Divorce law in Virginia has become one of the most complex areas of the practice of law. This is true whether or not the divorcing couples have a modest or substantial marital estate. Virginia divorce courts initially deal with the married couple as if their marriage were an economic partnership. The court has the obligation to identify and value marital assets. After the court has accomplished that task, it then sets upon determining an equitable division of the value of those assets between the parties through the application of a number of criteria. A good divorce lawyer is required to have a substantial background in business law if he is to assure his client that each marital asset is properly identified and thereafter properly valued. Succeeding in convincing a court to include an asset as marital or exclude an asset as being the separate property of our client can have enormous financial implications. Likewise, succeeding in convincing a court as to the value of an asset, such as a commercial business or professional practice, can have major financial implications to a divorcing couple.

The practice of family law goes well beyond the financial horizon. Questions relating to the custody and visitation of children have provoked unfortunate battles of heroic proportion. The ability of members of our firm to foster the settlement of these sensitive issues can ofttimes be of far greater value than our expertise in the trial of custody disputes. Notwithstanding our efforts to attempt to solve our client's problems, both financially and in the area of custody disputes, there is ofttimes little option but to present our client's case to an appropriate court. When this occurs, we are always aggressive and zealous in presenting our client's case.