Talk To An Affordable Divorce Lawyer In Northern Virginia
Divorce can be emotional taxing and financially burdensome if you decide to handle it by yourself but finding affordable divorce lawyers in northern Virginia can help you make informed decisions and discover all your options.
In the United States almost 800,000 divorces occur each year and having affordable legal representation can make all the difference in how your divorce plays out.
Divorce comes with many changes and challenges. From the initial dissolution of the marriage to questions of who will keep the house or who will maintain primary custody of the children, not to mention the financial impact on both parties, there are many matters to resolve.
Some of the largest concerns that couples that are going through a divorce have is how the situation will impact their finances, housing, and relationship with their children.
It can be difficult to navigate with the major changes that result from divorce, and many individuals find themselves struggling to adjust to the “new normal”.
Whether you have questions regarding the minimum duration of separation required before filing for divorce, the division of assets, child custody, child support, spousal support or alimony, or any other family law matter, The Law Office of Scott S. Ives has answers for you.
Let our affordable divorce lawyers in northern Virginia provide peace of mind and help you get through the divorce process without stress or financial strain.
How Can an Attorney Help?
Whether you are certain that a divorce is in your future, or you are simply preparing for a possible separation, a divorce lawyer can help you consider your options and create a plan of action while protecting your legal assets and best interests.
An attorney can help by staying in contact with your spouse and their attorney regarding divorce proceedings, filing required paperwork, and keeping up with all other aspects of the divorce.
If you have children, your attorney can help you work out a temporary custody arrangement, so that your children aren’t left in limbo while you and your spouse are sorting things out.
Likewise, an attorney can help you obtain a temporary child support or spousal support order in the interim of being granted a divorce.
Even if you do not have children, an attorney can help you figure out the best steps for separation and ensuring you do everything possible to reduce the costs of your divorce.
Our Divorce Law Experience
It can be difficult to make sound decisions amid such an emotional time of upheaval, which is why it’s so important to find the right divorce lawyer to guide you and your family through the divorce process.
The Law Office of Scott S. Ives in Sterling, Virginia has over 30 years of family and divorce law experience serving northern Virginia, including Loudon and Fairfax County. We handle divorce and separation cases, including cases involving child support and alimony.
Our attorneys provide the best legal service and advice for you and, while every case is unique, our office has experience in many areas of law and are sensitive to your situation.
Scott Ives and his associates have the knowledge, experience, and understanding to help you and your family and make a tough situation a bit easier.
The attorneys at our law office offer practical legal advice and treat every case with compassion. We understand that divorce is a complex subject and make every effort to make the process go as smoothly and quickly as possible.
Let us represent you with expert legal service and advice.
Initial Legal Consultation
We offer a free legal consultation to prospective clients who may be interested in hiring The Law Office of Scott S. Ives to represent them. As affordable divorce lawyers in northern Virginia, we know how important it is to consider all options before going ahead with a decision.
A free initial consultation gives both parties a chance to learn more about each other and to determine how legal representation may be beneficial to your divorce case.
For an initial consultation, expect introductions and to explain the details surrounding your case. This can include any relevant documents, background information, and what you hope to achieve by hiring an attorney.
We will discuss your options and the next steps needed to move forward with your case.
As a new client you can prepare for consultation and meetings by bringing relevant documents, doing some reading on our website and blog regarding our practice areas, and jotting down any questions you may have.
Since each situation is different when it comes to divorce, each consultation is likewise unique.
Common Questions
Learn more about common questions that clients have related to the divorce process.
Prepare both for a legal consultation and for the actions that you will need to take in order to “get the ball rolling” on your legal separation.
Some common questions we get are related to how to prepare and what to expect, costs, and actions to take in the midst of a divorce. Read more about some of the specifics that our attorneys discuss with clients.
Legal Fees & Cost of Attorney
Divorce has a notorious reputation for being difficult and expensive, and it can be if both parties have many assets and engage in a contested divorce that drags on.
However, many divorces can be handles quickly and painlessly if both parties agree upon an uncontested dissolution of the marriage.
Legal costs and fees are very dependent on the type of divorce (contested vs uncontested), the type of assets you and your spouse have, whether a prenuptial agreement was signed, and many other factors.
Our affordable divorce lawyers in northern Virginia ensure you have more money in your pocket and that divorce does not leave you strained financially. We work to ensure your divorce process is as streamlined as possible and provide you with the best results.
Preparation Required
Although an initial consultation is just to determining whether hiring an attorney is in your best interests and discussing what you hope to achieve, your attorney will likely give you a list of documents to bring to your next meeting.
It’s important to have full transparency with your attorney and provide all documents to help move the divorce along without snags or holdups that could end up costing your more time and money.
Come prepared with documents and information that will help speed up the separation process, such as:
- A list of facts of your case
- Any questions you would like to ask
- Tax Returns
- Proof of Income/Paystubs
- Any Self-Employment Documents
- Prenuptial Agreement or Postnuptial Agreements
- Debt information (Car, Credit Card, Loans)
- Relevant Texts, Emails, Letters, & Documents
Defamation of Character
If a former or current employer, boss, or coworker makes false statement about you that unjustly harm their reputation or make it difficult for you to get or maintain another job, speaking to an employment attorney can help you determine how to prevent further damage to your reputation or job chances.
Defamation is a serious issue and can wreak havoc on your livelihood if not quickly addressed.
Length of Separation
Learn about the typical duration that it will take to complete the divorce process in the state of Virginia.
Even uncontested divorces require time and effort, and contested divorces are often drawn out and messy without the help of an experienced attorney.
- Virginia state law requires couples seeking a divorce to live separate and apart for one year prior to filing for divorce.
- However, this process can be shortened to 6 months if the couple does not have any minor children and they sign a property settlement agreement.
- Additionally, if one spouse commits adultery, the other spouse is not required to wait a year before filing for divorce.
Many clients are unaware that a couple may be allowed to live separately in the same home if both parties agree that they are truly living separate and apart, no longer acting as a married couple.
Division of Assets
Get help with dividing spousal assets, ensuring the security and safety of your assets and understanding how the state of Virginia typically divides joint assets
Virginia is an equitable distribution state, which means that a judge may choose to simply divide assets up evenly between two parties.
However, a judge is not required to make an equal division of assets since Virginia is an “equitable distribution” state, rather than a “community property” state.
A judge will typically review a list of factors before deciding how to divide a couples’ assets, and whether to award spousal support (alimony)
Child Custody & Support
Divorce can be hardest on children when there is no set custody arrangement, especially those that are young.
An attorney can help you discuss child custody arrangements with your soon to be ex-spouse and their attorney, set expectations for likely outcomes, and plan for possible child support for your child (ren).
Child custody is usually awarded as either joint custody, primary custody with visitation, or sole custody.
Most amicable divorces include both spouses coming to an agreement of child custody based on what is best for the child or children, including resources, location of school and friends, and the child’s age or desires.
We help you achieve the best child custody arrangement, regardless of whether your divorce is contested or uncontested.
Whistleblower Concerns
Whistleblowers often face a difficult path to exposing untoward or unlawful behavior.
If you have concerns about coming forward with a report, are facing harassment as the result of whistleblowing, or fear for your job safety, it may be time to consult with an employment attorney.
Question About Contracts, Agreements, Policies
Whether you are a long-time employee or just starting out at a job, there are certain documents that you must review and agree to as a condition of your employment. Some of these could include a contract, workplace policies and standards, confidentiality agreements, non-competes, and more.
It’s always best to read over and understand any document prior to blindly signing it, but if you have any in depth questions or concerns about documentation, it’s best to bring up these questions with an experienced employment attorney.
Spousal Support (Alimony)
As your attorney, we can help you by discussing whether spousal support has a place in your divorce and what that means for you or your soon to be ex-spouse.
We take into account your financial situation and help you establish what role spousal alimony will play in your separation, if any.
Many people do not realize that a party can obtain temporary support and/ or spousal support before the required separation period is completed in order to become divorced from your spouse.
Next Steps
Learn what actions you will need to take in order to move forward in the separation and divorce process.
The next steps for your case can be something as obvious as living separately from your spouse, gathering proof of financial status, or obtaining other relevant information for the separation.
Consult an experienced and affordable divorce lawyers in northern Virginia to discover the next steps that you can take to move forward in your separation.
Get A Consultation
Hire affordable divorce lawyers in northern Virginia to help you through your separation or divorce. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us online.
The Law Office of Scott S. Ives takes the time to understand your family situation and provide expert legal advice and representation in order to produce the best outcome possible for your divorce proceedings, custody arrangement, spousal support, or other family law matter.
Contact the Law Office of Scott S. Ives today at (703) 444-6600 or visit our website to schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your family law matter or divorce.
