If your marriage or family relationship is going through a difficult change, you need a family law attorney who understands both Virginia law and the Ghent community in Norfolk, VA. Ghent’s mix of historic homes, young families, and long-time residents means family law issues here are just as varied, from dividing a home near Stockley Gardens to arranging custody schedules around school pickup at a nearby elementary school. Inman & Strickler, P.L.C. has guided Hampton Roads families through divorce, custody, and adoption matters for decades. We will walk you through your options and help you decide what path makes sense for your family.
Ending a marriage involves more than signing paperwork. Virginia divorces typically resolve with a Stipulation Agreement that spells out how you and your spouse will divide property, handle debt, and address spousal support, and that agreement becomes part of your Final Decree of Divorce. Virginia’s equitable distribution law, found in Code ยง20-107.3, controls how marital property gets divided, and the analysis gets more complicated when a couple owns a home in Ghent, a business, or retirement accounts built up over many years. Parties with significant assets need family law counsel who understands how property can change in character during a marriage and how that affects a final settlement, which sometimes means bringing in outside experts for valuations.
Some divorces settle quickly and affordably through an uncontested agreement. Others require a contested hearing when spouses cannot agree on every issue. Norfolk Circuit Court handles divorces filed by Ghent residents, and our attorneys appear there regularly, so we understand the local procedures your case will follow. We also draft marital agreements, both during a marriage and before one, known as prenuptial agreements, to help you protect what matters to you.
Decisions about your children are often the most emotional part of a family law case. Whether you were married or not, custody, visitation, and child support disputes are typically handled in the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Virginia has specific guidelines that courts use to calculate child support and to decide custody and visitation arrangements based on your child’s best interests. When a relationship between parents becomes hostile or unsafe, a protective order may also become necessary to set clear boundaries around contact. We help Ghent-area parents build a parenting plan that works for their family and protects their children.
Family law covers more than divorce. If a parent has died or become unable to care for a child, a court may need to appoint a legal guardian to manage the child’s care and any assets left to them. On the other end of the spectrum, many families come to us because they want to formally adopt a stepchild or a child from a previous relationship. Most adoptions go through Norfolk Circuit Court, often after an initial step in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. We are ready to guide Ghent families through either process from start to finish.
Divorce often raises questions about whether one spouse should pay financial support to the other, known as spousal support. Virginia courts weigh factors such as each spouse’s income, the length of the marriage, and each person’s ability to become self-supporting. We also help couples in Ghent put marital agreements in place, whether that means a postnuptial agreement during a marriage or a prenuptial agreement before one, so both spouses have clarity about how certain issues would be handled if the marriage ends.
Family law cases move through several different courts, each with its own procedures, and the right approach depends on your specific situation, not a one-size-fits-all plan. Our attorneys have practiced in the Tidewater area’s Circuit Courts and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts for many years, and we bring that local knowledge to every Ghent family we represent. We take the time to explain each step so you always know what to expect next.
Call us at 757-486-7055 or contact us to schedule a consultation with a Ghent, Norfolk family law attorney.
