George A Christie - Family Attorneys: Virginia Beach VA

Specialty Areas
* DIVORCE
* CRIMINAL & TRAFFIC/DUI
* PERSONAL INJURY

Divorce law in Virginia has become one of the most complex areas of the practice of law. This is true whether or not the divorcing couples have a modest or substantial marital estate. Virginia divorce courts initially deal with the married couple as if their marriage were an economic partnership. The court has the obligation to identify and value marital assets. After the court has accomplished that task, it then sets upon determining an equitable division of the value of those assets between the parties through the application of a number of criteria. A good divorce lawyer is required to have a substantial background in business law if he is to assure his client that each marital asset is properly identified and thereafter properly valued. Succeeding in convincing a court to include an asset as marital or exclude an asset as being the separate property of our client can have enormous financial implications. Likewise, succeeding in convincing a court as to the value of an asset, such as a commercial business or professional practice, can have major financial implications to a divorcing couple.

The determination of whether a dependent spouse is entitled to spousal support has obvious long-term implications on both divorcing spouses. The amount of any support award and its duration will have obvious profound effects on the future of the parties.

The practice of family law goes well beyond the financial horizon. Questions relating to the custody and visitation of children have provoked unfortunate battles of heroic proportion. The ability of members of our firm to foster the settlement of these sensitive issues can ofttimes be of far greater value than our expertise in the trial of custody disputes. Notwithstanding our efforts to attempt to solve our client's problems, both financially and in the area of custody disputes, there is ofttimes little option but to present our client's case to an appropriate court. When this occurs, we are always aggressive and zealous in presenting our client's case.

Fellow - American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

George A Christie
Christie, Kantor, Griffin & Smith PC
477 Viking Dr #150
Virginia Beach VA 23452-7354
Tel: 757 499-9222
Fax: 757 499-0587

George was born in Hampton, Virginia on March 22, 1942. He was admitted to the Virginia Bar in 1967 after graduating from the College of William and Mary in 1964 and the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond in 1967. George has served as the President of the Family Law Organization of Greater Hampton Roads and is currently a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is a member of the Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association, Virginia State Bar and Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. George has also served as Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary of the Board of Governors of the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar; has lectured in the area of family law for the Continuing Legal Education Programs of the Virginia, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, and the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.