Smith Strong, PLC typically represents clients from the Richmond Metropolitan area to Williamsburg, Virginia, with offices in both locations.  Attorney Van Smith and his team represent client-members with divorce, custody & support matters from Richmond to Williamsburg. In addition, the firm focuses on helping individuals with trust and estate planning, probate, and elder law matters as another strategic area of family law practice. You deserve this level of focus and attention.

His team looks forward to meeting with you in a Smart Start Comprehensive Case Preparation Meeting to outline a plan of action for your family law matter.

We frequently appear in the Juvenile & Domestic Relations Courts and Circuit Courts from Richmond to Williamsburg, including:

Richmond Metropolitan Area

  • Henrico County, Virginia
  • Chesterfield County, Virginia
  • City of Richmond, Virginia
  • Hanover County, Virginia
  • Goochland County, Virginia
  • Powhatan County, Virginia
  • King William County, Virginia
  • Louisa County, Virginia
  • Essex County, Virginia
  • City of Hopewell, Virginia
  • Prince George County, Virginia
  • Amelia County, Virginia
  • Caroline County, Virginia
  • Buckingham County, Virginia

Williamsburg/Tidewater Virginia

  • City of Williamsburg, Virginia
  • James City County, Virginia
  • York County, Virginia
  • New Kent County, Virginia
  • Charles City County, Virginia

We will travel to other areas in the Commonwealth of Virginia on your behalf, if requested, or refer you to highly regarded attorneys in those local areas.

We look forward to serving you and relying upon our experience with clients from your area to bring the local knowledge and experience you need to reach the goals set for your representation.

We recognize that for many of our clients, this is their first time in a lawyer's office; therefore, we make every effort to ensure each client feels as comfortable as possible.  

Comprehensive Family Law, Divorce & Litigation Services

SMITH STRONG, PLC offers a comprehensive range of family law, divorce and civil litigation services from advice and counseling on the most sophisticated and complex business and legal issues to negotiating agreements, mediating disputes, and litigation involving:

Premier Family Law, Divorce & Child Custody Representation

  • Divorce, Matrimonial Law, Family Law
  • Litigation in Trial Courts
  • Negotiated Settlements
  • Premarital and Postnuptial Agreements
  • Marital Settlement Agreements & Separation Agreements
  • Child Custody, Visitation & Support
  • Spousal Support & Alimony
  • Integrated Solutions for Wealth Management & Preservation
  • Parentage & Paternity Cases
  • Retirement Plans & Benefits
  • Property Division and Distribution
  • Adoption
  • Business Valuation
  • Military divorce
  • Post-Divorce Disputes
  • Appeals
  • Wills, trusts, estate planning & administration

 

Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court Representation

  • Domestic Violence & Protective Order Hearings
  • Assault & Battery Charges
  • Juvenile Crimes

 

Premier Trust & Estate Planning Counsel

  • Personal Estate Planning
  • Wills, Trusts, Advanced Medical Directives, Power of Attorney
  • Trust Advisory, Management, & Administration Services
  • Gift & Wealth Succession Planning
  • Probate & Estate Administration
  • Contested & Uncontested Guardianship Proceedings

 

Our Mission: To Provide Premier Family Law & Business Services

Our mission is to provide premier family law, divorce and litigation services to our clients across central Virginia and the Richmond metropolitan area, where there are complex legal or financial issues present, as cost-effectively as possible.

We do this through dedicated, daily focus on our clients, their challenges, their unique needs and the appropriate legal solution for their case.  

We provide legal and emotional strength to our clients during one of life's toughest moments--divorce. We understand the pain of divorce, and ensure, when the couple has children, that there is a family left standing, even if no marriage.

Crafting a Long-Term Plan that Works for You

Our professional focus on family law, divorce and litigation enables excellence, by maintaining the highest standards of legal training, integrity and performance. When we meet with you and commit to doing our best, we make that promise based on this day in, day out commitment to the practice of family law in Virginia.

We offer our services as cost-effectively as possible by keeping our expenses low and relying upon the latest technology to deliver real savings to our clients. We are eager adopters of new technology that delivers greater efficiency while maintaining the standard of quality our clients expect; and in that spirit, we offer innovative legal solutions for our clients as well.

Welcome to the SMITH STRONG, PLC approach. Experience the difference that comes with a commitment to the practice of family law and a passion for serving our clients.

What to Expect

At our first meeting, we'll provide:

  • a straightforward and understandable explanation of the law;
  • a candid assessment of the case; and
  • a plan to obtain the best possible outcome, through settlement or litigation.

 

Former clients of attorney Van Smith have included physicians, engineers, dot com entrepreneurs, college faculty members, a leading rock band, millionaires, factory workers, farmers, a winery owner, fellow attorneys, teachers, business owners, political consultants, state administrative workers, police officers, firefighters, military officers, stay-at-home parents, bankers and others. We love the practice of law and welcome clients from all walks of life across central Virginia.

We provide personal attention to each client through skillful communication, agreeing upon a plan of action after listening carefully to the client’s unique situation and goals. 

We look forward to serving you. Please call 804.325.1245 to schedule an initial consultation or your may schedule a consultation at your convenience online here.

Why You Need an Attorney 

Founder and Attorney Van Smith likes to say, “I live simply, and carry that spirit into my practice. I don’t complicate my client’s lives. I offer practical solutions, tailored for each situation. Our overriding goal is to help clients move through this transition and get back to fully living their lives, as quickly and as cost-effectively as possible.”  

So, why do you need an attorney for your family law matter? Won’t that just make things worse? Why not wait to call an attorney if things get really out of hand?

It’s tempting to just sign documents found online and move forward, however, you need an attorney, from the beginning, to ensure your long-term goals—for your finances, children, and future—are met. Careful planning now will save you from returning to court, living with regret, or enduring a poorly constructed support or custody plan later. You need to understand your options before signing an agreement.

A cautionary quote from one past client, “I didn’t even explore what I could have received in spousal support, in dividing retirement plans, reviewing marital assets, interest in my spouse’s business or life insurance—anything. I just rushed through. Now it turns out I could really use some help and I wish I’d thought it through more then.”

While we excel at negotiated agreements between parties, with most cases resolved privately, attorney Van Smith has been trained to handle complex litigation on behalf of his clients.  Prior to founding SMITH STRONG, PLC, Van Smith honed his trial skills, first, while working in the litigation division of the third largest law firm in Virginia, and then in a family law and trial boutique firm in Northern Virginia, alongside some of Virginia's best lawyers.

Addressing the Costs of Legal Services

Another common reason people fear calling an attorney is concern over costs. At SMITH STRONG, PLC, we work with our clients to craft a plan that is feasible.  

Oftentimes we hold a “security deposit” in our trust account, similar to renting an apartment. We send our clients a billing statement each month that is typically paid by credit card. At the conclusion of the matter, if all monthly billing statements are current, we return the security deposit, in full, from our trust account.

Attorney Van Smith carefully outlines each stage of legal action with his clients to ensure there are no surprises.  

Clients find this up-front approach refreshing.  

We welcome suggestions at every stage to improve our service to clients.

Perhaps Amazon, when launching its Kindle Fire, said it best, 

  “Dear Customer, There are two types of companies: those that work hard to charge customers more, and those that work hard to charge customers less. 

  Both approaches can work. We are firmly in the second camp.”

 

We’re in the second camp, too.

FINAL THOUGHTS

We know our clients are feeling overwhelmed by the choices they face. At our initial consultation, we pride ourselves on listening carefully to you and crafting the best solution, bringing you peace of mind. Let's move forward, together.

To schedule an initial consultation, please call 804.325.1245 or 757.941.4298.

We're SMITH STRONG, PLC:  Legal Strength.