Family Law Attorney in Alexandria

Serving Families in Northern Virginia

Fairfax Family Law AttorneyWhen families experience difficult challenges, such as divorce, child custody, paternity or domestic violence, it takes patience, resolve, and understanding to make the best decisions today and plan ahead for tomorrow. During such transitions, having a caring, knowledgeable family law attorney in Alexandria County on your side is essential.

Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC, provides advice and guidance on a wide range of family-related issues to clients in Northern Virginia. Knowing that no two families are alike, we work well with clients from diverse backgrounds. Our legal team has extensive experience with government employee divorce, military divorce, and high net-worth divorce cases and is also up-to-date in the evolving landscape of same-sex family law. Regardless of the challenges facing your family, we will provide you with knowledge and sound advice in a compassionate manner, but we will also aggressively fight for your interests.

What is family law – Family Law Attorney Alexandria County

Our family law practice is dedicated to resolving issues involving traditional and nontraditional family relationships, including:

Divorce

As many can attest, going through divorce is a difficult experience even more so if the process becomes contentious. While we often recommend seeking negotiated resolutions to such a life-changing event, we have the skills and resources to litigate any dispute in court. Regardless of the forum, our family law attorneys have significant experience helping clients successfully resolve the key issues in a divorce — the division of property, spousal support, child custody & visitation, and child support.

Division of Marital Property

When it comes to dividing the marital property, it is important to note that Virginia is an equitable distribution state, and a divorcing couple’s property may be classified as marital, separate or hybrid. Generally, property owned jointly will be distributed equitably; however, this does not mean an even 50-50 split. At times, one of the spouses may be granted a monetary award to reach a fair distribution of the marital estate. In any event, resolving property division issues can be complicated. Our team has in-depth knowledge of marital property valuations, including small businesses, professional practices, retirement investments and deferred compensation, and works tirelessly to protect our clients’ financial interests.

Spousal Support

While some counties, such as Fairfax, may rely on a specific formula on a temporary basis, all ongoing spousal support determinations in Virginia are based on a number of factors. The most common forms of spousal support are pendente lite (temporary) and rehabilitative, though permanent support may be awarded in some cases. The attorneys at Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC leverage their negotiating skills to help our clients achieve the best possible outcomes. We also assist with enforcement and modifications of spousal support orders when the need arises.

Child Custody & Visitation

There are two types of child custody — legal custody and physical custody. The latter describes which parent the child will live with on a daily basis, while the former addresses the right of a parent to make decisions about the children’s healthcare, education, and general welfare. Unless the couple agrees to a parenting plan, sole primary or shared custody may be awarded by the court. If sole primary custody is awarded, “parenting time” or visitation will be allocated to the noncustodial parent. Our teams works with our clients to reach child custody arrangements that are in the best interests of the children.

Child Support

While both parents are legally responsible for providing for their children financially, the Virginia courts generally require the noncustodial spouse to pay support to the other parent. Currently, child support determinations are based on a formula which considers among other factors if the circumstances warrant each parent’s income, the health, loss of dental or vision insurance for the child or children, and the cost of work-related child care.

Premarital and Postnuptial Agreements

Premarital and postnuptial agreements are often relied on by modern couples who have acquired significant assets before the marriage. Similarly, those with business interests or who are getting remarried may also need to protect their assets. Generally, such agreements are designed to establish each spouse’s property rights in the event of a divorce or death. In order to be considered valid, however, the agreement must be fair to both parties, each of whom must have entered into it free of coercion and with adequate financial disclosure. Our attorneys routinely negotiate and draw up premarital and postnuptial agreements for couples from all walks of life.

Same-Sex Family Law

Although the U.S. Supreme Court recognized marriage equality back in 2015, same-sex family law issues continue to evolve. Our attorneys have a well-earned reputation for being dedicated advocates of same-sex couples in all aspects of family law including divorce, child custody/support, premarital and postnuptial agreements, adoption and domestic violence.

Adoption

Adopting a child is an exciting and fulfilling experience; however, navigating the applicable state laws and the legal bureaucracy can be an uphill battle. Our legal team represents prospective parents regarding agency, private placement, and stepparent adoptions, and helps them navigate the system as they look to forge new parent-child relationships.

Paternity

When the biological identity of a child’s father is in question, establishing paternity can help resolve critical family law issues such as child custody, visitation, and child support. Our attorneys are equally comfortable pursuing paternity lawsuits or defending clients against paternity actions.

Domestic Violence & Protective Orders

Domestic violence, harassment, assault, sexual abuse, and neglect are is typically associated with married couples, but abuse can also occur in many close relationships including parents and children or other relatives, romantic partners, or people who share the same household. Our family law attorney of Alexandria County works tirelessly to obtain Protective Orders for domestic violence victims and is also prepared to initiate a divorce action if necessary. Let us help you with your family law matter, taking some of the stress off your shoulders. Call our office today or fill out the contact form on our website to set up a consultation with David Levy.

Surovell Isaacs & Levy serves all residents of Northern Virginia, including Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County with their family law needs.