Best Lawyers in Virginia, United States for Family Law
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Cities
Cynthia Chaing is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Cynthia, who practices law in Virginia Beach, Virginia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Cynthia is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
A Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers, Mr. Garriott represents clients in divorce, property settlement agreements, child custody and pre-marital agreements. He also handles a variety of civil litigation including personal injury, employment, workers' compensation, and contract matters. Mr. Garriott was selected for the 2009 Class of Leaders in the Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly and holds Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating of A...
Catherine “Kate” Reese focuses her practice on the full spectrum of family law matters in the Northern Virginia and Montgomery County, Maryland regions. She has extensive trial experience in contested divorces, child custody and visitation matters, equitable distribution of assets, child and spousal support, and the negotiation and preparation of prenuptial and marital agreements. Ms. Reese is known to be an aggressive and resourceful litigator when representing clients’ bes...
Lisa L. Levi is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Lisa L., who practices law in Reston, Virginia, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lisa L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Debbie has over 37 years experience handling all aspects of family law. Her practice areas include Contested and Uncontested Divorces, Spousal Support, Child Custody, Visitation and Support, Separation Agreements, Equitable Distribution of Property, Division of Retirement, Pensions and Profit Sharing Plans, Business Valuation and Division, Post-Divorce Issues, Pre-marital Agreements and Marital Agreements. She practices in the Circuit Courts and the J & DR courts throughout Hampton Roads....
John E. Byrnes has been practicing exclusively in the area of family law since 1996. He practices in all of the northern Virginia circuit courts and juvenile and domestic relations district courts as well as the Virginia Court of Appeal. While most matters are amicably resolved thorough negotiation or mediation, John has extensive litigation experience. During his career, John’s practice has covered virtually every aspect of family law, from: complex equitable distribution matters invol...
Alice Ahearn is a Partner at Eris Law Group. She guides family law clients through one of the most difficult times in their lives to emerge optimistic about the future. Alice excels at solving contentious and complex child custody problems, including relocation cases. She is also adept at resolving divorces with complicated financial issues, including business and stock valuations, the division of marital interest in a business, and spousal support. Her clients include professionals, physicia...
I am one of the three founding partners of Cooper Ginsberg Gray, PLLC, and helped launch the firm in November of 2004. Our founding principles are focused on providing compassionate and competent legal representation, advancing the legal profession, and giving back to the Northern Virginia community. Throughout my 25+-year career, my practice has been devoted to helping my clients navigate through family law matters. I have been privileged to represent mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, as we...
For over two decades, I have represented clients in Northern Virginia who need family law assistance. My goal is to provide vigorous, honest, and thorough representation.I started this firm with my founding partners in November 2004, and have worked towards becoming the best family law partnership in Virginia. Since 2004 we have grown to a firm of nine attorneys from various backgrounds. We are a full-service team ready to handle virtually any Virginia family law issue.I pride myself on being...
When you or someone you know needs assistance for family law matters, I can offer compassionate and skilled legal representation. I am committed to helping all of my clients understand the legal aspects of their specific situations to ensure the best resolution of each individual case.My practice is devoted entirely to family law matters including: divorce, property division, support, custody and visitation matters, and protective order hearings and subsequent appeals. I have also expanded my...
Carrie received her Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) in Psychology from Central Connecticut State University in 2003, and earned her Juris Doctor from the George Mason University School of Law in 2007. She is admitted to practice law in all courts throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Since graduating law school, Carrie has been in private practice representing clients exclusively with their family law issues. Carrie handles all aspects of family law, from the routine to the complex. She...
Heather S. Miller is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Heather S., who practices law in Leesburg, Virginia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Heather S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Maureen E. Danker is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Maureen E., who practices law in Fairfax, Virginia, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Maureen E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Katherine D. Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Katherine D., who practices law in Reston, Virginia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katherine D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Sean P. Schmergel has been consistently recognized as one the DMVs top divorce and family law attorneys, including by Washingtonian Magazine, Arlington Magazine, Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers. He began practicing divorce and family law over 22 years ago and has continued to hone his legal practice before the local courts, developing a reputation as a zealous and thoughtful family law advocate. A resident of Northern Virginia for over 36 years, Mr. Schmergel holds a genuine concern for the le...
Hope Rosen's practice has consistently centered on child and family law issues. After receiving her law degree, Ms. Rosen worked as a staff attorney for the American Prosecutors Research Institute, focusing on issues of juvenile delinquency and child abuse. Ms. Rosen left the American Prosecutors Research Institute when she was appointed Special Counsel for the Division of Child Support Enforcement by the Attorney General of Virginia. After building her expertise in child support law, Ms. Ros...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.