Attorney Edward Barnes, Barnes & Diehl, P.C., Chesterfield, Virginia

Divorce FAQS - Frequently Asked Questions

Edward D. Barnes
Chesterfield, Virginia

President / CEO
phone	(804) 796-1000 (804) 414-1600
fax	(804) 796-1730
email	Email Me

Edward D. Barnes is Founder & President of Barnes & Diehl, P.C., the largest Firm in Virginia devoted to Family Law. In 2008, he received the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section, Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Chicago) and a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (London). He is listed in Best Lawyers in America, and has been Virginia Legal Elite list published by Virginia Business Magazine. Richmond Business Magazine named him "Top Family Lawyer in the City of Richmond and the Region" in 2001.

Areas of Practice:: Family Law; Wills, Trusts & Estates

Bar Admissions:: Virginia, 1971; U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia, 1972; U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1972; U.S. Supreme Court, 1974

Education:: University of Richmond, The T.C. Williams School of Law, Richmond, Virginia
Law Review: University of Richmond Law Review; East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 1966
B.A.
Honors: Who's Who Among American Colleges and Universities; Army Corps of Engineers Officer Candidate School, Fort Belvoir, 1967
Honors: Leadership, Academic and Honor Graduate

Published Works:: Nemo Tenetur Seipsum Accusare, Comments on the Fifth Amendment and its Use in Family Law Cases, Virginia Lawyer, February, 2002; Negotiating and Drafting Divorce Agreements, Virginia CLE, 2000; Figuring Good Time - The Post Conviction Process, 16 Univ. Rich. Law Review 505, 1982; Goldfarb: The End of Self-Regulation?, Virginia Bar Association Journal, October, 1975; Cruel and Unusual Punishment - Constitutionality of the Death Penalty, 5 Univ. Rich. Law Rev. 392, 1971; Civil Rights - Arrest Record as Basis for Job Denial Held Discriminatory - Gregory v. Litton Systems, Univ.Rich. L. Rev.; Divorce Agreements: Federal laws can thwart intent, Virginia Lawyers Weekly, December 4, 2000; Comments on the Fifth Amendment and Its Use in Family Law, Virginia Lawyer, February, 2002; Overcooked Boilerplate and Other Morsels - "Practice Tips and Traps"; Use and Abuse of Expert Testimony in Custody and Visitation; Associate Editor, Virginia Bar Association Journal, 1975

Representative Cases:: Lazarchic v. Lazarchic, Unpublished (Va. Ct. App. 2005); Joynes v. Payne, 36 Va.App. 401, 551 S.E.2d. 10 (Va. Ct. App. 2001); Reese v. Reese, Record No. 2564-00-2 (Va. Ct. App. 2001); Baker v. Baker, No. CH98-262 (Richmond Cir. Ct. 1999); Panner v. Sillmon, No. 1739-97-2 (Chesterfield Cty. Cir. Ct. 1998); Donohue v. Donohue, No. 2675-96-2 (Henrico Cty. Cir. Ct. 1997); Lee v. Lee, 149CL9000044-00 (Prince George Cty. Cir. Ct. 1997); Gifford v. Dunkum, 1996 Va.App. LEXIS 114 (Va. Ct. App. 1996); Zervos v. YMCA, No. CL95-40 (12th Judicial Cir. 1995); Claytor v. Suter, No. CH346-88 (Chesterfield Cir. 1994); Pugh v. Bowles, No. CJ93C-113 (Chesterfield Cty. Cir. Ct. 1994); McDavid v. McDavid, 451 S.E.2d 713 (Va. Ct. App. 1994); Cottrell v. General Sys. Software Corp., 448 S.E.2d 421 (Va. S.Ct. 1994); Goodwin v. Hare, 436 S.E.2d 605 (Va. S.Ct. 1993); Westbrook v. Westbrook, 364 S.E.2d 523 (Va. S.Ct. 1988); Howard v. Warden, 348 S.E.2d 211 (Va. S.Ct. 1986); Cook v. Commonwealth, 309 S.E.2d 325 (Va. S.Ct. 1983); Payne v. Warden of Powhatan Correctional Center, 285 S.E.2d 886 (Va. S.Ct. 1982); Stamper v. Commonwealth, 257 S.E.2d 808 (Va. S.Ct. 1979); Allied Products, Inc. v. Duesterdick, 232 S.E.2d 774 (Va. S.Ct. 1977); Washington v. Commonwealth, 217 S.E.2d 815 (Va. S.Ct. 1975)

Classes/Seminars Taught:: Presenter, Update on the Law: Recent Cases for 2005, 12th Annual Family Law Seminar - Montgomery County Bar Association, 2005; Moderator, Advanced Family Law Seminar--Richmond & Norfolk, Virginia, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2005; 22nd Annual Family Law Seminar: Successful Strategies for Your Custody Case, Virginia CLE, October 24, 2004; "Question and Answer Session on Electronic Evidence Issues", Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE, Richmond, Virginia, 2004; "What All Practitioners Should Know About Divorce", Midyear Legal Seminar of the Virginia State Bar, Scottsdale, Arizona, 2003; Annual Update on the Law, 22nd Annual Family Law Seminar: Successful Strategies for Your Custody Case, Virginia CLE, Richmond, Norfolk, Fairfax and Roanoke, 2003; The Imputation of Income - Cases and Issues: Four Hot Topics for Family Law Attorneys, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Virginia Chapter, 2003; Use of Experts in Custody Cases, Insights on Tough Custody Issues, 21st Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE, 2002; Use and Abuse of Expert Testimony in Custody and Visitation Cases: Four Hot Topics for Family Law Attorneys; 21st Annual Divorce Practice Seminar, Virginia CLE, 2002; Negotiating and Drafting Marital Agreements, March 12, 2002; Spousal Support and Maintenance; Family Law: A Systematic Approach - 17th Annual Fundamentals Course, Virginia CLE, 2001; Moderator, Going for the Gold: Locating and Using Winning Evidence - 19th Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE, 2000; Nemo Tenetur Prodere Seipsum -- Adultery & the Fifth Amendment's Affect on Spousal Support & Equitable Distribution, Richmond Family Law Bar Association, 2000; Avoiding Litigation in Child Custody Relocation Issues - (Topic No. 2) - Four Hot Topics for Family Law Attorneys, Virginia CLE, 2000; Presentation on Stocks and Options; The Case of the Millionaire Couple: Solving the Mystery of the Financially Complex Divorce - 16th Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE, 2000; Income in Support Cases; 19th Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE, 2000; Work Product Doctrine; New Cases, New Advice on Spousal Support, New Rules of Professional Conduct - 18th Annual Family Law Seminar: News You Need to Know, Virginia CLE, Richmond, Roanoke, Falls Church and Norfolk, 1999; How Do I Handle the Hard Issues? Difficult Issues, Practical Solutions - 17th Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE, Tysons Corner, Norfolk, Roanoke and Richmond, 1998; University of Richmond Law School, Former Adjunct Faculty; J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Former Adjunct Faculty; Presentation and Trial; Virginia's New Statute on Rehabilitative Alimony: How to Present and Argue Your Case, Virginia CLE, Richmond and Tysons Corner, 1998; Negotiating And Drafting Marital Agreements, March 13, 2002; Moderator, Use And Abuse Of Experts, 18th Annual Family Law Seminar, 1999; Wiretaps And Video As Evidence In Family Law Litigation, 1998; How To Present And Argue Your Case, Virginia's New Statute On rehabilitative Alimony, 1998; Avoiding Litigation In Matters Relating To The Relocation Of The Principal Residence Of A Child, 2000; A Going For The Gold: Locating And Using Winning Evidence, 19th Annual Family Law Seminar, October 5, 2000; Annual Divorce Practice Seminar; A Avoiding Litigation in Child Custody Relocation Issues, August 23, 2000; VTLA- Moving Ahead: the New Millennium- A Documents And Documentation RE: Family Law, December 10, 1997

Honors and Awards:: Voted One of the Top 10 Super Lawyers in Virginia by Richmond Magazine Law & Politics Magazine for Family Law (2008); Lifetime Achievement Award, Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section (2008); Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; Fellow, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; AV Rating, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell; Voted One of the Top 50 Super Lawyers in Virginia, Richmond Magazine Law & Politics (2006-2007); Voted Top Family Law Super Lawyers in Virginia, Richmond Magazine Law & Politics (2006-2007); University of Richmond School of Law, Distinguished Alumni of the Year (2006); Voted One of Fifteen "Leaders In The Law" by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (2006)

Professional Associations and Memberships:: The National Center for Family Law at the University of Richmond Law School; Chairman; University of Richmond, National Center of Family Law, 2008 - 2009; Adjunct Faculty; American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Virginia Chapter, 2004 - Present; Secretary/Treasurer; American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Virginia Chapter, 2001 - Present; Board of Managers; American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Virginia Chapter, 2001 - Present; Board of Managers; Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section, 2004 - 2005; Chairman, Board of Governors; Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section, 2003 - 2004; Secretary Board of Governors; Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section; Member; Metro Richmond Family Law Bar Association, 1998 - 1999; Member and President; Virginia Bar Association, 2000; Member, Committee on Special Issues; Virginia Bar Association, 1975 - 2006; Member, Family Law Section; Richmond Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, 1978; Chairman; Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Bar Association, 1998 - 1999; President; Colonial Heights Bar Association, 1998 - 1999; Member and President; 1870 Society - University of Richmond Law School; Member; The Charter Associates - University of Richmond; Member; The Founders Society - University of Richmond; Member; The Gothic Society - University of Richmond; Member; The Rectors Club - University of Richmond; Member; The Spider Club - University of Richmond; Member; Virginia Bar Association Foundation; Leadership Patron; Virginia Bar Association; Member, Law Practice Management Division; Virginia Trial Lawyers Association; Member, Family Law Section; National Trial Advocacy Competition, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2006; Judge

Past Employment Positions:: Honorable Harry L. Carrico, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, Law Clerk, 1971 - 1972; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seventh Army Command, Germany, 1st Lieutenant, 1966 - 1969

Pro Bono Activities:: National Chairman, University of Richmond Law School Fund, 1999 - 2002; Counsel and Member, Advisory Board of the Eye Bank Association of America, Houston, Texas, 1976 - 1982; Advisory Board Member and Attorney, Old Dominion Eye Bank, 1975 - 1983; Counsel and Advisory Board Member, Virginia Head Injury Foundation; Counsel and Registered Agent, Tuckahoe Volunteer Rescue Squad, Henrico County, Virginia, 1977 - Present; Province Commander - Ammen Province (Virginia) Kappa Alpha Order, 1977 - 1980; Board Member, Richard Bland College Foundation

OUR OFFICES: Chesterfield, Virginia - 804.796.1000 | Richmond, Virginia - 804-762-9500 | EMAIL US

With two firm offices in Chesterfield and Henrico , the attorneys, lawyers, and legal staff at Barnes & Diehl, P.C. comprise the largest single VA legal practice focusing on Family Law for residents of Richmond and the entire state of Virginia, including Petersburg, Henrico, Midlothian, Hanover, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Goochland and all of Powhatan, New Kent and Hopewell County.

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