Expertise.com
2024

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Best Family Lawyers in Norfolk

Our Recommended Top 7

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
  • Mystery Shopping Calls

Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Norfolk Family Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

147

Reviewed

91

Curated

7

Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

Website
5442 Tidewater Dr, Norfolk, VA 23509

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Shantell S. Nashatka has been helping families and individuals throughout Norfolk, Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach, and the entire Eastern Shore area with a range of family law issues for more than 14 years. Attorney Nashatka regularly deals with complex custody cases and offers a collaborative approach to settlement negotiation during divorce. Ms. Nashatka is a member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and has been featured in Virginia Business magazine.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Shantell Nashatka - Principal54 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.2
Google
4.5 / 5 (8)
Yelp
3.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
580 East Main Street Suite 330, Norfolk, VA 23510
  • Divorce
  • Child Custody

Why choose this provider?

Albiston Brannon & Gilbert, P.L.L.C. aims for quality legal representation for individuals in Norfolk. Its primary practice areas are personal injury law and family law. Managing partner, Debra C. Albiston, has spent most of her 37-year legal career advising her clients as they negotiate the specific issues that family law cases provide. Additionally, she has had two professional admissions, such as the Supreme Court of Virginia in 1983 and the U.S. District Court in Eastern District of Virginia in 1984.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Google
4.7 / 5 (28)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
125 Saint Pauls Boulevard, Norfolk, VA 23510

Why choose this provider?

Rice & Gregg, P.C., is a private law practice that has been providing legal counsel and representation to the residents of Norfolk and the surrounding areas for almost 10 years. It assists clients in multiple areas of family law, including divorce proceedings, child and spousal support, and child custody and visitation. In addition, it also handles traffic violations and criminal law cases. Partners Regis Rice and Artisha Todd Gregg have a combined legal experience of more than 30 years.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
3.0
Google
3.0 / 5 (27)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
P.O. Box 658, Norfolk, VA 23501

Why choose this provider?

Garrett Law Group, PLC, represents the residents of Norfolk in family law matters. The firm offers guidance in child custody and divorce issues, including annulment, and helps clients draft separation agreements. It assists clients in navigating the legal procedures concerning stepparent adoptions, child protective orders, and post-decree modifications. James D. Garrett, its founder and president, served the U.S. Army in 1991 and completed his law education in 2005. He holds a certification from the Virginia Supreme Court as children's guardian ad litem.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (8)
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
425 West 20th Street, Norfolk, VA 23517

Why choose this provider?

Morris Williams — A Family Law Firm is a Norfolk-based firm that deals with matters involving the treatment of children, marriage and divorce, and other related family law matters. The firm's co-founder and family law attorney, Leslie A. Williams, was a former military police officer. Williams and her legal staff handle various family law issues, such as divorce, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, enforcement of orders and show causes, child and spousal support, custody and visitation, and protective orders.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (8)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
909 First Colonial Road, Suite 101, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
  • Child Custody
  • Divorce

Why choose this provider?

K. Page Kistler, P.C, represents Norfolk clients in family law matters. The law firm helps traditional and LGBTQ families deal with adoptions, paternity determination, and name changes. It also guides divorcing individuals in navigating the proceedings, including property division and child support and custody. In addition, its legal team creates agreements for separation, marriage, and living-together situations. K. Page Kistler is a founding member of the Virginia Collaborative Professionals and has been practicing law since 2004.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Google
4.7 / 5 (127)
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
601 High St, Portsmouth, VA 23704

Why choose this provider?

Thompson & Pope in Portsmouth brings seasoned and sound advocacy and representation to family law clients in the Norfolk and Hampton Roads area. The family law team has more than 40 years of collective experience in the legal arena, offering a range of services including contested and uncontested divorce representation, reconciliation and separation agreements, child custody and visitation, and child support establishment. The team also takes on matters of a sensitive nature, including protective orders.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Clyde Thompson - Partner54 yrs
Ashby Pope - Partner54 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.3
Avvo
4.3 / 5 (6)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What kinds of cases do family lawyers handle?

    Family lawyers handle all types of family-related issues, including divorce, child support and spousal support, custody, adoption, paternity and guardianship. Family attorneys can also handle prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and divide marital assets based on the policies outlined in these documents. Domestic violence cases are also within the purview of family law attorneys.

  • Is family court different from district court?

    In most states, family court is a division of the district court rather than a separate court system. Family law judges primarily preside over family disputes, such as divorce and custody hearings. Most states require family law judges to receive special training on how to best address family law matters.

  • How long do custody cases last in family court?

    The duration of custody cases can differ based on the circumstances surrounding the claim. A case in which parents agree to split custody can be quick, while lawsuits in which both parents or guardians are fighting for full custody can take much longer. Most child custody cases last three to 10 days, but this can vary under more challenging circumstances.

  • Why is there no jury in family court?

    There are no juries in family court cases because the concept of innocence or guilt does not apply. While there may be some cases in which additional opinions could be helpful, most cases are based on the letter of the law versus individual circumstances. Some states, including Texas, permit jury trials for family court cases, but this is uncommon.

  • What are the most common cases in family court?

    Family law covers a variety of different cases pertaining to familial relations. The most common cases in family court include:

    • Divorce cases, including settling issues of alimony, property distribution, and child care
    • Child custody and the determination of paternity
    • Domestic violence protection orders
    • Name changes, including modifications due to adoption or personal preference
    • Guardianship, including who will handle the care of a child or adult should current caretakers be unable to do so
    • Adoptions and the termination of parental rights
    • Juvenile matters, including child abuse and neglect, foster placements, and criminal conduct
    • Emancipation, which is the process of declaring a minor as independent from their parents
    • Approval of underage marriages

  • Do family lawyers handle mediation?

    Mediation can be a valuable part of a divorce case, counseling spouses to work through areas of disagreement in a fair, calm, and unbiased manner. Most, but not all, family lawyers handle mediation. Anyone who believes they may need intervention services is encouraged to ask about an attorney’s experience with resolving disputes, to ensure that support is available if necessary.