How does a court decide custody?

Every state we serve decides custody by the best interests of the child. The governing statute and the specific factors differ by state, but the court weighs the child's needs and each parent's circumstances rather than applying a fixed presumption in favor of either parent.

Can an existing custody or support order be changed?

In general, yes — a court may modify an existing order when there has been a material change in circumstances since the last order. What qualifies as a material change, and the procedure to request one, depends on the state and the facts. Requesting a consultation is the way to have your situation reviewed.

Do I have to let the other parent move away with our child?

Relocation is governed by state-specific notice and consent rules, and a parent who objects can ask the court to decide. Whether a proposed move is permitted turns on the facts and the child's best interests. These matters are time-sensitive.

How is child support calculated?

Each state uses guidelines that consider the parents' incomes, the custody arrangement, and certain expenses such as health insurance and childcare. Support can be established, modified when circumstances change, and enforced.

Can I reach the firm outside business hours?

Yes. Our intake line at (888) 437-7747 is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Attorney consultations are then scheduled by appointment with the counsel whose bar admission and experience fit your matter.

Do prior case results guarantee a similar outcome?

No. Past matters are examples and are not a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your matter. Every case is different, and the outcome depends on factors unique to that case.

Owner & Founder Mr. Sris · Former Prosecutor

Custody is decided one child at a time.

Founded in 1997, Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. represents parents, grandparents, and guardians in child custody, visitation, and child support matters across Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York.

Individual attorneys are admitted in specific jurisdictions; not all attorneys are licensed in all states. Each matter is handled by an attorney admitted in the state where the case is heard.

(888) 437-7747 Request a consultation

Intake line staffed 24/7/365 · Attorney consultations scheduled by appointment

Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder, Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. — Mr. Sris Owner & Founder · Admitted VA · MD · DC · NJ · NY

Child Custody
Joint & Sole Custody
Parenting Time
Visitation
Custody Modification
Relocation / Move-Away
Child Support
Support Modification
Paternity
Guardianship
Contempt
Adoption

The standard the court applies

A firm built around the standard the court applies: the best interests of the child.

Custody and visitation decisions in every jurisdiction we serve turn on the best interests of the child. Our role is to present your circumstances — your involvement, your household, your capacity to care — in the framework each court uses to decide. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. was founded in 1997 and has compiled 4,739+ documented case results across all practice areas in our five states.

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

01 — Founded 1997

Continuous multi-jurisdictional practice under one attorney-owner.

02 — Experience 120+

Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel bring an extensive combined experience of 120 plus years.

03 — Jurisdictions 5

Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

A former prosecutor who has practiced family and trial law since 1997.

Mr. Sris is a former prosecutor. He founded Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. in 1997 and has practiced continuously ever since. He is admitted in five U.S. jurisdictions — Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York.

In 2019, he testified before the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee in support of HB 635 (chief patron Del. David Bulova), which addressed Va. Code § 20-107.3(g) — Virginia's equitable distribution statute. Bill history is searchable on the Virginia Legislative Information System at lis.virginia.gov.

§ 02 — What we handle

Custody, support, and the matters that surround them.

Family disputes rarely arrive one issue at a time. We handle the full range of custody, parenting-time, and child-support matters, and the related questions that follow a change in a family's circumstances. Each matter is routed to counsel admitted in the state where it is heard.

Legal and physical custody

Sole custody, joint legal custody, and joint physical custody arrangements — established at separation or entered as an initial order.

Parenting time and visitation

Parenting schedules, holiday and summer allocation, supervised visitation where a court finds it warranted, and visitation modification.

Custody modification

Petitions to modify an existing order when circumstances have changed, and defense against a modification the other parent has filed.

Relocation and move-away

Notice and consent questions when a parent seeks to move with a child, and objections to a proposed relocation.

Child support

Establishment under each state's guidelines, modification when income or custody changes, arrears, and enforcement tools including wage withholding.

Paternity

Establishment of parentage and the custody, visitation, and support rights that follow.

Guardianship

Minor guardianship, temporary guardianship, and standby guardianship where a caregiver needs recognized authority.

Contempt and enforcement

Petitions when an existing custody or support order is not being followed.

Adoption

Step-parent, relative, and kinship adoption.

§ 03 — How custody is decided in each state

Five bars. One standard of preparation.

The governing statute differs by state, but the organizing question is the same — what serves the child. Our counsel appears in the courts where they are admitted.

Virginia

Custody and visitation are decided under the best-interests factors of Va. Code § 20-124.3, in the Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Courts and, on appeal, the Circuit Courts. Support is calculated under the Va. Code § 20-108.2 guidelines.

Maryland

Custody is decided under the best-interests standard developed by Maryland's appellate courts, in the Circuit Courts, with child support under the state guidelines.

District of Columbia

Custody is decided under the best-interests standard of D.C. Code § 16-914 in the Superior Court's Family Division.

New Jersey

Custody is decided under the best-interests factors of N.J.S.A. 9:2-4 in the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part, with support under the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines.

New York

Custody is decided under the best-interests standard of Domestic Relations Law § 70 in the Family Courts and Supreme Court, with support under the Child Support Standards Act.

§ 04 — Counsel who work these matters

We aim to assign each matter to a named attorney.

Mr. Sris

Owner & CEO — Former Prosecutor

Licensed in VA, MD, NJ, NY & DC

Founded Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. in 1997 and has practiced continuously since. A former prosecutor, he is admitted in five U.S. jurisdictions.

Criminal Defense & Family Law

Samantha Rae Powers

Of Counsel

Licensed in VA & FL

Handles family law matters alongside employment and business litigation, and appears in the Virginia courts where she is admitted.

Family Law, Employment Law & Business Litigation

§ 05 — Our locations

Nine locations — eight across four US states, plus one in Colombia.

By appointment only at every location. Our intake line is staffed 24/7/365 at the toll-free number, (888) 437-7747.

Fairfax, Virginia

4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032

By appointment · (703) 636-5417

Richmond, Virginia

7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Room 395, Richmond, VA 23225

By appointment · (804) 201-9009

Ashburn, Virginia

20130 Lakeview Center Plaza, Room 403, Ashburn, VA 20147

By appointment · (571) 279-0110

Arlington, Virginia

1655 Fort Myer Dr, Suite 700, Room 719, Arlington, VA 22209

By appointment · (703) 589-9250

Woodstock, Virginia

505 N Main St, Suite 103, Woodstock, VA 22664

By appointment · (888) 437-7747

Rockville, Maryland

199 E. Montgomery Ave, Suite 100, Room 211, Rockville, MD 20850

By appointment · (888) 437-7747

Tinton Falls, New Jersey

44 Apple St, 1st Floor, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724

By appointment · (609) 983-0003

Buffalo, New York

50 Fountain Plaza, Suite 1400, 142, Buffalo, NY 14202

By appointment · (838) 292-0003

Pereira, Colombia

Int'l

Carrera 7 # 18-80, Oficina 606, Edificio Centro Financiero, Pereira, RDA, Colombia

Colombia Practice · By appointment

The Pereira location houses the firm's Colombia Practice. Attorneys there are licensed in Colombia and handle Colombian legal matters only; they are not admitted to practice law in any US jurisdiction. For US legal matters, contact the US practice at (888) 437-7747.

§ 06 — How we work

Our approach — every family, every case, every jurisdiction.

Answering the phone — 24/7/365

Our intake line is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our team logs your matter, confirms conflicts, and routes the file. Consultations are then scheduled by appointment with the attorney whose bar admission and experience fit the matter.

Meet by appointment

In-person meetings are scheduled, not walked in — by appointment at our locations. This gives each client privacy and focused attention.

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Match matter to counsel

Your case is routed to the attorney admitted to the right bar, familiar with the right bench, and experienced in the type of matter.