Monday - Friday8:30AM - 5PM
OfficesFairfax | Manassas
Family Law Attorneys · Dale City, Virginia
In Virginia, fair does not always mean equal.
If you and your spouse cannot agree on how to divide what you own, a Prince William judge does it for you, through equitable distribution. The word that matters is equitable, which means fair, not a simple fifty fifty. We help you reach a fair result, with the case heard in Manassas. Reach us when you are ready.
A first call is calm and costs you nothing.
You Are Not Alone
Across Dale City, families are dividing a shared life and finding their way forward. None of them do it alone, and you will not have to either.
6 mo.
of Virginia residency before you can file
Va. Code § 20-97
Fair
equitable distribution divides marital property fairly, not equally
Va. Code § 20-107.3
Sort first
marital property is split, separate property stays yours
Classify, value, divide
50+
years of combined family law practice
Three Northern Virginia offices
What We Handle
Family law help for Dale City families.
Dividing a marriage means sorting what is shared from what is separate, then splitting it fairly. Here is the work we take on to get the division right.
Looking for a family law attorney near Dale City? NOVA Legal Professionals helps Dale City clients with divorce, equitable distribution, separation agreements, custody, child support, and spousal support. Talk with an attorney at 571.260.0999.
01 /
The matter you are dividing.
01
Contested Divorce
When you cannot agree, a Prince William judge divides the property by the equitable distribution factors. We prepare your case and argue for a fair share.
When You Cannot Agree 02Equitable Distribution
Equitable distribution means fair, not equal. We work the statutory factors so the division reflects what each of you brought and built, not a flat half.
Fair, Not Equal 03Asset Division
The house, the accounts, the cars, and the retirement, we classify what is marital, value it, and divide it so the split is clear and final.
The Marital Estate 04Separation Agreements
A complete separation agreement settles property, support, and parenting in one document. We draft yours so nothing important is left to argue about later.
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 family's real week. 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. Whether you would pay or receive it, we work toward a fair amount and a fair term.
Maintenance 08Military Divorce
Many Dale City 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 Dale City case is heard.
Dale City is part of Prince William County, so a Dale City case is heard in the county courts in Manassas. Both the Circuit Court and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court sit at the Judicial Center on Lee Avenue.
Circuit Court
Prince William County Circuit Court
31st Judicial Circuit
HearsThe divorce, and how marital property and debt are divided.
DecidesEquitable distribution, classifying and dividing what you own.
WhereThe Judicial Center at 9311 Lee Avenue in Manassas, northwest of Dale City.
NoteWhen spouses cannot agree, the judge applies the statutory factors.
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.
WhereIn the same Judicial Center complex on Lee Avenue in Manassas.
NoteYou file where you and your spouse last lived together, which for Dale City couples is Prince William County.
Alisa Chunephisal, Esq.Family Law Attorney
Attorney Insights
What I tell Dale City clients about dividing it.
Equitable means fair, not equal. The facts of your marriage decide the split, which is exactly why they are worth proving.
- 1
Separate property stays separate, if you can show it
What you owned before the marriage, or inherited, is usually yours to keep, but only if it was not mixed in with marital money. We help you trace and protect it.
- 2
Fair is argued, not assumed
The court weighs each spouse's contributions, the length of the marriage, and more. A strong case for your fair share is something we build, not something the judge guesses.
- 3
Put it all in the agreement
A complete separation agreement is the cheapest insurance against a return trip to court. We make sure yours covers the items couples most often forget.
Why Families Trust Us
Help that gets the division right.
When the question is who keeps what, you want counsel that knows how Virginia classifies, values, and divides a marital estate.
Experience
50+
Years Combined
Years of dividing marital estates for Dale City families.
Expertise
100%
Family Law Focus
Family law is the whole practice, equitable distribution 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 Dale City families and others across Prince William County.
Recognition
Recognition that holds up.
We have helped Dale City families divide a shared life fairly, with the marital estate sorted, valued, and settled so they could move on for good.
Our commitment to Dale City
Client Voices
Dale City families in their own words.
Read what Dale City clients have shared about dividing property and finishing a divorce with our attorneys.
Questions People Actually Ask
Plain answers, about who keeps what.
These are the questions Dale City clients ask first. If yours is not here, just ask.
Have a question about dividing property?Call 571.260.0999 or send us a message.
Which court hears a Dale City divorce?
Dale City is in Prince William County, so the divorce and property division go to the Prince William County Circuit Court at 9311 Lee Avenue in Manassas. Custody or support on their own start at the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court in the same complex.
Is Virginia a 50/50 property state?
No. Virginia is an equitable distribution state, which means property is divided fairly, not necessarily equally. The court first sorts marital property from separate property, then divides the marital share by a set of statutory factors. Fair can be an even split, but often it is not.
What is the difference between marital and separate property?
Marital property is generally what you acquired during the marriage, whoever's name is on it. Separate property is what you owned before, or received as a gift or inheritance to you alone. Problems arise when the two get mixed, which the law calls commingling.
What should a separation agreement cover?
Everything: the property and debts, the marital home, support, custody, and a parenting schedule. A complete agreement settles your divorce cleanly; a thin one leaves gaps that pull you back to court later.
What if my spouse is hiding assets?
Discovery and, when needed, a forensic accountant can surface what is hidden. You cannot divide fairly what no one has disclosed, so we make sure the full marital estate is on the table before anything is split.
Before You Decide
Reading on dividing a marriage.
Plain English guides Dale City clients reach for most while they sort out the division.
A
How Virginia Splits Property
How the court classifies, values, and divides what you own when you cannot agree.
Dale City GuideBYour Separation Agreement Checklist
What a complete agreement should cover, and the items couples most often forget.
Dale City GuideCFamily Law in Prince William
The plain English guide to divorce, custody, support, and the Manassas courts.
PW GuideWhen You Are Ready
When you are ready, let's divide it fairly.
Tell us what is going on in your Dale City case, and we will help you reach a fair, final division.