We Help You Make The Right Choices In Divorce And Family Law Matters
Last updated on May 22, 2025
The decisions you make in ending your marriage can have long-lasting effects. It is important to pursue a divorce in an expeditious and efficient manner to preserve your financial estate and eliminate stress. But it is equally — if not more — important to take the time you need to make decisions which are right for you and your children.
Sevila, Saunders, Huddleston & White has been assisting clients in family law matters since 1982. We have a team of attentive and thoughtful attorneys who can assist you in this difficult time through mediation, litigation, and settlement negotiations. Our team will assist you in shaping realistic goals throughout the divorce process and help you map out the most efficient and cost-effective way to reach those goals. Whatever path you take toward resolution, your attorney at SSHW will treat your case with the highest level of professionalism, and you will receive trusted counsel every step of the way.
Meet Our Team Of Family Law Attorneys
SSHW has earned a reputation for providing impeccable service and advocacy to our clients. (We encourage you to review our attorneys and their qualifications here.) All of our attorneys are active in the community and are regular participants in Loudoun County Bar Association and Virginia Bar Association functions and events. We are available to answer any questions you may have, draft and review legal documents, and give you unwavering support through every step of the challenge ahead.
Understanding Virginia Spousal Support Laws
Spousal support (also called alimony) is not automatically awarded in Virginia divorces. Courts carefully evaluate multiple factors before determining whether support is appropriate, how much should be paid and for how long payments should continue. Virginia law outlines specific considerations for judges, including the standard of living established during the marriage, each spouse’s financial resources and obligations, and the decisions made about property division.
The duration of the marriage plays a significant role in spousal support determinations, though Virginia law does not establish a minimum marriage length for eligibility. Generally, longer marriages may result in longer support durations or even permanent support in some cases. Short-term marriages typically result in shorter support periods if awarded at all.
Courts also consider fault when making spousal support decisions. If adultery led to the marriage dissolution, the court may deny support to the spouse who committed adultery, except in cases where denial would create undue economic hardship. Our attorneys help clients navigate these sensitive issues while protecting their financial interests throughout the process.
During pending divorce proceedings, courts may award temporary spousal support (known as pendente lite support) to maintain financial stability until the final decree. These temporary orders help ensure basic needs are met while the case progresses.
Important tax considerations affect spousal support arrangements. Since 2019 federal tax changes, support payments are no longer tax-deductible for the paying spouse, nor are they considered taxable income for the recipient. This significant change affects the negotiation of support amounts, as the tax burden remains with the paying spouse.
Virginia law provides clear guidance on when spousal support orders may not be modified. When agreements specifically state they are “non-modifiable,” courts cannot alter them regardless of changed circumstances. Additionally, support agreements may include provisions that terminate payments upon specific events such as remarriage of the recipient spouse or cohabitation in a relationship analogous to marriage.
Navigating these complex laws requires experienced legal counsel to protect your interests, whether you are paying or receiving support. Our attorneys provide knowledgeable guidance to help you understand your rights and obligations under Virginia’s spousal support statutes.
Legal Help In A Full Spectrum Of Family Law Considerations
Our family law attorneys are happy to assist you with any of the following domestic-related issues:
- Uncontested and contested divorce proceedings
- Equitable distribution and complex property divisions, including the valuation and division of high net-worth assets, businesses, stocks, stock options, retirement plans, real estate holdings and co-mingled assets
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
- Legal separations and annulments
- Alternative dispute resolution, including mediation
- Custody and visitation disputes concerning married and unmarried parents or parental relocations
- Custodial parent relocations
- Child support and spousal support, including requests and enforcement issues, DCSE/administrative cases, registration of foreign orders
- Modifications of custody, visitation and support agreements
- Contempt and enforcement proceedings
- Paternity matters that may affect parental rights, custody and support
- Adoptions, including domestic and stepparent adoptions
- Preliminary and permanent protective orders in cases of domestic abuse
- Guardian Ad Litem for minors
- CPS/DFS removal cases, abuse and neglect, and appeals
- CHINS petitions
Jurisdictions of Practice:
- Loudoun County
- Fairfax County
- Clarke County
- Frederick County
- Prince William County
- Fauquier County
Take Action With Our Help
If you’re in need of guidance through a family law matter, then the attorneys at Sevila, Saunders, Huddleston & White should be the first people you call. We welcome the opportunity to offer you guidance, support and creative solutions that get the job done in a timely, cost-effective manner.
To schedule an initial consultation, contact our office in Leesburg, Virginia, by calling 703-468-0432 or filling out our online contact form.