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Fairfax 703-462-8718
Arlington 703-746-9103
Leesburg - Ashburn 571-291-3190
Manassas 571-208-1267
Fredericksburg - Stafford 540-370-4140

Northern Virginia's Family Law Firm

Award-Winning Virginia Family Lawyers

The award-winning family lawyers at Livesay & Myers, P.C. represent clients throughout Northern Virginia.

Our size and resources allow us to match you with a family law attorney perfectly suited to meet your needs. Whether you are looking for an aggressive attorney for a volatile divorce or heated custody battle, a more junior lawyer to handle a quick, cheap uncontested divorce, or an experienced attorney for an adoption or other family law matter—we can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is almost impossible to determine exactly how much a family law case will cost at the outset of a case—particularly if it will wind up going to court. An attorney can provide a general idea in your initial consultation, after learning about your specific case. You can schedule an initial consultation of up to one hour with one of our family law attorneys for $250. To learn more about how much your case might cost past the initial consultation, see How Much Will My Case Cost? Maybe—although it may be dangerous, depending on your situation. There are several important factors to consider before you begin dating while separated from your spouse. It is not a crime to simply date during your separation. However, adultery does remain a crime in Virginia, and a ground for divorce. And, in cases where children are involved, dating can have a potential impact on the court's custody and visitation determination. For more information, see Can You Date While Separated in Virginia? Yes, Virginia law does allow spouses to live “separate and apart” under the same roof for purposes of their required separation period for a no-fault divorce. However, there are very strict guidelines for this process. For more information, see In-Home Separation in Virginia. No, there is no presumption or preference in favor of mothers under Virginia law in custody cases. The Virginia Code explicitly states that in custody cases, “[a]s between parents, there shall be no presumption or inference of law in favor of either.” Instead, the Code lays out a set of factors that courts must consider in determining custody. None of those factors inherently favor mothers or fathers. Several of those factors do tend to favor the “primary caregiver,” but that can be overcome by some of the other factors. For more information, see Do Courts Favor Mothers in Custody Cases? In Virginia, parental rights can usually only be terminated only if there is a third party willing to step into that parent’s role, such as in a stepparent adoption. Involuntary termination of parental rights outside of the context of a stepparent adoption is extremely rare. It is possible only in certain cases of abuse or neglect. For more information, see Termination Of Parental Rights In Virginia. Virginia law allows for divorce on both fault-based and no-fault grounds. The most common fault-based grounds for divorce are adultery, cruelty and desertion (including “constructive desertion”). The no-fault ground is separation (either 12 months or 6 months with a separation agreement in place and no minor children). For more information, see our Guide to Divorce in Virginia. More FAQS

Our Client Testimonials

See All Reviews
★★★★★

Livesay & Myers is an excellent law firm. Professional, respectful, communicative from start to finish. My attorney, Ariel Baniowski, supported me and aggressively fought on my behalf, while also advising me and helping me stay grounded and realistic about what to expect. Her kindness and great listening skills made me feel cared for and heard at a very emotional and challenging time. I am very pleased with how my matter was resolved, and felt complete confidence in my attorney every step of the way. If I need legal services again in the future, I will certainly reach out to Ariel and Livesay & Myers.

Courtney M.

★★★★★

I have had quite a few experiences with family law attorneys and I have to say without a doubt that Livesay & Myers were easily the best. Laila Raheen and her assistant were competent, thorough and informative. Questions were answered without delay and tough legal jargon was quickly explained before I could even pick up the phone to ask. My case was settled out of court and within a timely manner. Highly recommended.

TeAndre T.

Our Offices

We have five office locations in Northern Virginia: in Fairfax, Arlington, Leesburg-Ashburn, Manassas and Fredericksburg-Stafford. We represent clients in Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, Leesburg, Ashburn, Loudoun County, Manassas, Prince William County, Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and surrounding areas.

Our offices are open Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–5:00 pm.

Our People

We have a team of 23 attorneys across our five office locations. Many of our attorneys have been named Super Lawyers, and several of them have received the prestigious AV Preeminent rating (the highest possible rating) for ethical standards and legal ability from Martindale-Hubbell. A large number of our attorneys have also received perfect 10.0 ratings from Justia and/or Avvo. Our attorneys are supported by a team of experienced staff, including 16 experienced paralegals plus another seven staff members.

Meet the Team

We Are Open For Business

northern Virginia’s Family Law Firm

Livesay & Myers, P.C. is closely monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19 and following the latest guidance from state and federal authorities. We are still open for business, and our attorneys and paralegals are still hard at work for our clients. We now offer options for initial consultations or client meetings to be done via telephone or video conference (Zoom, Skype or Google Hangouts).

Latest Post The Livesay &
Myers, P.C. Blog

Livesay & Myers, P.C. Celebrates 20th Anniversary

March 3, 2023

Livesay & Myers, P.C. proudly announces that it has reached a new milestone: 20 years… Continue reading Livesay & Myers, P.C. Celebrates 20th Anniversary

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Contested Adoption and Consent

February 5, 2024

Adoption is usually a happy event, for both the adoptive parents and the child. In… Continue reading Contested Adoption and Consent

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Safeguarding Parental Rights for LGBTQ+ Families

September 5, 2023

Starting a family is an exciting time. For some, including same-sex couples, this includes the… Continue reading Safeguarding Parental Rights for LGBTQ+ Families

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Livesay & Myers, P.C. Listed in 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers Best Law Firms

August 17, 2023

We are proud to announce that Livesay & Myers, P.C. appears in the 2024 edition… Continue reading Livesay & Myers, P.C. Listed in 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers Best Law Firms

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