing with children
Va. Code § 20-91
Child
first: the best interests test guides every custody ruling
Va. Code § 20-124.3
50+
years of combined experience standing behind your case
Across Northern Virginia
What We Handle
Clear footing for Reston families.
Careers move, kids grow, plans change. The work below is built to hold up when life keeps shifting underneath it.
Need a family law attorney near Reston? NOVA Legal Professionals represents Reston clients in divorce, custody, support, property division, and the relocation questions two busy careers raise. Talk with an attorney at 571.260.0999.
01 /
The issue you are carrying.
01
Contested Divorce
When two busy households cannot find common ground, the court settles it. We prepare your case thoroughly, bargain in good faith, and take it to trial when talks stall out.
When You Cannot Agree 02Equitable Distribution
Property division in Virginia aims at fairness, not a reflexive even split. We work the statutory factors so the result reflects the partnership you actually had.
Fair, Not Equal 03Asset Division
Vested options, a stock plan, two incomes, and a home with equity, we identify and value every marital asset so nothing slips through when it is time to divide.
The Marital Estate 04Separation Agreements
A clear separation agreement keeps a full life out of court down the road. We write yours to settle support, property, and the parenting calendar in one durable document.
First Protection 05Child Support
Virginia treats bonuses, commissions, and contractor pay as income. We make sure the support figure reflects every source, with childcare and insurance folded in correctly.
Guideline & Beyond 06Custody & Parenting
Reston parents relocate and commute more than most. We design parenting time that survives a new job, a move, or a longer drive, not just the schedule that fits today.
Parenting Time 07Spousal Support
Spousal support steadies a spouse while they regain their footing. We work through the amount, the term, and how it can shift if your circumstances do.
Maintenance 08Military Divorce
With a federal and contractor workforce all around Reston, many cases touch military retirement, the Thrift Savings Plan, and SCRA protections. We handle each the right way.
Service MembersWhere Your Case Is Heard
Where a Reston case actually lands.
Reston is part of Fairfax County, so a Reston case is heard in the county courts in downtown Fairfax. Both live inside the Fairfax County Courthouse at 4110 Chain Bridge Road, and the right one depends on what you need the court to decide.
Circuit Court
Fairfax County Circuit Court
19th Judicial Circuit
HearsThe divorce itself, along with how the marital property and the debts are split.
DecidesProperty division, and support and custody if they are folded into the divorce case.
WhereDowntown Fairfax at 4110 Chain Bridge Road, just off Route 123.
NoteAs the largest court in the state, its docket can stretch a contested matter out.
J&DR Court
Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court
Family matters outside a divorce
HearsStandalone custody, visitation, child support, and protective order cases.
StartMany begin with an intake meeting at the Court Services Unit before any hearing is set.
WhereInside the same courthouse on Chain Bridge Road.
NoteThe right venue is the county where you last lived together, which for Reston is Fairfax.
Alisa Chunephisal, Esq.Family Law Attorney
Attorney Insights
A few things worth knowing early.
Reston runs on careers and commutes. The strongest parenting plans bend with real life instead of snapping under it.
- 1
Plan for the move you cannot see yet
Jobs relocate, leases end, schools change. We write notice and relocation terms into the parenting plan now, so a future move is a clause you already agreed to, not a fresh court fight.
- 2
Put every dollar of income on paper
Bonuses, equity grants, and contractor pay all count toward support. Pull the pay stubs and award letters early, so the number rests on the full picture instead of a base salary.
- 3
Keep the calendar one you can actually keep
A schedule that ignores two demanding jobs falls apart by the second month. We build custody time both parents can realistically honor, week after week.
Why Families Trust Us
Steady help for families with a lot in motion.
When work and home are both pulling hard, the right counsel keeps the case from running you instead.
Experience
50+
Years Combined
Years of guiding Reston families through divorce, custody, and support.
Expertise
100%
Family Law Focus
A practice devoted to family law alone, from income tracing to durable parenting plans.
Authority
AV
Preeminent Rated
Peer rated AV Preeminent, named to Super Lawyers, and rated 10.0 on Avvo.
Trust
5★
Verified Reviews
Verified five star reviews from clients across the Reston corridor and well beyond.
Recognition
Honors earned across years of Northern Virginia practice.
We have sat with Reston parents at the kitchen table and beside them in the courtroom, and we have helped them keep their footing through all of it.
Our commitment to Reston
Client Voices
Reston families, in their own words.
Read what Reston clients have shared about working through divorce and custody with our attorneys.
Questions People Actually Ask
Plain answers, no runaround.
Here is what Reston clients tend to ask when we first sit down. Have a different one? Bring it.
Have a question about your own situation?Call 571.260.0999 or send us a message.
Where is a Reston divorce filed?
Reston is part of Fairfax County, so your divorce is filed at the Fairfax County Circuit Court at 4110 Chain Bridge Road. Custody or support on their own begin at the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court in the same complex.
What if I need to relocate for work later?
Moving with the children takes proper notice, and if the other parent objects, the court weighs it under the best interests standard. We write relocation and notice terms into the parenting plan from the start, so a future move is handled by your own agreement instead of a brand new dispute.
What income counts toward support in Reston?
More than your salary. Virginia folds in bonuses, commissions, restricted stock, contractor pay, dividends, and more. We gather the documentation early so the support figure rests on your true income, not just a base number.
Is mediation worth it for a two career couple?
Often, yes. When both of you want to keep control of the outcome and the schedule rather than hand it to a judge, mediation can be quicker, calmer, and less costly. We will tell you honestly when it fits and when it does not.
How quickly can it be finished?
When you agree on the terms and sign a settlement, the divorce can wrap up within a few months of meeting the separation period. When key issues stay in dispute, plan on closer to a year, sometimes longer, because the court controls the hearing calendar.
Before You Decide
A little reading that helps.
Plain English guides Reston clients reach for most while they think it through.
A
What Counts as Income
Bonuses, stock, contractor pay, and more, all the income Virginia counts for support in a Reston case.
Reston GuideBMilitary Retirement and the Howell Rule
How VA disability pay can shrink a former spouse's share of military retirement, and what Howell means.
MilitaryCNaming a Guardian for Your Children
How guardianship works in Virginia, a first choice and a backup, and what happens without one.
Planning AheadWhen You Are Ready
One call is all it takes to begin.
Tell us what is happening in your Reston case, and we will help you see the road ahead clearly.