Arlington Divorce Attorney

Dedicated Divorce Lawyers for Clients in Arlington, VA

When your marriage has run its course, you may come to the hard decision to file for divorce. This can be a complicated, emotionally challenging ordeal, but a divorce attorney in Arlington can facilitate the process of ending your marriage and help you work toward a favorable settlement.

At Salvado Law Offices, our attorneys are equipped to help you with your financial concerns, custody disputes, and other pressing issues during your divorce. We are committed to diligent, attentive representation, fighting for the best possible outcome no matter how complex your case is. We can help you avoid time in the courtroom, but if necessary, we are prepared to advocate for your best interests in front of a judge.

Fault in Virginia Divorces

Virginia recognizes grounds for fault-based divorce as well as no-fault divorce. In a no-fault divorce, neither you nor your spouse are blamed for the collapse of the marriage, and as such, your assets and property will be divided fairly. However, to file for a no-fault divorce, you must have lived apart from your spouse for at least a year, or just six months if there are no minor children involved and you and your spouse reach a separation agreement.

Fault-based grounds for divorce are harder to prove, but if you can successfully establish your spouse's fault, you may get a larger share of marital property. Fault-based grounds include:

• Adultery
• Cruelty
• Willful desertion or abandonment of more than one year
• Conviction of a felony offense with a prison sentence of one year or more

When considering whether or not to award spousal support to a spouse, a judge could decline to award alimony based on a spouse's history of adultery. Our attorneys are ready to represent you in either a fault-based or no-fault divorce, and we will work towards the best outcome for you.

Child Custody

In Virginia, decisions about child custody are made based on what is in the child's best interests. A judge will consider the relative stability of each parent, the health of all parties involved, and the willingness of the parents to foster healthy family relationships after a divorce.

Generally, the courts prefer that both parents be actively involved in their child's life. However, in certain cases, the courts may permit one parent to have sole custody. The reasons for awarding sole custody can vary, but in many cases, it can be attributed to a lack of involvement in the child's life, high levels of conflict between the parents, or a history of abuse against the child.

In joint custody agreements, both parents share some level of responsibility over the child's welfare. If you and your spouse are awarded joint custody, you will have to work out a parenting agreement that outlines how your child's needs will be addressed, including a physical custody schedule and an allocation of decision-making responsibility. Our attorneys can assist in the drafting of this document, helping you reach a favorable, legally sound agreement with your co-parent.

Child custody is a highly sensitive matter that should be handled with care. At Salvado Law Offices, our lawyers are ready to advocate for the best interests of your child, working towards a healthy custody agreement.

Meet With an Arlington, Virginia Divorce Lawyer Today

If you are going through a divorce in Arlington, our attorneys can inform you of your rights and serve as your best advocate during negotiations. Our services have garnered over 100 5-star reviews from satisfied clients, speaking to the strength of our personalized representation. Our quality legal advice is based on real results from our highly experienced attorneys. To schedule a consultation with our firm, call our offices at 301-933-1814 or contact us online.