A divorce or child custody battle can be emotionally draining and painful. At Elsayed Law, we walk you through that process from beginning to end, ensuring you have the right knowledge and tools to make the difficult decisions at every step.

Our office handles family law and domestic relations matters in courts throughout Northern Virginia, including divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, protective orders, and modification of custody and support orders.



      

Types of Family Law Cases We Handle.

From premarital and marital agreements to separation, custody, and support agreements and divorce litigation, Elsayed Law is prepared to advocate on your behalf. The types of cases we handle include the following:
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• Premarital/Prenuptial Agreements. Once you get married, your property and support rights and obligations are governed by Virginia law, unless you alter those rights by agreement. Our firm is prepared to advise you about ways in which you can protect or even redefine your separate assets before you tie the knot.
  

• Divorce.  Whether you are still contemplating separation or have already been served with a Complaint for Divorce, contact our firm to learn how to best protect your rights and discuss the different available options for resolution of your divorce under Virginia law. Contact us to learn about the grounds for divorce, both fault-based and no-fault.

 

• Child Custody and Visitation.​  Whether you are married or not, if the custody of your child(ren) is at issue, two main things will need to be determined: legal custody and physical custody.  Custody can be awarded to one parent solely or shared between both parents. If one parent is granted primary custody, the other parent is typically awarded visitation according to a schedule.   Custody is often one of the most contentious issues, but if parents agree to resolve it outside of court, amicable resolutions are possible through negotiation, mediation or arbitration.

 

• Child Support.  Parents are legally required to provide for their child(ren) even if they do not live with them.  Regardless of the custody arrangement, the child support guidelines are typically used to determine each parent's support responsibility, which is based on ability. One parent is usually required to pay child support to the parent with primary custody of the child(ren). 

 

• Spousal Support.  If one party to a divorce is in need of financial support and the other has the ability to provide it, there may be a spousal support award in favor of the party in need.  Spousal support awards may have a defined duration or be indefinite; they may also be awarded as a lump sum or as periodic payments.  There are many factors that are considered, including the duration of the marriage, the age and health of the parties, the parties' work experience, education and earning capacity.  

 

• Separation.  If you are contemplating separation, contact us and schedule a consultation to learn about what you will need to do to establish separation.  No court order is required for separation in Virginia, but you must have a clear intention and communicate it at the outset. In addition, if you are separating under the same roof, you will be required to avoid certain activities to maintain legal separation. 

 

• Separation Agreements.  Once the parties have separated, an agreement can be negotiated and settlement reached on all issues, including divorce, custody, child support, spousal support and property division.  This allows parties to tailor their own resolutions without court intervention, and if they incorporate that agreement into a court order, the court's contempt powers may be later used to ensure compliance with the agreement.

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• Protective Orders and Domestic Violence.  If you are a victim of family abuse or have been accused of domestic violence, contact us to learn more about how to protect your rights.  If your safety is threatened by a family member, Virginia law provides you with an avenue for protection against further violence.  A Protective Order may be entered against the offender and may be extended under certain circumstances.  These orders may also protect children of abused parents and temporarily address other issues such as custody.  A protective order entered against an individual greatly limits his/her rights and may even influence the resolution of other matters in a divorce, so if you are threatened with a protective order, it is important that you seek legal counsel.

 

• Modification of Custody or Support.  Whether your arrangement for child custody, child support or spousal support was pursuant to a court order or an agreement by the parties, if there is a material change in circumstances that warrants a modification of any of these arrangements, either party can seek to modify. Virginia law requires that circumstances change since the entry of the order and that the changes warrant a modification of custody or support.  Contact us to schedule a consultation and discuss whether the changes are likely to warrant a modification. 

 

• Enforcement of Agreements and Divorce Decrees.  While litigating or entering into an agreement to resolve issues arising from divorce or separation may be difficult, often enforcement presents its own challenges.  If you are facing difficulty in ensuring compliance with your settlement agreement or divorce decree, we can discuss options for enforcement. Virginia law allows the court to use its contempt powers to enforce its orders, including domestic relations orders.​

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Do you have a family law question?
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​Call us now: 703-884-2636

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