Welcome to the Family Law Section

family law section logoThe Family Law Section works to improve the quality of family law practice in Virginia by sponsoring the Annual Family Law Seminar and the Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar, and by publishing a newsletter, the Virginia Family Law Quarterly.

The section provides information regarding family law to the public through its website and its publications (including Children and Divorce, Marriage in Virginia, Divorce in Virginia, Spare the Child, and Financial Issues in Divorce). The Virginia legislature periodically seeks and obtains information from the section, but because the Virginia State Bar is a state agency, the section does not engage in legislative advocacy.

The Family Law Section offers exclusive content for members. Ensure that you can read all the great information from the section with no delay by paying your annual section dues on July 1 every year. 

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Sign in to your Member Portal from the top right corner of any VSB webpage to join any VSB section through your Member Participation tab.

Upcoming Events

What's New?

Brian M. Hirsch Honored for Lifetime Achievement in Family Law

Posted on 3/20/2026
Brian M. Hirsch of Hirsch & Ehlenberger in Reston was named the 2026 recipient of the Betty A. Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award by the Virginia State Bar’s Family Law Section.

Julie M. Cillo Receives Family Law Service Award

Posted on 3/20/2026
Julie M. Cillo, partner at Owen & Owens, PLC, was awarded the Family Law Service Award by the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section Board of Governors.

Registration Open for the 2026 VSB Annual Meeting

Posted on 3/16/2026
Registration is open for the 2026 VSB Annual Meeting! This year’s meeting takes place June 3–6 in Virginia Beach.

Fifth Annual Virginia Family Law Writing Competition

Posted on 2/10/2026
The Virginia State Bar Family Law Section is sponsoring the fifth annual writing competition open to second and third-year law students attending Virginia and Washington, D.C. law schools.

Family Law Section Welcomes Two New Ex-Officio Members to the Board

Posted on 9/10/2025
The Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar welcomes two new members to the Board of Governors: the Hon. Jonathan D. Frieden and Melissa A. Dragone.