About Us - Patterson Bookwalter PLLC

Family Law Firm Serving Northern Virginia

Patterson Bookwalter PLLC

Patterson Bookwalter PLLC is a boutique family law litigation and mediation firm located in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Founded in 2021 by Carrie M. Patterson, Esquire and Elizabeth M. Bookwalter, Esquire, Patterson Bookwalter strives to provide compassionate, knowledgeable, and effective advocacy to clients facing domestic relations issues, including divorce, custody disputes, child and spousal support determination, equitable distribution, adoption, pre-and post-marital agreements, and court order enforcement.

Patterson Bookwalter serves clients in the Northern Virginia region, including Arlington County, City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County. We provide limited representation for clients in Washington D.C. and Maryland.

Our practice offers these services in the following areas:

Mediation: Virginia only

Collaborative Divorce: Virginia, Maryland, and DC

Litigation: Virginia only: Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William (circuit and domestic relations courts)

Pre-nuptial agreements: Virginia, Maryland, and DC

Uncontested Divorces: Virginia

Helping Individuals and Families Navigate Divorce in Fairfax, VA

Carrie and Elizabeth founded Patterson Bookwalter PLLC in order to provide efficient, comprehensive representation to families in Northern Virginia. Carrie and Elizabeth recognize that divorce should not be viewed as the end of a family, but, rather, the beginning of a different family, and they bring this principle to their representation. Carrie and Elizabeth encourage their clients to consider alternatives to litigation when appropriate, including mediation and collaborative law.

Litigation Experience for Divorce in Virginia

While Carrie and Elizabeth understand that settling these disputes is not always possible, they both aim to create reputations within the court system as being reasonable advocates. Judges should know that when we appear before them, it is only because all available settlement options have been explored, and exhausted.

Not only do Carrie and Elizabeth believe that settlement is the best possible way to help a client through these situations, they believe that by creating and maintaining this reputation, it will assist clients in obtaining favorable outcomes when or if they do ultimately need to seek relief in court.

Fill out our contact form or call us today at (703) 520-9533 to learn how we can help you and your family during this sensitive time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my spouse and I use the same lawyer?

You and your spouse cannot be represented by the same attorney, even if you agree on the terms of the divorce. If you retain an attorney at Patterson Bookwalter, we will represent your interests only. If you and your spouse prefer to use a neutral mediator, you may use one attorney for that purpose. A neutral mediator does not advocate for or protect either party’s interests- she facilitates communication between you and your spouse to try and help you reach a resolution. Patterson Bookwalter offers services as an attorney advocate and as a neutral mediator. Contact us to learn more about your available options.

My partner had an affair. I don’t have to pay spousal support, right?

It depends. Adultery is a bar to spousal support in Virginia. However, the Court will consider the facts and circumstances in your case to determine whether it would be manifest injustice to deny your partner spousal support. The Court is also likely to consider the extent of the extramarital relationship, when it occurred, whether it was condoned, or if you also had an affair, as well as other factors.

Do I have to pay child support if I don’t spend time with my children?

You have a legal duty to support your child until the child emancipates (and in some cases longer than that), unless a Court terminates your rights as a parent. Otherwise, the Court will consider each parent’s gross income, the days each parent spends with the child, the cost of health insurance, and the cost of work-related day care to set the child support amount.

How long does getting a divorce take?

It depends on the facts and circumstances of your case. If you have a contested divorce that begins with litigation, the trial date is typically approximately one year after the Complaint for Divorce is filed. Your timeline will depend on the specific facts and circumstances of your case, including the grounds for divorce, whether you have children, settlement negotiations, and the extent of the estate to be litigated.

My partner and I kept our finances separate during the marriage. Do I keep everything titled in my name?

Not necessarily. Every divorce is subject to distribution of the marital estate. With some exception, the marital estate is the property acquired or earned since the date of marriage. The Court will consider a number of factors when deciding how to distribute the marital estate. Virginia is not an automatic 50/50 division state.

I heard my partner and I have to start living separate and apart. Should I move out of the house?

This is a fact specific answer. There can be consequences to leaving (such as desertion allegations) or staying (such as concerns for mental and physical safety). We encourage you to schedule a consult before making any big decisions or changes (unless your safety is in danger).

How much will my divorce cost?

As much as we would like to give you a specific dollar amount, we cannot. Every case is different and your costs are influenced by a number of factors, including whether you and your spouse agree on terms for division of property, child support, spousal support, or custody; the complexity of your marital estate; and whether your case goes to trial or settles. The attorneys at Patterson Bookwalter will talk with you about the facts influencing your case, as well as ways to keep your attorney fees down.

I’ve heard the Collaborative Divorce is only for amicable couples. Is that true?

That is not true. Collaborative Divorce is appropriate for a multitude of family law cases, even those in which the spouses do not agree or get along. In a Collaborative Divorce, the spouses agree not to litigate and to instead work with a team of professionals, including lawyers, a financial neutral, and one or more mental health coaches. Your professionals will work with you to navigate difficult conversations and help you try to resolve your case with an outcome that works for your family.

Is Collaborative Divorce more expensive than a litigated divorce?

Like so many answers you’ll get from lawyers, it depends on your specific situation. A Collaborative Divorce may have more up-front costs because you’ll jointly be paying two lawyers and likely other professional team members. However, Collaborative Divorce is cost-conscious in areas where litigated divorces are not. For example, in a Collaborative Divorce, you and your spouse are sharing the cost of the financial neutral to collect and analyze your documents, instead of each paying your separate attorneys to collect and analyze those documents. On average, in our experience, a Collaborative Divorce resolves more quickly than a litigated divorce.