Family Focused Legal Solutions in Greater Richmond: What You Need to Know
When family legal issues hit, they threaten your peace of mind, your children's stability, and your family's future. Your family's legal crisis feels impossible to navigate alone, and you shouldn't have to. While other attorneys learn about family law from textbooks, I've learned from both the courtroom and life experience. After three decades practicing law and personally navigating divorce, single motherhood, guardianship, and caregiving, I bring a unique combination of professional skill and personal understanding that helps you sleep better at night. I know exactly what keeps Virginia families awake with worry, and I know how to help you move forward with confidence.
My Unique Approach: Professional Excellence Meets Personal Understanding
Having navigated the complexities of family law from both sides of the courtroom—as both an attorney and someone who has experienced child support and visitation issues, caregiving challenges, and divorce proceedings—I offer a perspective that goes beyond legal textbooks. My personal experience as a participant in family legal challenges gives me invaluable insight into the emotional and practical challenges my clients face.
With over three decades of legal experience, I now focus exclusively on helping families in the Greater Richmond area resolve their most pressing legal matters. This extensive legal background, combined with my personal understanding of family challenges, allows me to provide representation that is both professionally excellent and deeply compassionate.
Comprehensive Family Centered Services Tailored to Your Needs
Adult Guardianship and Conservatorship
Are you worried about your special needs child who just turned 18? Many parents are shocked to learn that once their special needs child reaches adulthood, they may no longer have legal authority to make medical or educational decisions. I help families establish legal guardianship to ensure continued care and protection for vulnerable adults.
I also assist families dealing with aging relatives whose mental health or cognitive abilities are declining. Whether you're concerned about a parent with dementia or a relative who can no longer make sound financial decisions, I guide you through the guardianship and conservatorship process with sensitivity and expertise. Having successfully petitioned for guardianship in a contested case myself, I understand both the legal complexities and the emotional challenges these situations present.
Child Custody and Visitation Rights
Is your contact with your children being limited or denied? Child custody disputes are among the most emotionally challenging legal matters families face. I understand the anxiety and heartbreak that comes with uncertainty about your children's living arrangements and your role in their lives.
I represent parents seeking to:
Establish or modify custody arrangements
Secure meaningful visitation schedules
Limit the contact of a non-custodial parent who engages in unhealthy behaviors such as substance abuse
Address parental alienation issues
Handle situations where circumstances have changed since the original custody or visitation order
My approach focuses on protecting your relationship with your children while advocating for arrangements that serve their best interests.
Grandparents' Rights and Visitation
Are disputes over grandparent access tearing your family apart? Whether you're a parent feeling pressured to allow unwanted contact or a grandparent worried about losing your relationship with beloved grandchildren, these conflicts hit close to home.
Virginia law takes a clear stance: parents have the fundamental right to make decisions about their children, including who gets to spend time with them. Recent legal developments, including the 2025 Williams v. Panter decision from the Virginia Court of Appeals, have significantly strengthened parental rights while making it more difficult for grandparents to obtain court-ordered visitation.
For parents seeking to set boundaries, Virginia courts presume that fit parents act in their children's best interests when making relationship decisions. For grandparents seeking visitation must prove three key elements: the child's best interests (not your wishes), that a significant beneficial relationship already exists, and that parents have unreasonably denied access without legitimate justification.
Virginia courts are most receptive to grandparent petitions in specific circumstances like the death of a parent, parental incapacitation, or when grandparents have had long-term substantial involvement as primary caregivers. I've successfully handled these sensitive cases, including recently leveraging the Williams v. Panter precedent to protect a father's parental rights while negotiating a reasonable settlement that preserved the child's beneficial relationship with his grandmother.
Child Support Matters
Have you received a notice about child support arrearages? Whether you're facing enforcement actions, license suspension threats, or potential jail time for unpaid support, I provide skilled representation to protect your rights and find workable solutions.
I also help custodial parents who aren't receiving the support their children need and deserve. From initial support calculations to modification requests based on changed circumstances, I ensure your case is handled with precision and care.
Child Welfare and CPS Cases
Has Child Protective Services contacted you? CPS involvement can be terrifying for any parent. Whether your children have been interviewed by social workers or removed from your care, you have the right to legal representation throughout the child welfare process.
I provide aggressive advocacy for parents dealing with:
CPS investigations
Removal proceedings
Safety plan negotiations
Reunification efforts
Termination of parental rights cases
Appeals from Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court
Not satisfied with a court order? Many family law cases begin in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, but you may have the right to appeal unfavorable decisions to Circuit Court. I handle appeals involving child support, custody, visitation, and child welfare matters, providing you with a fresh opportunity to present your case.
Uncontested and No-Fault Divorce
Ready to move forward with your life? If you and your spouse have agreed on asset division and debt allocation, and you've been separated for over a year if you have children together or six months if there are no children in common, an uncontested no-fault divorce may be the most efficient path forward. I help couples throughout Virginia complete this process with minimal stress and flat rate fees.
Why Experience and Personal Understanding Matter
My 30 years of legal practice have taught me that every family situation is unique. There's no one-size-fits-all solution to family legal challenges. That's why I take the time to listen to your concerns, understand your goals, and develop strategies tailored to your specific circumstances.
As someone who has balanced work, children, and elder care responsibilities while navigating my own legal challenges, I understand the overwhelming nature of family legal issues. You're not just dealing with legal procedures—you're managing your emotions, protecting your children, and trying to maintain stability during a difficult time.
My personal experience shapes how I practice law. I listen without judgment, provide practical guidance that considers your real-world constraints, and advocate fiercely for your interests. My goal is always to handle your legal matters with excellence and integrity so you can focus on what matters most: your life and your family.
What Clients Say About Working with Clay Law
The results speak for themselves. Here's what families have shared about their experience:
"I just wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for all of your work on my case. From the beginning through today's hearing, you have consistently looked out for my best interests and guided me through a very difficult process with professionalism and care. I am truly grateful for your dedication, skill and support throughout this matter. Please know that your efforts have made a meaningful difference for me and my family." - W.T., Family Law Client
"I appreciate all the work you did, thank you for helping to guide me through such a tough process." - J.A., Family Law Client
"Once again, I thank you so much for a great job." - A.G., Guardianship Client
"I appreciate the time and effort you have dedicated to my case." - S.S., Family Law Client
"Job well done yesterday." - T.M., Family Law Client
These testimonials reflect what I strive for in every case: dedicated advocacy, clear communication, and meaningful results that make a real difference in families' lives.
Serving Virginia Families with Dedication and Skill
Based in the Greater Richmond area, I'm proud to serve clients and families who are facing complex legal challenges. Whether you're dealing with a custody matter, contemplating filing for guardianship, or need representation in a CPS case, I'm here to help.
I offer flexible consultation options, including telephone and video conferences, to ensure you can get the guidance you need when you need it.
Payment Options That Work for Your Family
Legal representation shouldn't be financially overwhelming during an already stressful time. Clay Law accepts debit cards, major credit cards, and electronic checks. I'm also proud to partner with Affirm, allowing you to pay at your own pace without hidden fees, subject to eligibility requirements.
Take the Next Step: Schedule Your Consultation
You don't have to face your family's legal challenges alone. With over three decades of legal experience and the personal insight that comes from living through similar situations, I'm uniquely positioned to provide the skilled, compassionate representation you deserve.
Whether you're worried about your special needs child's future, fighting for your parental rights, dealing with CPS, or ready to move forward with an uncontested divorce, I'm here to help you navigate these complex legal waters with confidence and peace of mind.
Ready to discuss your legal matter? Call 804.238.7737 today to schedule your consultation. Together, we can find solutions that fit your unique needs and protect what matters most to you.
Don't wait—your future is too important to leave to chance. Contact Clay Law now and take the first step toward resolving your legal challenges with an attorney who truly understands what you're going through.
