This registration form is for Wednesday, October 28, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET
This program is also available on:
Wednesday, October 14, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET
| MCLE Credit: | 6.0 (Ethics: 1.0; Well-Being: 1.0) pending |
| Live-Interactive Credit: | 6.0 (all dates, all formats) pending |
| GAL for Children CE Credit: | pending |
Live on Site:
Webcast: (10/14/2026 date only)
Telephone: (10/14/2026 date only)
Cosponsored with the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar
Family law is an ever-changing legal practice area that constitutes most of the civil cases heard in Virginia Circuit Courts. For more than 40 years, this program, cosponsored with the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar, has offered family law attorneys from across Virginia an opportunity to stay up to date on new developments and emerging issues as well as network with colleagues. The seminar will include six hours of live-interactive CLE credit for attorneys, ranging from annual legislative and case law updates to specific sessions on important and challenging family law issues, all presented by an outstanding faculty.
This year’s topics include:
Registration Deadlines:
| Live on Site: | Online registration ends at 11:59 p.m. the day preceding the seminar Walk-in registration is permitted on a space-available basis |
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation/transfer requests will be honored until 5:00 p.m. the day preceding the seminar. You will, however, be charged $90 if you cancel or transfer your registration to a different seminar after the link to the materials has been e-mailed by Virginia CLE®.
Dietary Restrictions: If you have dietary restrictions and are attending the seminar in person, please email tfitzgerald@vacle.org.
MCLE Credit Caveat: The MCLE Board measures credits by the time you spend in attendance. If you enter a seminar late or leave it early, or both, you must reflect those adjustments accurately in the credits you report on your credit reporting form. A code will be given at the end of the seminar, which must be written on your MCLE form.
Can’t Attend?
E-mail distance_ed@vacle.org to be notified when/if this program is made available as an online or USB seminar.
E-mail publications@vacle.org to be notified when/if this program’s seminar materials are made available for sale.
| 8:30 | Registration |
| 9:00 | Case Law Update A thorough review of significant family law cases affecting Virginia attorneys from the past six months. |
| 9:50 | Legislative Update A comprehensive summary of the status of recent legislative changes impacting family law in Virginia. |
| 10:30 | Break |
| 10:45 | Spousal Support Panel from the Bench: Judicial Perspectives on a Highly Discretionary Decision Spousal support is one of the most discretionary—and often unpredictable—issues in Virginia family law. In this panel discussion, Virginia judges will share their perspectives on the statutory factors that most influence their decisions, the evidence and advocacy they find most helpful, and the practical considerations that shape awards of amount and duration. The panel will also explore why reasonable judges may reach different outcomes based on similar facts and how practitioners can better evaluate, prepare, and present spousal support claims. Attendees will gain valuable insight into judicial approaches to need, ability to pay, imputed income, lifestyle evidence, duration, and other recurring issues. |
| 12:15 | Lunch (provided on site) |
| 1:15 | Intersection of Family Law and Corporate Law: How Are Business Interests Managed in Your Client’s Divorce? Business interests can present some of the most challenging issues in a Virginia divorce. This session will provide family law practitioners with a practical introduction to the intersection of family and corporate law, including the basic types of business entities, how ownership interests may be classified as marital or separate property, and how governing documents and transfer restrictions can affect equitable distribution. |
| 2:15 | Break |
| 2:30 | Playbooks and Pitfalls: Understanding and Managing Personality Disordered Clients This presentation will focus on helping family law professionals navigate relationships with the most challenging clients. The overarching goal is to help family law professionals understand the limitations, common patterns, and methods of managing clients with personality disordered behaviors in hopes of avoiding common pitfalls and facilitating successful outcomes. |
| 3:30 | Lawyers Controlling the Money—Avoiding Less Obvious Problematic Behavior (1 hour of Ethics credit) Family law attorneys routinely manage retainers, trust funds, settlement proceeds, support payments, and other funds in which clients or third parties may have an interest. This session will examine less obvious scenarios and behaviors that can create ethical problems—beyond the everyday trust accounting and fee arrangement requirements. Focusing on recent ethics rulings, attendees will be introduced and encouraged to learn to recognize warning signs, maintain appropriate boundaries, and apply Virginia’s professional-responsibility rules in reference to more subtle issues relating to client funds. |
| 4:30 | Adjourn |
Hon. Michael F. Devine, 19th Judicial Circuit Court / Fairfax
Hon. Scott J. Flax, 2nd Judicial Circuit Court / Virginia Beach
Hon. Kimberly Hughes Phillips, 4th Judicial District JDR Court / Norfolk
Richard E. Garriott, Jr., Esq., Garriott Maurer PLLC / Virginia Beach
Alexander T. Lewis, Esq., Cooper Ginsberg Gray, PLLC / Fairfax
Nicholas “Nick” A. Mirra, Esq., Woods Rogers PLC / Roanoke
Melanie E. Peters, Esq., Gentry Locke, LLP / Roanoke
Seth J. Ragosta, Esq., Flora Pettit PC / Charlottesville
Craig W. Sampson, Esq., Barnes & Diehl, PC / Richmond
Tammy Villines, Psy.D., VitalLife Psychology LLC / Crozet
Barry J. Waldman, Esq., Waldman & Associates, PLC / Fredericksburg
Amy E. Wilson, Ph.D., Charlottesville Psychological and Consulting / Charlottesville
Brooke Rosen, Woods Rogers PLC / Roanoke
Hon. Daniel E. Ortiz, Court of Appeals of Virginia / Richmond
Seth J. Ragosta, Flora Pettit PC / Charlottesville
Brooke Rosen, Woods Rogers PLC / Roanoke
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