Top Best Family Lawyers | 14650 Available

Matthew Smith is a managing partner at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. He is experienced in handling every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody and support cases. Mr. Smith works in the firm’s Fairfax office, and represents clients in Fairfax, Alexandria, Arlington and all across Northern Virginia.An attorney since 2005, Mr. Smith has litigated every type of family law case in the courts of Northern Virginia, including high value equitable distribution cases, custody, support, and military divorce cases. He is the attorney in the firm most experienced in navigating the Fairfax County court system.One of the firm’s most knowledgeable military divorce lawyers, Matthew Smith is intimately familiar with issues of military retirement, the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act, the Survivor Benefit Plan, disability pay, and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.. Mr. Smith holds the prestigious AV Preeminent rating (the highest possible rating) for ethical standards and legal ability from Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Smith has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Family Law every year since 2017. He was named a Super Lawyer in 2022–2025, after being named a Super Lawyers Rising Star each year from 2015–2020. Mr. Smith also holds a perfect 10.0 rating from both Avvo and Justia.. Matthew Smith resides with his wife and two sons in Tysons Corner.

Yolanda is a Virginia Beach native and graduate of Landstown High School. Yolanda went on to graduate from The University of Virginia with a B.A. in Foreign Affairs and Sociology with a minor in African American Studies. She obtained her law degree from the Syracuse University College of Law. During law school, Yolanda was a Senator for the Student Bar Association, chair for the Diversity Committee, executive board member for the Black Law Students Association, Editor for the Journal of International Law & Commerce, a member of the Moot Court Honor Society, and a member of the school's National Trial Team.. After law school, Yolanda began her career serving the Norfolk community as a Public Defender on their Juvenile & Domestic Relations Team. As a Public Defender, Yolanda was honored by the Norfolk Public Library and African American Community Creative Series as a AACCS Class of 2021 Distinguished Award Honoree for her public service as a youth and social justice advocate.. Yolanda is very active in her community as a life-long member of First Baptist Church of Lambert's Point in Norfolk, VA, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Yolanda also enjoys mentoring middle and high school students helping them navigate their lives to pursue their passions.

Litigation has traditionally been the only option to resolve legal matters. Challa Law was formed with the vision that mediation is a more effective tool for conflict resolution.. Ms. Challa has a unique background in counseling, law and mediation. This combination of empathy, legal training, and practical people skills has enabled her to be an effective communicator, facilitator and advocate.. She graduated with a B.A in Psychology and a minor in Women’s Studies and worked as a counselor in an outpatient treatment center for 5 years. In this position she counseled adults and juveniles facing behavioral, educational, legal, and substance abuse issues. She also conducted individual, family and group therapy. Although this experience provided a compassionate outlet for helping others, Ms. Challa desired a more active role in advocating for those in need and pursued legal studies.. During law school, Ms. Challa was recognized for distinguished oral advocacy in the first year, as well as an award for exceptional job performance in working for the school law library. She worked in the Family Law Unit of Legal Aid. In this position she worked closely with clients dealing with divorce, custody, and visitation issues. After graduation, she worked as a contract attorney for 3 years for a large corporate law firm.. After moving to the Hampton Roads area, Ms. Challa obtained certification from the Supreme Court of Virginia as a mediator and has been mediating cases for over 10 years. These included highly emotional and complex cases such as landlord-tenant, contract disputes, corporate issues, protective orders, and neighborhood disputes. From her extensive experience in court, Ms. Challa began to understand the power of mediation and its potential for change. This power was most evident in the area of Family Law due to the intensity of the emotions involved, and the likelihood of lasting negative impact on children.. When Ms. Challa is not helping clients resolve their legal issues, she can be found giving back to students and the community. Ms. Challa enjoys teaching and has taught legal courses as adjunct faculty at a local college. She has been given an award for superior teaching and professionalism.. Challa Law is committed to giving back to the community. She often participates by volunteering and fundraising to help children and families in the Hampton Roads area.. Currently a member of the Virginia Mediation Network, Virginia State Bar, Chesapeake Bar Association, Virginia Beach Bar Association, and the Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association.. She is currently certified in the following areas:. Supreme Court Certified Mediatior,Supreme Court Certified Peer Mediator,  Supreme Court Certified Guardian Ad Litem, Virginia Indigent Defense Commission, Certified Arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau

As the youngest of five children born to an over the road truck driver and nursing assistant, gowing up in Southwest Virginia wasn't always easy. In June of 1997, I became the first member of my family to graduate from high school and then go to college. I didn't follow the traditional path to becoming a lawyer. I worked my way through college and graduate school. I attended law school at night in the part-time, evening division program. It was hard, but as is the case with most things in life, the "hard" made it worth while. I chose to become a lawyer because by nature, I'm a problem solver. I like to get things done. I like knowing that when I help a client, I'm doing something for that person that only a lawyer can do.. After law school, I chose to stay in Southwest Virginia because the Blue Ridge Mountains are my home. The people here are my friends and family. There's no place on Earth that I would rather be.. After being in private practice, I chose to work for Blue Ridge Legal Services, Inc. because I believe that everyone should have access to the courthouse no matter how much money they have. Engraved above the front entrance to the United States Supreme Court building is this phrase: Equal Justice Under Law. Legal Aid programs like Blue Ridge help breathe life into this motto by serving the millions who would otherwise go unserved. I'm proud of what I do and the clients that I work for.. The majority of my practice is dedicated to Family law. I handle paternity, adoption, divorce, custody, separation and support issues in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court as well as the Circuit Court. Because these issues are often complex and nearly always emotionally charged, I employ a client centered approcach to the practice of law. This means that the client is always at the center of my thinking. I put myself in my client's shoes and look at the probelm from their point of view. Being client centered helps me to work as a partner with the client to develop a unique solution to the problem at hand. I don't believe in the "one size fits all" model of practice.. I also practice Estate law. This includes the preparation of Wills, Advance Medical Directives, Powers of Attorney and some guardianship work. While planning for the future is important, it doesn't have to be difficult. I use the same client centered approach in my Estate work that I use in my Family law cases so again, the client is always at the center of my thinking. I work with the client to create a plan as unique as they are. Most the of the time, the client has a concept of what that plan should look like. They know where they want to go. My job is to break down the big picture into the individual steps to help them get there.. In my view, no matter the area of practice, it's all about the client and all about the solutions!

After practicing law in several other firms, in 2014, Kate Van Hooser and her law partners founded the predecessor firm to Van Hooser & Aguirre, P.C. in order to focus on individual solutions for their clients legal issues with a dedicated team approach.  Kate and her law partner Christina Aguirre continue to provide client focused legal advice across the Northern Virginia region including the City of Alexandria, Prince William County, Fairfax County, Stafford, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylania.. Since beginning her practice, Kate Van Hooser has made a name for herself as a zealous advocate for her clients, whether they are in the midst of a highly contested divorce or is a child who is the subject of a removal action by the Department of Social Services.  Ms. Van Hooser concentrates her practice on Family and Divorce Law, including all aspects of child custody, visitation, support, and property distribution, and  Elder Law, including Estate Planning, Guardianships/Conservatorships, and Medicare/Medicaid Planning.  She routinely appears before the courts in Prince William, Fairfax, Alexandria, Stafford, Fredericksburg, King George, and Spotsylvania Counties.  Ms. Van Hooser is a certified Guardian Ad Litem for both children and incompetent adults.. Ms. Van Hooser Graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology.  She received her Juris Doctor with a Certificate in Health Law from St. Louis University School of Law in Missouri.  While at SLU, Ms. Van Hooser served on the Moot Court Advisory Board and as a teaching assistant.  She served as Justice of the John J. Sullivan Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.. As a divorce and family law attorney Ms. Van Hooser has successfully represented clients with multi-million dollar business and property interests, as well as those with international custody and visitation issues.  Ms. Van Hooser is a skilled negotiator and an experienced litigator in the courtroom, who handles each divorce or family law case with compassion and dedication.. Ms. Van Hooser ‘s practice also involves preparing wills and estates and representing clients who are dealing with the complications of a serious health issue, or a child who is handicapped, to ensure they receive comprehensive planning.  As an advocate for the elderly, Ms. Van Hooser works with her clients and their families to understand the legal implications of a diagnosis like dementia, and to ensure they have the appropriate legal planning in place to protect their interests.

Ms. Simmons is an Associate with Nichols Zauzig Sandler and concentrates on domestic and criminal law.. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Simmons served as Judicial Law Clerk to The Honorable Lon E. Farris in Prince William County Circuit Court for two years, acting as the Chief Law Clerk for her second year.. Ms. Simmons graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina Central University School of Law, which she attended on full scholarship. She served as the Notes and Comments Editor for the Law Review and was a member of the law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta.. During the summer, she interned at the North Carolina Court of Appeals for The Honorable Wanda G. Bryant, preparing legal memos and assisting with the drafting of legal opinions. Ms. Simmons also interned with multiple law firms in Northern Virginia to gain legal practice experience.. Her undergraduate degree is from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia and she attended Osbourn Park High School in Prince William County.. Ms. Simmons is a member of the Prince William County Bar Association, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and Virginia Women Attorneys Association.

Danielle joined Hirsch and Ehlenberger in April 2013. Prior to practicing family law, she worked as a criminal defense attorney in Northern Virginia. She is a member of the Fairfax Bar Association, the Loudoun Bar Association and the Virginia State Bar and regularly practices in courts throughout Northern Virginia.. At Emory University School of Law, Danielle was a member of the Emory International Law Review. She served as a Notes and Comments Editor of the Law Review, reading and editing the work of her peers. Additionally, Danielle’s comment on the proposed International Megan’s Law of 2010 was published in Fall 2011.. Before law school, Danielle studied psychology at the University of Virginia.

I have been licensed in Virginia since 2010 and have been practicing exclusively in the area of family law since 2011. I graduated from Georgetown University in 2007 and the T.C. Williams School of Law (University of Richmond) in 2010 with a Certificate of Concentration in Family Law.  From 2010-2011, I was a Law Clerk to the Judges of Virginia's 17th Judicial Circuit (Arlington County).. I practice primarily in Fairfax County and Loudoun County, but also have experience in other Northern Virginia jurisdictions, including Arlington, Prince William, Fauquier and Stafford.

Nicholas C. Erickson is an associate with Compton & Duling, L.C. in the domestic relations practice, having joined the firm in September 2019. His prior litigation experience includes commercial litigation, business torts and contract claims, community association disputes, landlord tenant, debt collection, bankruptcy and creditor’s rights, estate/probate, and employment litigation, which makes him a strong advocate for the broad issues raised in family law cases.. Nicholas transitioned to domestic relations after representing clients in a wide range of matters in the courts of Virginia and the District of Columbia. Currently, he represents clients in a broad range of family law dispute, including divorce, custody, support, protective orders, and enforcement actions in the Circuit Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts.. During his first year in practice, Nicholas served as a Law Clerk for the judges of the Circuit Court of Arlington County and upon completing his clerkship, joined Capsalis, Bruce, Reaser & Caulkins, PLC, which later became Caulkins & Bruce, PC, in Arlington, Virginia, where he practiced for over ten years.. While in law school, Nicholas worked for a Washington, D.C. law firm, where he advised clients on mortgage lending compliance and trends in regulation in the financial industry. His law school career also involved a clerkship for an Administrative Law Judge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, where he reviewed discrimination complaints by federal employees.. Nicholas is a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Golden Key Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, and National Society of Collegiate Scholars. In April 1997, Nicholas attained the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America.

Justin C. Wilson entered the practice of law in 2016 after graduating from The University of Alabama School of Law with his Juris Doctor.. While in law school, Justin interned with the District Attorney’s Office in both Anniston and Mobile, AL, where he gained valuable insight into their preparation and processes when handling criminal matters. He was a member of the School of Law’s Criminal Law Society and also worked in the school’s Domestic Violence Clinic offering free legal aid to victims of domestic violence.. Justin Wilson graduated from Auburn University, cum laude, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics in 2013. While an undergraduate student, he was a member of the Auburn Economics Club and Pi Lambda Sigma, Auburn University’s academic honor society for pre-law scholars.. Justin is a member of the Alabama Bar Association, the Calhoun/Cleburne County Bar Association, the Randolph County Bar Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and Anniston Rotary Club.Since joining his firm, Justin has represented clients in state and federal court and has successfully represented clients in numerous trials.. Justin is admitted to practice in the State of Alabama, the State of Georgia, The United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and The United States Supreme Court.