Start here: what a family law case in Virginia actually means
A quick walkthrough of what to expect from your case, whether you are facing a divorce, a custody dispute, or a protective order.
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A short overview of how a family law case moves through the Virginia court system.
You do not have to have this figured out today
Nobody calls a family lawyer because things are going well, and most people who land on this page have not slept well in weeks. That is normal. You do not need a plan before you pick up the phone.
1 Year
Required separation before a Virginia divorce can be finalized when you have children.
6 Months
Separation period without children, if you have a signed separation agreement.
Final decree
The divorce is entered only after the separation period is complete.
That is one thing worth knowing early, but divorce is only one of the reasons families call us.
From custodial disputes and visitation schedules to protective orders and spousal support, we cover it all. Every one of those family law cases moves through its own process on its own timeline, and each one comes with decisions that will shape your future. A trusted family law attorney in Richmond VA can help you sort through the specifics before you commit to anything.
Which situation sounds like yours?
Most family law matters fall into one of two paths: ending the marriage, or sorting out what happens with your children. Many families are dealing with both at once.
Ending the marriage
You need a divorce attorney who will walk you through the process, from filing through the separation period to property division and finalization, without bringing more stress along the way. Spousal support is part of this path too, whether you are seeking it or responding to a request.
Your children
The priority is your kids. Whether you are setting up custody arrangements for the first time or going back to court because the current ones are not working, the goal is something stable that actually holds up.
Protective orders: if you or your children are in a domestic violence situation, call 804-793-8010 now. Our family law firm can explain the restraining orders process in plain language and start today.
Contested and high-asset divorce
When there is a lot at stake
Not every divorce should be settled quickly. When there is significant property, a business, investment or retirement accounts, or substantial income involved, agreeing too early can cost you far more than the case itself. In those cases a contested divorce is often worth contesting fully, and it needs a family law attorney who prepares it that way from the start.
- We identify, trace, and value marital and separate property, including businesses, real estate, investments, and retirement accounts.
- We push for full financial disclosure through discovery, so nothing is left off the table.
- We prepare every high-value case for trial, because that preparation is what gives you leverage in negotiation.
What is at stake in each type of family case
Family law cases do not carry jail time or fines the way criminal charges do. What they carry is just as serious: your property, your income, and the time you spend with your children. Here is what each type of case decides in Virginia.
Divorce
Custody and Visitation
Child Support
Spousal Support
Protective Orders
Every case is different. Timelines and outcomes depend on your facts, your county, and whether the other side agrees.
The consequences that outlast the case
The final order is not the end of it. The decisions made in a family law case follow you long after the court closes the file.
Retirement and savings
How retirement accounts are divided can shape your finances for decades.
The family home
Who keeps the house, who pays the mortgage, and when it has to be sold.
Time with your kids
A custody order sets the schedule your family lives by for years.
Debts and credit
Joint accounts and loans can follow you after the divorce is final.
Support obligations
Child and spousal support payments can run for years after the order.
Relocation
Moving with the children later usually needs agreement or court approval.
Here is what happens next
The legal process for family law matters in Virginia follows a general path. Your specific situation will shape the details, but here is the framework.
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1
Filing
Your family law lawyer files paperwork with the court in your jurisdiction. In divorce cases, this starts the formal process. For custody, support, or a protective order, the filing itself may set a hearing date.
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2
The separation period
Virginia divorce cases require the separation period to be completed before a final decree. During that time, temporary custody, temporary support, and who stays in the house may all need to be sorted out.
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3
Discovery and disclosure
Contested family law cases require both sides to exchange financial and personal information. The quality of what gets exchanged directly affects the outcome. This is where a prepared family law firm earns its fee.
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4
Negotiation or mediation
A lot of divorce and custody cases settle through negotiation or mediation, not trial. Mediation works in some situations. We will tell you honestly whether yours is one of them, even when the honest answer is yes.
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5
Settlement or trial
If the case reaches agreement, a settlement goes to the court. If it does not, your family lawyer presents the case at trial. Among law firms that handle family law, not all prepare for trial from day one. We do. That preparation produces better outcomes regardless of whether the case actually goes to trial.
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6
Finalization
The court enters a final order. For divorce, that is the decree. For custody and support, it is the order both sides will live under going forward.
How we work a family case
Every family is different, but the way we approach a case is not. These are the commitments behind every family law matter we take on.
We start with what matters to you
Before we talk strategy, we talk priorities. Your kids, your home, your finances. What actually matters to you shapes every decision we make.
We tell you the truth
You will get straight answers about your options, your timeline, and your costs, even when the answer is not the one you hoped for.
We keep your children at the center
Custody and support decisions affect your kids for years. We push for arrangements that are stable and that both parents can live with.
We negotiate first and prepare for trial
Most family cases settle. We work toward agreement, but we prepare every case as if it will go to trial, and that preparation is what produces a fair settlement.
We know the local courts
Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, and Goochland each run differently. We prepare your case for the court and the judge who will hear it.
You have one team the whole way
Your attorney and paralegal stay with you from the first call to the final order, so you are never explaining your story twice.
Find your specific case
Each type of family law case has its own rules, timelines, and decisions. Start with the page that matches your situation.
Divorce
Contested and uncontested divorce, from separation through the final decree.
Uncontested Divorce
When you agree on the terms, a properly drafted agreement protects both of you.
Child Custody & Visitation
Setting up or changing custody arrangements and parenting schedules.
Child Support
Establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support order.
Spousal Support
Seeking support or responding to a request, before and after the divorce.
Protective Orders
Emergency and long-term protection from domestic violence.
If your situation involves more than one of these, and most do, we handle that too. A divorce with children usually means custody, support, and property are all decided together.
Who handles your case
Jackie W. Critzer
Partner, leads family law
Jackie W. Critzer has practiced family law in Central Virginia since 2005. She knows the Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, and Goochland family courts well, how each one operates, what each one expects, and how to prepare a case for each. Clients describe her as steady, compassionate, and honest. She gives straight answers and stays with you through the entire process.
We treat every client the way we would want someone we care about to be treated.
- Practicing since 2005
- Family law across Central Virginia
- Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover & Goochland courts
Barbara, Paralegal
Your day-to-day contact
Scott D. Cardani
Partner
Scott D. Cardani has spent over two decades in Central Virginia courtrooms. He knows the judges and the way cases actually move through Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, and Goochland courts. His approach to family law starts with common sense: what actually matters to you and your kids, and what is not worth the fight. When a case does need to go to court, he shows up prepared. His paralegal, Coral Siegal, works alongside him from intake through resolution, and when clients mention her by name in their reviews, it is because she earned it.
We treat every client the way we would want someone we care about to be treated.
Read Scott’s full bioCoral, Paralegal
Your day-to-day contact
What our clients say
What our clients say about working with us.
We know your courtroom
Where your case is heard matters. Every court in Central Virginia has its own rhythm: its own judges, its own procedures, and its own way of moving cases through the docket. Custody, support, and protective orders usually start in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Divorce cases are heard in Circuit Court. We appear regularly in both.
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Henrico J&DR and Circuit Court
Custody, support, and protective order hearings, plus divorce cases in Circuit Court. We appear here regularly.
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Chesterfield J&DR and Circuit Court
Routine appearances in one of the busiest family courts in the region.
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Hanover J&DR and Circuit Court
We know the courthouse, the clerk’s process, and what each judge expects.
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Goochland J&DR and Circuit Court
Regular appearances on custody, support, and divorce matters across Goochland County.
Knowing a courtroom means more than just having been there. It means understanding how a particular judge runs their docket, what they expect to see in a custody case, and what matters in that room on that day. That is the kind of preparation a family law attorney should bring to every case, whether you are in Richmond or a neighboring county.
Questions people are too afraid to ask
These are the questions people carry into our office and often do not say out loud. You can ask us anything.
Will my spouse find out I talked to a lawyer?
Not from us. Your consultation is confidential, and what you tell us is protected by attorney-client privilege. Many people talk to a family law attorney long before they say anything at home, and that is often the smartest time to do it.
Will I lose my kids?
This is the fear behind almost every custody call. Virginia courts decide custody based on the best interests of the child, and in most cases that means both parents stay involved. We will tell you honestly where you stand and what you can do now to protect your time with your children.
Can I afford a divorce?
Divorce costs depend on how much the two of you disagree. An uncontested divorce costs far less than a contested one. We talk about cost in your first conversation, and we look for ways to resolve issues without running up fees on things that are not worth the fight.
What if I am the one who wants out?
Wanting to end a marriage does not make you the bad guy in court, and it does not automatically cost you anything. Virginia allows no-fault divorce after the separation period. What matters is how you handle the separation, the finances, and the kids from here.
Will you judge me for how my marriage ended?
No. We have spent more than 20 years helping families through every kind of situation. We are not here to judge how you got here. We are here to help you figure out what comes next.
“What To Do When…” podcast
Scott Cardani and Jackie Critzer host the What To Do When podcast and discuss real legal scenarios, explained in plain English. These episodes speak directly to families navigating divorce, custody, and family law situations:
Ep. 1
What To Do When…
Divorce 101
Watch or listen
Ep. 20
What To Do When…
Uncontested / No-Fault Divorce
Watch or listen
Ep. 61
What To Do When…
You don’t want your divorce to ruin your life
Watch or listen
Ep. 78
What To Do When…
You’ve lost custody
Watch or listen
Common concerns we hear
Sometimes. Mediation works when both sides are negotiating in good faith and the power dynamic is roughly even. When that is not the case, and you will know, a family law attorney should review your options before you sign anything.
That is the single most common thing people say in our office. It is also a completely reasonable goal. A good family lawyer resolves the situation instead of escalating it. Scott’s approach starts with common sense: what actually matters to you and your kids, and what is not worth the fight.
We do an initial consultation so you understand your options before committing to anything. Family law cases vary a lot in complexity. We talk about cost during that first conversation so you are not guessing.
Tell us during the consultation. Domestic violence situations need careful planning, not just legal strategy. Our family law professionals can walk you through the protective order and restraining orders process and help you do things in the right order.
Not when your family law lawyer is focused on resolution instead of scorched earth. The goal is custody arrangements both of you can live with. Your kids are going to need both of you when this is done.
Legal separation is the mandatory waiting period. You live separate and apart for the required duration. Divorce is the final court order dissolving the marriage, entered after separation is complete.
Even uncontested divorces need a properly drafted agreement. It has to be enforceable, it has to be filed correctly, and it has to cover everything. A family law attorney makes sure the document says what both of you think it says and that nothing gets missed.
