Nokesville Family Lawyers

Shirley Chim is an attorney with a solid foundation of professional experience in the areas of Family Law matters. Shirley has worked with families and individuals in Northern Virginia to help them understand the processes and complexities that are often presented in divorce, child custody, support, equitable distribution, adoption, and protective orders. Not only is Shirley a nationally ranked, skillful, and aggressive litigator, but she's also an effective negotiator and believes in empowering her clients in settlement and mediation where appropriate. Shirley is flexible and creative in her approach to law and works side by side with her clients...

Erin Rubin is an Associate Attorney at Raheen Family Law, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. She is experienced in handling every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody, visitation, and support cases. Ms. Rubin represents clients in Fairfax, Manassas, Prince William County, Alexandria, Arlington, Leesburg, Loudoun County, and all across Northern Virginia. Ms. Rubin, originally from Florida, moved to the Washington, D.C. area to attend American University Washington College of Law, where she graduated in May of 2022. During Ms. Rubin's tenure at American University Washington College of Law, she was chosen to participate in the Deans...

Stephanie L. Duran is an associate attorney in the DiPietro Law Group, PLLC Fairfax office. Although a native of Northern Virginia, Stephanie earned juris doctorate in both the United States and Canada as part of a select program between the University of Windsor and University of Detroit-Mercy. While in law school, Stephanie volunteered as a student attorney for the University of Detroit-Mercy’s Urban Law Clinic, providing legal services to Detroit’s elder community. She also worked for legal aid of Windsor, Ontario, providing valuable services to the Windsor community. Following graduation from law school, Stephanie returned to Northern Virginia where she began...

Sara Leiner Schuler is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), and practices all aspects of family law in the Northern Virginia area, including Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Spousal Support and Alimony, Prenuptial Agreements, Step-Parent Adoptions (including Same-Sex Step-Parent Adoptions), Uncontested Divorces, and Enforcement Issues. Ms. Schuler also represents clients in the Collaborative Divorce process, a voluntary team-based approach in which a couple chooses to divorce without contested litigation to best meet their respective individual needs and the needs of any minor children.

Ms. Schuler practices family law in both the Circuit and Juvenile and Domestic Relations...

Rebecca began her business with the goal of helping families through a range of family issues from divorce and separation to creating cohesive estate plans. Through a strong focus on people - both clients and employees - the firm has grown and expanded into new markets. Our offices now serve northern Virginia, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Tampa. Florida. Whether you need assistance with family law matters or estate planning, our dedicated team is here to support you every step of the way. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and see how we can protect your family, finances,...

Eleven years’ legal experience in business law, corporate formation, compliance, complex consumer litigation, regulatory, contracts and bankruptcy law. Local experience in family law; advocate for domestic violence survivors. Four years in Am Law (top 100 American law firms) located in DC, with business, bankruptcy and commercial litigation focus. Experience in automotive and construction fraud litigation. Fifteen years’ corporate experience, gained as business owner, award-winning author and airplane owner. Advanced knowledge of and experience working with UDAAP, Bankruptcy rules...

Ben Carafiol dedicates his practice to making a difference in someone's life. He has represented clients throughout Northern Virginia for the past twelve years. Former clients and other attorneys alike remark on his steady counsel and expansive knowledge. Ben has litigated, mediated, or settled every type of family law matter in Virginia. Those efforts have earned him a Superb rating from Avvo and a perfect 10.0 from Justia. He is also recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star, and has been every year since 2016.

Born in St. Louis, Ben attended The College of William & Mary, where he graduated...

Carolyn Grimes is a partner in the firm, practicing in all areas of family law including divorce, spousal support, child custody, child support, equitable distribution, retirement issues, and prenuptial agreements, among other areas. She practices in all of the Circuit and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts in Northern Virginia and has argued before the Court of Appeals. She has lectured on family law topics ranging from custody to retirement issues, including military, federal, civilian and Foreign Service divorce and retirement issues, for various organizations in the Commonwealth. In addition to traditional litigation, Ms. Grimes practices law in the collaborative law...

We understand that finding the right attorney is critical and would welcome the opportunity to assess your situation, answer your questions, and explain our ability to help -- even if that means helping you find an attorney with more expertise related to your legal matter. We believe that everyone should have access to legal counsel. We specialize in Residential Zoning, Consumer Protection Law, H-1B visa wage disputes, and Guardianship matters, but would be delighted to speak with you about any legal matter. Each legal matter is unique and requires an individualized approach, specialized expertise, and an ability to adapt to external...

Accomplished and result-focused with 24 years of experience in Family Law, Bankruptcy and Administrative Law specializing in Security Clearance Defense and Medical License Defense.

Mr. "Sris," CEO of the Law Offices of Sris, P.C., established his firm in 1997, now with locations in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Colombia, and India. Based in Fairfax, Virginia, he holds law licenses across multiple states. With a background as a prosecutor, Mr. Sris brings strong negotiation and litigation skills to his practice, focusing on complex family law cases and defense against serious criminal charges. He holds IT certifications and boasts international business knowledge, enhancing his legal knowledge. Committed to justice, Mr. Sris actively engages in legislative initiatives and community outreach, offering consultations to Indian nationals in need. With...

John Whitbeck is the founder and partner of WhitbeckBennett. His practice focuses on family law, more specifically divorce, child custody, child and spousal support, domestic violence and protective orders, adoption, special education law, and mental health law.

He is a professor of law at George Mason University Law School, and the former Director of the George Mason University Law and Mental Illness Clinic.

John uses his expert knowledge of the law to advocate for his clients and their families.

Melannie Dino is a Lead Family Law Attorney at Steven Krieger Law, PLLC practicing exclusively family law. Ms. Dino works remotely from her Ashburn home office, and represents clients in Loudoun, Prince William and Fairfax Counties and across Northern Virginia. Originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, Ms. Dino earned her Bachelor of Science in Communications in 1996 from nearby Clarion University of Pennsylvania. She proceeded to earn her J.D. from Widener University Law School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1999. Ms. Dino then returned to Erie to work in the law practice of her father, a prominent bankruptcy lawyer in Erie for decades. It was...

David Hagan is an associate at Friedman, Grimes, Meinken & Leischner PLLC, where he focuses on family law and criminal defense. He handles litigation across all areas of domestic relations, including adoptions, divorce, child custody and support, spousal support, equitable distribution, settlement agreements, property rights, prenuptial agreements, and post-divorce disputes. Additionally, he represents clients in protective order cases and misdemeanor criminal defense matters, such as traffic violations and assault/battery cases. Mr. Hagan also assists with estate litigation and other civil matters. He earned his J.D. from George Mason University School of Law, where he served as a student advisor in the...

Maria Zamayar is an associate attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. Her practice covers every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody and support cases. Ms. Zamayar works in the firm’s offices in Fairfax and Arlington, and represents clients in Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria and all across Northern Virginia. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Ms. Zamayar graduated from Georgia State University before earning her law degree from American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. During law school, Ms. Zamayar earned a great deal of experience geared toward making her a successful family law attorney....

Ariel Baniowski is a managing partner at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. She is experienced in handling every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody and support cases. Ms. Baniowski works in the firm’s Ashburn office, and represents clients in Ashburn, Leesburg, Loudoun County, and all across Northern Virginia. Ms. Baniowski is known as one of the more aggressive attorneys at Livesay & Myers, P.C., and has litigated every type of family law matter in Virginia, including custody, support, separation and high asset divorce cases. Ms. Baniowski's work ethic and drive are unmatched. To say...

Amanda Stone Swart is a lead senior associate attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. She is experienced in handling every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody and support cases. Ms. Stone Swart works in the firm’s Ashburn office, and represents clients in Ashburn, Leesburg, Loudoun County, and all across Northern Virginia. Ms. Stone Swart is originally from Boone, Iowa. She graduated summa cum laude from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska in 2004, with Bachelor’s of Arts degrees in both Political Science and Journalism. Upon graduation, Ms. Stone Swart worked in politics in...

Jeffrey Weaver is the founder of Prenup Pros, the first law firm in Virginia to only specialize in marital agreements (prenuptial agreements and post-nuptial agreements). Jeff has prepared contracts for clients since 1999 and through Prenup Pros he applies his expertise and experience to prepare prenuptial agreements for clients located in Texas, Virginia, Florida, New York, Nevada and New Jersey. Jeff formed Prenup Pros to provide marrying couples access to affordable, easy-to-understand prenuptial agreements because he believes that all couples should at least consider a prenup. His belief derives from the fact the he personally experienced the...

Lindsay Connolly is a lead senior associate attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. She is experienced in handling every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody and support cases. Ms. Connolly works in the firm’s Fredericksburg office, and represents clients in Stafford, Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg and surrounding areas. Originally from Milford, Massachusetts, Ms. Connolly graduated magna cum laude from Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. She then earned her law degree from David A. Clarke Law School in Washington, D.C., graduating summa cum laude and the top female in her class. Ms. Connolly was...

Sarah Patras is a lead senior associate attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C. She practices exclusively family law, representing clients in separation, divorce, custody, visitation and support cases, including a large number of contested cases. Ms. Patras works in the firm’s Fredericksburg-Stafford office, and represents clients in Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and surrounding areas. Born in Nebraska, Ms. Patras grew up in Iowa and earned double B.A. degrees from Iowa State University. She then relocated to Virginia, and graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law in 2016. After law school, Ms. Patras clerked for one year for a Virginia Circuit Court...

Sonja Aoun represents family law clients in all aspects of separation and divorce, including divorce planning/premarital agreements, collaborative divorces, negotiated settlements, and trials. Her estate planning practice ranges from the preparation of powers of attorney and advance medical directives to wills and complex trusts and special needs planning. Sonja obtained her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center after graduating cum laude with a B.S. in Languages (Spanish) from Georgetown University. Starting in 2014, she has been named to the Virginia SuperLawyers list in the field of family law; she has been listed in the Washington,...

I have been practicing family law and personal injury in the state of Maryland since 2003. I have helped many families deal with the heart ache of divorce and custodial issues related to divorce...helped clients deal with loss of income, transportation, and life activities due to being injured in a car crash. How may I help you?

Experienced Divorce Attorney and Mediator

Ellie Pittman is an attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. Her practice covers every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody, visitation and support cases. Ms. Pittman works in the firm’s Fredericksburg-Stafford office, and represents clients in Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and surrounding areas. Ms. Pittman graduated cum laude from the University of Richmond School of Law in 2021, after graduating cum laude from the University of Delaware in 2018.

Scott Parker is a senior associate attorney at Kublan Khan PLC., practicing exclusively family law. His practice covers every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody, visitation and support cases. Mr. Parker represents clients in Fairfax County and all across Northern Virginia. Originally from North Carolina, Mr. Parker graduated from North Carolina State University in 2005. He then earned his law degree from Suffolk University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts in 2009, and relocated to Northern Virginia. Mr. Parker practiced law in Fairfax as a solo practitioner from 2009–2015. His practice consisted of litigation–criminal defense at...

In addition to representing clients in education, family law and guardianship and conservatorship matters, Joan is certified as a Guardian ad litem to represent incapacitated adults in guardianship, conservatorship, and family law matters. She is also certified as a Guardian ad litem for children.

Growing up, Alanna’s parents heard primarily one complaint from her teachers: she talks too much. In high school, she had an English teacher sit down and explain to her that she needed to develop her listening skills and taught her that she would learn a lot more by listening than by talking. Alanna is a product of LA Law, and in her youth, the television show glamorized being a lawyer. Being active in debate and public speaking in high school and college, law school was a natural progression. She found that the two important qualities in being a family...

Brenton Bohannon focuses his practice in the areas of Criminal Law, DUI, Traffic Violations, and Family Law. Before joining the firm, Mr. Bohannon served as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for New Kent County Virginia, where he prosecuted hundreds of criminal and traffic cases in the Circuit, General District, and the Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Courts. His experience as a prosecutor, along with his psychology and education background, provide a unique perspective on how to best represent clients, whether he is defending a criminal case, litigating a contested divorce or resolving a child support issue. Before becoming an attorney,...

Ryan M. Schmalzle is a principal and founder of the firm. His practice focuses on family law, civil litigation, and criminal law. Ryan regularly practices in several jurisdictions in Northern Virginia including Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Clarke County, Frederick County and the City of Winchester. He also practices in the Maryland Courts, including Frederick County and Montgomery County. Ryan is an adjunct professor of law at George Mason University School of Law where he teaches appellate writing. Ryan also serves as a Special Justice in Loudoun County and he presides over civil commitment hearings. Although Ryan’s primary love...