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OfficesFairfax | Manassas
Family Law Attorneys · North Stafford, Virginia
For a military family, a divorce comes with its own set of rules.
North Stafford is full of families tied to Quantico and the bases up the road, and a military divorce carries pieces a civilian one does not: the pension, deployment, and where you are even allowed to file. We handle all of it, with the Virginia side heard in Stafford County. Reach us when you are ready.
A first call is steady, and it costs nothing.
You Are Not Alone
Across North Stafford, service members and military spouses are working through the same questions about the pension, the kids, and the move. None of them do it alone, and neither will you.
Marital share
only the part of the pension earned during marriage is divided
Va. Code § 20-107.3
10/10
ten years of marriage overlapping ten years of service lets DFAS pay you directly
10 U.S.C. § 1408
SCRA
active duty can pause a case during a deployment
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
50+
years of combined family law practice
Three Northern Virginia offices
What We Handle
Family law help for North Stafford families.
A military divorce runs on the same Virginia track as any other, with a few federal rules layered on top. Here is the work we take on for service members and their spouses.
Looking for a family law attorney near North Stafford? NOVA Legal Professionals helps North Stafford service members and military spouses with military pension division, custody during deployment, child support, spousal support, and divorce. Talk with an attorney at 571.260.0999.
01 /
The matter your family is facing.
01
Contested Divorce
If you cannot agree, a Stafford judge decides the open issues. We prepare a military divorce carefully, settle what we can, and try the rest when needed.
When You Cannot Agree 02Equitable Distribution
Virginia divides marital property by fairness, not a flat half. We work the statutory factors so the division reflects the life you built.
Fair, Not Equal 03Asset Division
The house, the accounts, the cars, and the retirement, we identify and value every marital asset so the division is clear and final.
The Marital Estate 04Separation Agreements
A clear separation agreement settles most divorces without a trial. We draft a complete one so the rest of the case is mostly paperwork.
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 in a military family has to flex around orders and moves. We build custody and visitation that holds up through a deployment.
Parenting Time 07Spousal Support
Spousal support steadies a household while it resets. Whether you would pay or receive it, we work toward a fair amount and a fair term.
Maintenance 08Military Divorce
A military pension is divided by its own federal rules, and the marital share is what counts. We handle USFSPA division, survivor benefits, and the timing that protects your share.
Service MembersWhere Your Case Is Heard
Where a North Stafford case is heard.
North Stafford is part of Stafford County, so a case here is heard at the county courthouse. A divorce is filed in the Stafford Circuit Court; custody and support on their own go to the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, both at the Judicial Center on Courthouse Road.
Circuit Court
Stafford Circuit Court
15th Judicial Circuit
HearsThe divorce and the property division for married couples.
DecidesEquitable distribution, plus custody and support within the divorce.
WhereThe Judicial Center at 1300 Courthouse Road, Stafford, in the 15th Judicial Circuit.
NoteResidency and domicile rules can be different for a service member.
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 at the Court Services Unit intake before a hearing.
WhereAt the Stafford Judicial Center on Courthouse Road, near the Circuit Court.
NoteCustody and support can flex around a deployment when handled here.
Alisa Chunephisal, Esq.Family Law Attorney
Attorney Insights
What I tell military families before they start.
The pension is often the largest thing a military couple owns. Getting the share and the paperwork right is what protects twenty years of service.
- 1
The marital share is what gets divided
Only the portion of a military pension earned during the marriage is marital property. The formula matters, and so does writing the share into the order clearly enough that the Defense Finance and Accounting Service can act on it.
- 2
Deployment does not have to stall your case
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act can pause a case while a service member is deployed, but it does not erase it. We keep custody and support workable around orders and moves, so nothing falls apart while someone is away.
- 3
Where you can file is its own question
Service members and spouses often have ties to more than one state. Residency and domicile decide where a divorce belongs, and getting that right at the start keeps the case from being challenged later. We sort it before you file.
Why Families Trust Us
Help built for military families.
When a divorce involves a pension and a uniform, you want counsel who knows the federal rules and how Stafford handles them.
Experience
50+
Years Combined
Years of handling military divorce for North Stafford families.
Expertise
100%
Family Law Focus
Family law is the whole practice, military pension division 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 North Stafford families and others across Stafford County.
Recognition
Recognition that serves those who serve.
We have helped North Stafford service members and spouses divide a pension fairly, keep custody steady through a deployment, and finish a divorce on solid footing.
Our commitment to North Stafford
From Our Clients
North Stafford families in their own words.
Read what North Stafford clients have shared about working through a military divorce with our attorneys.
Questions People Actually Ask
Plain answers, about a military divorce.
These are the questions North Stafford service members and spouses ask first. If yours is not here, just ask.
Have a question about a military divorce?Call 571.260.0999 or send us a message.
How is a military pension divided?
Only the marital share is divided, the part earned while you were married and serving. Virginia treats that share as marital property under its equitable distribution law, and the order has to be written precisely so the pension can be paid out correctly.
What is the 10/10 rule?
It governs how the pension gets paid, not whether it is divided. If you were married ten years that overlapped ten years of service, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service can pay the former spouse's share directly. Below that, the share is still owed, just paid a different way.
What happens if I am deployed?
A deployment does not have to derail your case. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act can pause proceedings while you are on active duty, and we build custody and support arrangements that flex around orders and moves so things hold together while you are away.
Where can a military couple file?
It depends on residency and domicile, which for a military family can point to more than one state. Virginia is often the right forum for those stationed near Quantico, but we confirm it before filing so the case cannot be challenged later for being in the wrong place.
Where is a North Stafford divorce heard?
In the Stafford Circuit Court at 1300 Courthouse Road, Stafford, the 15th Judicial Circuit. Custody or support on their own start at the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in the same Judicial Center.
Before You Decide
Reading for military families.
Plain English guides North Stafford families reach for most as they get started.
A
How Do I Get a Divorce in Virginia?
The plain English overview of grounds, timelines, and the steps to a final decree.
Virginia GuideBWho Pays the Bills During Separation?
How expenses and support work in the months between filing and a final order.
SeparationCNo-Fault Divorce in Stafford
The two timelines, the rules that go with them, and where to file locally.
Stafford GuideWhen You Are Ready
When you are ready, let's protect what you have earned.
Tell us about your service, your family, and the move ahead, and we will help you through a military divorce in Stafford County.