Arlington County Family Law Attorney

Gabrielle Best Husband | G. Best Husband Law, PLLC

Arlington families often live with one foot in Virginia and one in the District. You might work at the Pentagon or downtown, co-parent with someone across the river, or worry about keeping a family matter private in a small, connected community. I'm licensed in both Virginia and DC, and I offer discreet, practical counsel for divorce, custody, and support in Arlington. We'll discuss fees openly at your consultation.

This page is general information, not legal advice.

Family law matters I handle in Arlington

• Divorce, contested and uncontested, including property, retirement, and debt division. See Divorce.
• Child custody and visitation, including parenting plans for parents in different jurisdictions. See Child Custody.
• Child support, new orders and modifications. See Child Support.
• Spousal support, temporary and final. See Spousal Support in Virginia.
• Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. See The Business Owner's Prenup.
• Protective orders. See Protective Orders.
• Mediation support: preparing you for mediation and reviewing any agreement before you sign.

Arlington courts

Both family courts are in the Arlington County Justice Center, 1425 North Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201, near the Courthouse Metro station.

Arlington Circuit Court (17th Judicial Circuit)

1425 North Courthouse Road, Civil Division, Suite 6700, Arlington, VA 22201

Clerk's Office: (703) 228-7010

Hears divorce cases, including property division, spousal support, and custody and support that are part of a divorce.

Arlington Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (J&DR)

1425 North Courthouse Road, Suite 4100, Arlington, VA 22201

Clerk's Office: (703) 228-4495

Hears custody, visitation, and support petitions when no divorce is pending, plus family abuse protective orders.

What to know about family cases in Arlington

1. 1. Arlington is a county, and its courts also serve Falls Church. Arlington has no separate city government or city court. The Arlington Circuit Court serves both Arlington County and the City of Falls Church. One caution: many homes with a "Falls Church" mailing address are actually in Fairfax County, and those cases go to the Fairfax courts.

1. 2. Cross-river custody starts with the "home state" question. When one parent lives in Arlington and the other in DC, the first issue is usually which court can decide custody. Virginia and DC both follow the same uniform law. A court can generally make the first custody order only in the child's home state, which usually means where the child lived for the six months before filing (Va. Code § 20-146.12; D.C. Code § 16-4602.01). Once a court has entered a custody order, it generally keeps authority over later changes while a parent or the child still lives there. Because I'm licensed in both jurisdictions, I can look at your options on both sides of the river.

1. 3. Federal careers bring specific financial questions. Many Arlington families include federal employees, contractors, or service members. Dividing a federal pension, Thrift Savings Plan account, or military retired pay usually requires a court order written to meet the plan's own federal requirements, in addition to Virginia's equitable distribution rules (Va. Code § 20-107.3). Getting the wording right matters. For military families, see Serving in the Armed Forces and the Intersection with Family Law.

1. 4. Privacy is often a priority. For people in sensitive government or private-sector roles, discretion matters. We can talk through ways to limit what ends up in the public court file, such as resolving issues by agreement. See Maintaining Privacy in High-Asset Divorces.

1. 5. Parent education and mediation apply here too. In contested custody, visitation, or support cases, Virginia requires each parent to attend an approved parent education seminar of at least four hours (Va. Code §§ 20-103, 16.1-278.15). Virginia law also favors mediation where appropriate (Va. Code § 20-124.2).

Communities I serve in Arlington

Rosslyn, Courthouse, Clarendon, Virginia Square, Ballston, Cherrydale, Lyon Village, Westover, East Falls Church, Shirlington, Fairlington, Columbia Pike, Lyon Park, Crystal City, Pentagon City, Aurora Highlands, and the rest of National Landing, along with the City of Falls Church.

What to expect when you contact me

1. 1. Call or book online. Reach me at (844) 640-6100 or schedule a consultation.
2. 2. Strategy session. We'll go over your goals, which court (Arlington, another Virginia court, or DC) is the right place for your case, and any federal benefits or privacy issues. My post How to Prepare for Your Family Law Consultation can help.
3. 3. A clear plan and an open conversation about fees. We'll discuss fees and the scope of the work at your consultation, so you know what to expect.

Offices (by appointment)

Virginia office: G. Best Husband Law, PLLC, 1750 Tysons Blvd., Suite 1500, McLean, VA 22102

DC office (for clients whose cases also involve the District): 300 New Jersey Ave NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20001

(844) 640-6100 | Both offices are by appointment only

Frequently asked questions

Is there an "Arlington City" court?

No. Arlington is a county. Family cases for Arlington residents go to the Arlington Circuit Court or the Arlington J&DR Court, both in the Justice Center at 1425 North Courthouse Road. Those courts also serve the City of Falls Church.

I live in Arlington and my child's other parent lives in DC. Where do we file for custody?

It usually depends on where your child has lived for the past six months and whether any court has already entered a custody order. That answer should come before anyone files, because filing in the wrong place can cost time.

I'm a federal employee. Will my pension be divided?

The part of a pension earned during the marriage is generally treated as marital property in Virginia, though the outcome depends on your facts and any agreement you reach. Federal plans also have their own requirements for the court order that divides them.

Ready to talk?

Facing a divorce, custody, or support issue in Arlington County? Call (844) 640-6100 or schedule your consultation. You can also reach me through my contact page.

The information on this page is general information, not legal advice, and contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please don't send confidential details until we've confirmed we can represent you.

---