ANSWERS . STRATEGY . FIERCE ADVOCACY
Overwhelmed by Legal Problems?
Proudly Serving Greater Richmond, the Tri-Cities & Surrounding Communities.
30+ Years Experience · Licensed by the Virginia State Bar
Welcome to Clay Law
30+ Years Experience
Custody · Guardianship · CPS Cases
Serving Greater Richmond & the Tri-Cities
With over 30 years of experience practicing law and significant lived experience, I help individuals and families navigate their most important legal matters, including guardianship, custody, CPS cases, support, visitation, grandparents' rights, uncontested divorce, and more, with excellence, integrity, and compassion. As someone who has been a single mom, divorcee, caregiver, legal guardian, and conservator, I've stood where you stand. I bring fierce advocacy and practical guidance to every case.
I proudly serve clients throughout Greater Richmond, including Henrico, Hanover, and Chesterfield, and the Tri-Cities region, including Petersburg, Colonial Heights, and Hopewell, plus surrounding communities like Dinwiddie. I represent clients statewide in uncontested and no-fault divorces. Call 804.238.7737 to schedule your consultation. Let's talk about what's next.
PRACTICE AREAS
How I Can Help You
Custody
Are you anxious about where your children will live and who will care for them? Is your contact with your children being limited or denied? Did custody with the other parent seem like a good idea in the past, but now things have changed?
See How I Can Help →
Guardianship
Is your special needs child turning 18 soon, or already an adult, with no one holding legal authority to make decisions for your child? Virginia allows you to file for guardianship as early as age 17. The same process can also protect an aging parent or loved one whose memory or mental health is declining.
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CPS Cases
If CPS (Child Protective Services) has contacted you or you already have an open case, you're probably anxious, angry, and worried about your children. With nearly 20 years of experience, including time representing Florida's child welfare agency in court, both early in my career and recently, I know how these cases are built and how to take them apart.
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Child Support
Have you received a notice saying that you are behind on your child support payments? Are they threatening to ask the judge to put you in jail or to suspend your driver's license? Are you nervous about going to court by yourself?
See How I Can Help →
Visitation
Are you not allowed to see your children for more than a few hours a month? Does the other parent say the children are "busy" when you ask to see them? Has the other parent refused to agree to a set visitation schedule, or are you in a situation where you need to limit the other parent's contact to keep your children safe?
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Grandparents' Rights & Visitation
Are conflicts about time with your grandchildren tearing your family apart? Has a parent limited or cut off your relationship with them entirely? Virginia's grandparent visitation laws are narrow, but you may still have a legal path to maintain contact with your grands. I can help you understand where you stand.
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Protective Orders
Have you been hurt or threatened by someone close to you and need the court's protection? Have you been served with a protective order and don't know what you are required to do before your hearing? Are you afraid of walking into that courtroom alone?
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Appeals from Juvenile to Circuit Court
Disagree with a ruling on custody, support, visitation, or a CPS case from Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court? You may have the right to appeal to Circuit Court, but strict deadlines apply. I've successfully represented clients in circuit court appeals and can help you understand whether an appeal is the right move for you.
See How I Can Help →I Need Something Else
Don't see your situation listed? Contact me, I may still be able to help or point you to someone who can.
Payments Accepted
Clay Law accepts debit cards, all major credit cards, and electronic checks. Payment plans are available through Affirm, subject to an eligibility check.
WHY CLAY LAW?
Experienced Counsel. Fierce Strategy. In Your Corner.
EXCELLENCE
30+ years' experience practicing law, including owning a private practice in Florida that handled guardianship, custody, CPS cases, child support, divorce, and visitation, plus other legal roles along the way. Today, that expertise is focused solely on helping individuals and families through their toughest legal challenges.
INTEGRITY
Calm, collaborative, and firm, all at once, for every client in every case. I tell you what's best for you, not what's easiest or most profitable for me. If your legal problem can be solved with a 30-minute consultation, I will offer you a solution on the spot. If I think you have a weak case, I will tell you that.
COMPASSION
You're treated like a person, not a case number. Having been a family law client myself, and having managed work, parenting, and caregiving simultaneously while serving as a guardian and conservator, I understand the emotional and financial load you're carrying.
TESTIMONIALS
In Their Own Words
How it feels to have me in your corner.
“Thank you so very much for your kind words, support and guidance during this journey. I sincerely appreciate you being part of my team. S, my mother, family and I all thank you.”
L.S., Custody Client
“Thank you so much for all of your hard work and expertise in this matter. It has been a pleasure working with you.”
L & D, Guardianship Clients
“Miss Clay, I am very grateful for your hard work with my case, and yesterday you did so much to help represent my children. I do value and appreciate your hard work. Thank you very much, and I wish you well!”
A.S., CPS Client
COMMON QUESTIONS
Answers Before You Even Have to Ask
A few of the questions I hear most. Every practice area page has specific FAQs
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My consultation fee is $175. Before we meet, I review your consultation form and any documents you've shared. During our time together, I listen to your situation, answer your questions, and give you legal advice specific to your case. Afterward, you'll receive a written summary of what we discussed.
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It depends on several factors. Most family law cases settle, but getting there often involves discovery (exchanging information about the case), a GAL (guardian ad litem) investigation, one or two settlement conferences, and last-minute negotiating before trial. Most custody cases I've handled in the Richmond area took about 6 months, from filing to final order.
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You can file as early as age 17, before your child turns 18, so there's no gap in legal authority once your child becomes an adult. I've written a full guide to this process if you'd like to see the timeline in detail.
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Get legal advice immediately. What you say and do in the early stages of a CPS case can significantly affect the outcome. I've spent nearly 20 years on cases like these, including time representing Florida's child welfare agency, so I know what they're building and how to respond. Read my full guide for parents facing a CPS investigation:
https://www.claylawva.com/blog/understanding-dependency-cases-in-virginia-a-complete-guide-for-parents-facing-a-cps-investigation -
You can represent yourself, but the judge holds you to the same rules of evidence and procedure as a licensed attorney. Mistakes here can mean an unfavorable custody or support order that's hard to undo later. I regularly represent clients who tried to handle their case alone, ran into serious problems, and came to me afterward to help fix what went wrong. Read more about what to consider before representing yourself:
Legal Blog
Looking for something specific?
Get the Help You Need Today.
One phone call can be the first step toward peace of mind.
GET IN TOUCH
Contact Connie Clay
Tell me a little about your situation. I'll respond within 2 business days.
Whether you're in the middle of a custody dispute, worried about a parent who can no longer make decisions, received a call from CPS, or trying to understand your options in a legal matter, I offer a consultation to review your situation and map out a clear path forward; see the FAQ above for pricing. There's no pressure to hire me.
My office is open Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. Remote intake specialists are available day or night, every day of the year, to gather details about your case and get you scheduled with me. Serving Greater Richmond, the Tri-Cities & Surrounding Communities.