Monday - Friday8:30AM - 5PM
OfficesFairfax | Manassas
Family Law Attorneys · Stafford, Virginia
Family law help, right here in Stafford.
Stafford sits between Quantico and Fredericksburg, and many families here are military or federal. Whatever your situation, divorce, custody, support, or a pension to divide, your case is heard in the Stafford County courts, and our nearby Fredericksburg office is here to help. Reach us when you are ready.
A first call is a conversation, not a commitment.
You Are Not Alone
All across Stafford, from Aquia to Garrisonville, families are working through the same hard questions. 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
15th
Judicial Circuit hears Stafford divorces
Stafford Circuit Court
Military
pensions and benefits follow their own federal rules
A common Stafford issue
50+
years of combined family law practice
Three Northern Virginia offices
What We Handle
Family law help for Stafford families.
From a straightforward divorce to a military pension or a custody fight, we handle the full range of family law for Stafford. Here is the work we take on.
Looking for a family law attorney in Stafford? NOVA Legal Professionals helps Stafford clients with divorce, military and federal retirement, custody, child support, spousal support, and property division. Talk with an attorney at 571.260.0999.
01 /
The matter in front of your family.
01
Contested Divorce
When you cannot agree, a Stafford judge decides. We prepare the case fully, settle where we can, and try the rest at the courthouse when it matters.
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 property, support, and parenting before you file, and for couples without minor children it can shorten the wait.
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, deployments included. We build custody and visitation around your children's routine.
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
With Quantico to the north, many Stafford families include a service member. We divide military and federal retirement, survivor benefits included, by their own rules.
Service MembersWhere Your Case Is Heard
Two courts, both at the Stafford Judicial Center.
Stafford is its own county, so a Stafford case is heard at the county courthouse, not in Fairfax or Manassas. 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 how marital property and debt are divided.
DecidesEquitable distribution, plus custody and support when part of the divorce.
WhereThe Judicial Center at 1300 Courthouse Road, Stafford, in the 15th Judicial Circuit.
NoteOne spouse must have lived in Virginia for six months before filing.
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.
NoteUnmarried parents and post-divorce changes are handled here.
Alisa Chunephisal, Esq.Family Law Attorney
Attorney Insights
What I tell Stafford families before they start.
A Stafford case belongs in Stafford. You should not have to drive to another county to end a marriage or settle custody close to home.
- 1
File where you belong
A Stafford divorce is filed in the Stafford Circuit Court at the Judicial Center on Courthouse Road. Knowing the local court, its clerks, and its judges saves time and surprises.
- 2
Military families have extra rules
With Quantico nearby, many cases here involve a service member. Pensions, the survivor benefit, and the protections that come with active duty all follow federal rules we handle every day.
- 3
Most cases still settle
Even contested divorces usually resolve before trial. We prepare every case as if it could be tried, which is exactly what brings the other side to a fair agreement.
Why Families Trust Us
Help that knows the Stafford courts.
When your case is in Stafford, you want counsel who knows the county courthouse and the issues local families face.
Experience
50+
Years Combined
Years of representing Stafford families, military and civilian alike.
Expertise
100%
Family Law Focus
Family law is the whole practice, nothing else competes for our attention.
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 Stafford clients and others across Northern Virginia.
Recognition
Recognition Stafford families trust.
We have walked Stafford families through divorce, custody, and the military pension questions that come with life near Quantico, close to home and on their side.
Our commitment to Stafford
From Our Clients
Stafford clients in their own words.
Read what Stafford clients have shared about working through a family law case with our attorneys.
Questions People Actually Ask
The honest answers, no legal speak.
These are the questions Stafford clients ask first. If yours is not here, just ask.
Have a family law question?Call 571.260.0999 or send us a message.
Where do I file for divorce in Stafford?
In the Stafford Circuit Court, the 15th Judicial Circuit, at the Judicial Center, 1300 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA 22554. One spouse must have been a Virginia resident for at least six months before filing. The court serves all of Stafford County.
How long does a Virginia divorce take?
The no-fault wait is six months if you have no minor children and a signed separation agreement, or one year otherwise. A complete agreement is what lets couples without minor children use the shorter track. Contested issues can add time.
Do you handle military divorces?
Yes, often. With Quantico to the north, many Stafford cases involve a service member. We divide military retired pay under the federal rules, handle the survivor benefit, and account for the protections active duty provides.
Do you have an office near Stafford?
Yes. Our Fredericksburg office at 1127 International Parkway is convenient to clients throughout Stafford County, and the same firm answers wherever you call. We meet clients in person, by phone, or by video.
What if my spouse does not want the divorce?
You do not need their permission. Once the separation period is met, one spouse can move a no-fault divorce forward even if the other objects. What can be disputed is the terms, the property, support, and custody, not whether the divorce happens.
Before You Decide
A little reading that tends to help.
Plain English guides Stafford clients reach for most as they get started.
A
No-Fault Divorce in Stafford
The two timelines, the residency and witness rules, and where to file locally.
Stafford GuideBDividing a Military Pension
How a Virginia court divides military retired pay, and what protects your share.
Stafford GuideCFamily Abuse Protective Orders
Who can ask for one, what it can order, and how an emergency order works the same day.
Protective OrdersWhen You Are Ready
When you are ready, let's talk it through.
Tell us what is going on in your Stafford case, and we will help you find the right first step, close to home.