Monday - Friday8:30AM - 5PM
OfficesFairfax | Manassas | Fredericksburg
Family Law Attorneys · Seven Corners, Virginia
Married overseas, or a spouse far away? You can still divorce in Virginia.
Around Seven Corners, families come from everywhere, and so do their marriages. If you were married abroad, or your spouse now lives in another country or cannot be found, Virginia can still hear your divorce. We help you do it right, with the case filed in Fairfax County. Reach us when you are ready.
A first conversation is patient, and it is free.
You Are Not Alone
Seven Corners is home to families from every corner of the world, and many face this same crossroads. None of them face it alone, and we will stand with you.
6 mo.
of Virginia residency by one spouse lets the court hear the divorce
Va. Code § 20-97
Yes
a marriage performed abroad is generally recognized in Virginia
Recognized under Virginia law
Even so
you can divorce a spouse who lives overseas or cannot be located
Service by publication or order
50+
years of combined family law practice
Three Northern Virginia offices
What We Handle
Family law help for Seven Corners families.
A marriage that crosses borders raises questions an ordinary divorce never does. Here is the work we take on to get you a valid Virginia divorce.
Looking for a family law attorney near Seven Corners? NOVA Legal Professionals helps Seven Corners clients with divorce, including cases where a spouse lives abroad, custody, child support, spousal support, and property division. Talk with an attorney at 571.260.0999.
01 /
The matter that crosses borders.
01
Contested Divorce
When a divorce is contested, even across borders, a Fairfax judge decides. We prepare the case, handle service on an absent spouse, and try it when needed.
When You Cannot Agree 02Equitable Distribution
Virginia divides marital property by fairness, not a flat half, including assets here and sometimes abroad. We work the factors so the division is fair.
Fair, Not Equal 03Asset Division
Property and accounts at home and overseas, we identify and value what is marital so the division is complete, wherever the assets sit.
The Marital Estate 04Separation Agreements
A clear separation agreement settles property, support, and parenting before you file. We draft yours so it is valid and enforceable in Virginia.
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 even when income is earned abroad.
Guideline & Beyond 06Custody & Parenting
A parenting plan should fit your family, including when one parent lives in another country. We build custody and visitation that travel and still protect the bond.
Parenting Time 07Spousal Support
Spousal support turns on income, need, and the length of the marriage. We work toward a fair amount and term, with income here or abroad counted correctly.
Maintenance 08Military Divorce
Some Seven Corners families include a service member or federal worker posted overseas. We divide military and federal retirement by its own federal rules.
Service MembersWhere Your Case Is Heard
Where a Seven Corners case is heard.
Seven Corners sits in Fairfax County, so a divorce here is heard in the county courts in downtown Fairfax. Both share the Fairfax County Courthouse at 4110 Chain Bridge Road, and the court can hear your case as long as the residency rule is met.
Circuit Court
Fairfax County Circuit Court
19th Judicial Circuit
HearsThe divorce, and how marital property here and abroad is divided.
DecidesEquitable distribution, plus support and custody when part of the divorce.
WhereDowntown Fairfax at 4110 Chain Bridge Road, west of Seven Corners.
NoteOne spouse living in Virginia six months is usually enough for the court to act.
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 many Seven Corners couples is Fairfax County.
Alisa Chunephisal, Esq.Family Law Attorney
Attorney Insights
What I tell clients with a spouse abroad.
A border between you and your spouse does not close the courthouse door. Virginia can still hear your case, if it is filed the right way.
- 1
Residency is the key that opens the door
If you have lived in Virginia for six months, the court can grant your divorce even if your spouse is in another country. Where you married matters far less than where you live now.
- 2
A spouse abroad can still be served
If your spouse is overseas or you cannot find them, there are proper ways to give legal notice, including service by publication when a judge approves it. We handle the steps so the divorce holds up.
- 3
A foreign marriage usually counts
Virginia generally recognizes a marriage that was valid where it took place. We confirm your marriage is recognized so the divorce rests on solid ground.
Why Families Trust Us
Help across any border.
When a marriage spans countries, you want counsel that knows how Virginia handles residency, service, and a foreign marriage.
Experience
50+
Years Combined
Years of guiding Seven Corners families, including cross border cases, through divorce.
Expertise
100%
Family Law Focus
Family law is the whole practice, the jurisdiction and service questions 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 Seven Corners families and others across Fairfax County.
Recognition
Recognition families rely on.
We have helped Seven Corners families from around the world get a valid Virginia divorce, even when a spouse lived overseas or could not be found.
Our commitment to Seven Corners
In Their Words
Seven Corners families who trusted us.
Read what Seven Corners clients have shared about working through a cross border divorce with our attorneys.
Questions People Actually Ask
Plain answers, across borders.
These are the questions Seven Corners clients ask first. If yours is not here, just ask.
Have a question about a cross border divorce?Call 571.260.0999 or send us a message.
Can I divorce in Virginia if we married abroad?
Yes. Virginia generally recognizes a marriage that was valid where it was performed, so a wedding in another country is treated as a real marriage here. As long as the residency rule is met, a Fairfax court can grant your divorce.
Can I divorce a spouse who lives in another country?
Yes. If you have lived in Virginia for at least six months, the court can hear your divorce even if your spouse is overseas. There are proper ways to give them legal notice, and we make sure service is done so the divorce is valid.
What if I cannot find my spouse?
You may still divorce. When a spouse cannot be located after a real effort to find them, a judge can allow service by publication. The court can then grant the divorce, though what it can order about property or support may be limited.
Which court hears a Seven Corners divorce?
Seven Corners 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.
Does Virginia recognize a foreign divorce?
Often, yes, if it was valid where granted and one spouse genuinely lived there. The rules can be technical, so before you remarry or rely on a foreign decree, it is worth confirming Virginia will honor it. We can review it with you.
Before You Decide
Reading that helps you start.
Plain English guides Seven Corners clients reach for most while they sort out a divorce that crosses borders.
A
Staying in Their Weekday Life
Why a midweek dinner visit keeps a nearby parent inside a child's ordinary school week.
Falls Church AreaBWhat to Expect in an Uncontested Divorce
The requirements, the timeline, and what makes a Virginia divorce uncontested.
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, we will find the way.
Tell us what is going on in your Seven Corners case, and we will help you get a valid Virginia divorce, wherever your spouse is.