Lisa Mathews

Lisa Mathews is a licensed attorney serving clients throughout northern Virginia. She practices estate planning.

Please go to www.mathewslawpllc.com to set up an appointment online. Or call 703-215-2088.

Mathews Law is built on the premise that everyone deserves access to a caring, skilled attorney.

• Free Consultation

Virginia

George Mason University School of Law

J.D. (2017)

Honors: cum laude

Indiana University - Indiana University-Bloomington

MBA (2014)

Brigham Young University

B.A. (2002)

Virginia State Bar  # 92697

Member

Current

Virginia Trial Lawyers Association

Member

Current

Q. Want to divorce spouse. all possessions, house, financials, etc are in both names., What is the best way to proceed?

December 27, 2021

A: Good question. I appreciate your desire to be fair. There is a lot to think about here, but at a high level, you'll need to gather and then work through all assets and debts and determine who gets what. Hiring a lawyer is a good idea to make sure that you understand the legal implications of these decisions and how property division is handled in Virginia courts. And, if needed, a mediator can help facilitate agreement on issues between you and your spouse. Once you have worked through your assets and debts, a Property Settlement Agreement can be drawn up to memorialize the decisions. You will also want to decide specifically how the division is going to occur (taking names off of accounts, timeframes, etc.) Again, lawyers do this all the time and know how to write these agreements and will be able to advise you on details that often get missed.

Keep in mind that there may be other considerations based on your circumstances, such as spousal support. And, you may need some help dividing the property, such as drawing up a deed. So, a lawyer can be very helpful.

If you and your soon-to-be ex can come to an agreement on everything, then the actual divorce process goes pretty smoothly. ... Read More

Q. Can divorce be granted if there has been no relations in 10 years but still cohabitating with no separation?

December 27, 2021

A: Great question! It depends on what you mean when you say "no separation." Virginia does allow for something called "in-house separation." This requires that both parties are living as though they are already separated, even if under the same roof. The relationship must have been severed, in the sense that you intended to separate. You would not have been "holding yourself out as a married couple." You would as much as possible have separated your finances, daily routines, etc.

A common scenario is that the couple intends to separate, but can't afford to physically separate, so they move into different rooms and start acting more like roommates.

However, this is a fact-specific inquiry, so it is a good idea to talk to an attorney. ... Read More

Q. I want a divorce. We have 2 children together. What is the first step? He owns his own business and I don't want debit

September 28, 2021

A: You should hire a lawyer. Since you have children, it is going to be important to create a custody arrangement, establish child support, and even though you say you don't want anything from his business, a lawyer can advise you on the consequences of this decision. You want to make sure that your interests are protected. Most importantly, you want to make sure that the best interests of the children are considered during the divorce process.