nichols Archives - Nichols Zauzig

6 Nichols Zauzig Partners Honored by Best Lawyers® for 2024

Maureen — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 22:17:52 +0000

Congratulations to Chuck Zauzig, Paul F. Nichols, Cassandra M. Chin, Claire Keena and Melissa Ray for being selected by their peers to be included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. We also congratulate Mike Hollingsworth for being selected by his peers for the 2024 Best Lawyers® “Ones to Watch.”

Mr. Zauzig and Mr. Nichols have each been recognized annually since 2006. Mr. Zauzig is included for both Medical Malpractice Law and Personal Injury Litigation. Mr. Nichols is recognized for Family Law, as is Ms. Chin, for the fourth consecutive year.

Ms. Keena, selected by Best Lawyers for Personal Injury Litigation since 2021, earned the honor again for 2024. Ms. Ray has been selected for the second consecutive year for Medical Malpractice Law. Mr. Hollingsworth has been honored by Best Lawyers for inclusion in the “Ones to Watch” for the third year.

Best Lawyers in America is an annually released peer review guide to the legal profession. For more details on methodology and the selection process, visit www.bestlawyers.com.

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5 Nichols Zauzig Partners Named Best Lawyers® for 2023

Maureen — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 22:48:55 +0000

Congratulations to Chuck Zauzig, Paul F. Nichols, Cassandra M. Chin, Claire Keena and Melissa Ray for being selected by their peers to be included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.

Also recognized in Family Law is Ms. Chin, who has been honored since 2020. Ms. Keena has been named to Best Lawyers for Personal Injury Litigation and Ms. Ray for Medical Malpractice Law.

According to the Best Lawyers 2023 magazine, 13 million peer evaluations were completed for nominated attorneys across the U.S and 75 other countries around the world in 148 practice areas. From that process, 129,518 attorneys in total were recognized, including 3,362 in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

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Nichols presented with Family Law Lifetime Achievement Award at 2022 Virginia Bar meeting

Maureen — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 17:00:10 +0000

Paul F. Nichols was honored last month with the Virginia State Bar Family Law Board of Governors Lifetime Achievement Award, which he earned in 2021, but the in-person presentation was delayed until this year’s ceremony due to the pandemic. One attorney is selected annually for this award at the discretion of the Board of Governors.

The Honorable Rossie Alston, Jr. presented the plaque award to Mr. Nichols at the Annual Family Law Seminar, held in person last month at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond.

Mr. Nichols has practiced law for nearly 43 years with Nichols Zauzig, located in Woodbridge and Manassas. A fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Nichols has extensive litigation experience and helped create the family law section of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association in the 1980s. He has been on the board of governors of the Family Law section of the Virginia State Bar and is a frequent lecturer and author on family topics.

Nichols has been a Commissioner in Chancery for the Circuit Court of Prince William County since 1985. He served in the Virginia General Assembly House of Delegates from 2008-2010, where he drafted and helped gain passage of several family laws in the Commonwealth.

A graduate of King’s College and George Mason University College of Law, Mr. Nichols has been the recipient of numerous peer awards including Best Lawyers in America, Washington DC and Virginia Super Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell’s preeminent AV rating. He devotes his charitable efforts to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Breast Cancer Awareness, among others.

Photos caption (left to right): The Honorable Rossie Alston, Jr. and Paul F. Nichols; Paul F. Nichols and his wife, Linda Nichols; Friends & family gathered at The Jefferson Hotel to honor Mr. Nichols’ achievement.

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Paul Nichols Receives Virginia Bar’s Highest Honor for Family Law

Maureen — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 18:43:23 +0000

Paul F. Nichols is the 2021 recipient of the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section’s highest honor, the Betty A. Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award recognizes one member of the bar annually who has made a substantial contribution to the practice and administration of family law in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is given at the discretion of the VSB Family Law Section Board of Governors.

Mr. Nichols has practiced law for nearly 43 years with Nichols Zauzig, located in Woodbridge, Virginia. A fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Nichols has extensive litigation experience and helped create the family law section of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association in the 1980s. He has been on the board of governors of the Family Law section of the Virginia State Bar and is a frequent lecturer and author on family topics. Nichols has been a Commissioner in Chancery for the Circuit Court of Prince William County since 1985. He served in the Virginia General Assembly House of Delegates from 2008-2010, where he drafted and helped gain passage of several family laws in the Commonwealth.

In nominating Nichols, Carl J. Witmeyer II of The Witmeyer Law Firm in Ashland wrote: “No one that I know and have met in my 44 years as a practitioner in Virginia has exercised more efforts to improve the quality of justice in Virginia.”

To bring the arc of his family law practice full circle, Nichols was mentored early in his career by Betty A. Thompson, for whom the award is named, and considered her a close friend.

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6 Nichols Zauzig Partners Honored by Best Lawyers® for 2022

Maureen — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 19:54:18 +0000

Congratulations to Chuck Zauzig, Paul F. Nichols, Cassandra M. Chin, Claire Keena and Melissa Ray for being selected by their peers to be included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. We also congratulate Mike Hollingsworth for being selected by his peers for the 2022 Best Lawyers® “Ones to Watch.”

Also recognized in Family Law is Ms. Chin, for the third consecutive year. Ms. Keena, first selected by Best Lawyers for Personal Injury Litigation last year, earned the honor again for 2022. Joining this esteemed group for the first year is Ms. Ray for Medical Malpractice Law. Mr. Hollingsworth has been selected by Best Lawyers for inclusion in the “Ones to Watch” for a second year.

According to the Best Lawyers 2022 magazine, 13 million peer evaluations were completed for nominated attorneys across the U.S and 75 other countries around the world in 148 practice areas. From that process, 129,518 attorneys in total were recognized, including 3,362 in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

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Zauzig, Nichols Named Top Lawyers in Northern Virginia for 2020

Maureen — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 15:10:14 +0000

Based on recommendations from their Northern Virginia peers, Chuck Zauzig and Paul F. Nichols have been named Top Lawyers for 2020 by Northern Virginia Magazine.

Mr. Zauzig is named for Personal Injury Law, while Mr. Nichols is listed for Divorce and Family Law.

“We sent surveys to all Northern Virginia lawyers asking them to recommend other lawyers to whom they would refer friends and family. Those on the listing received the most nominations..lawyers cannot pay to be included on the list,” the magazine states.

Mr. Nichols and Mr. Zauzig have been consistently named to the Northern Virginia Top Lawyers listing since its inception, in addition to several other honors of distinction nationally and regionally.

The firm of Nichols Zauzig has 31 years of experience in providing legal representation in the personal injury/medical malpractice, criminal defense and family law. The firm has been consistently recognized as a Top Law Firm in the Washington D.C. region by U.S. News – Best Lawyer®, and the partners hold among the highest credentials in their fields, including Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® status and Super Lawyers®, as well as individual recognition for dedication and service in their respective areas of law.

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6 attorneys named Virginia Super Lawyers 2020

Maureen — Fri, 22 May 2020 19:30:00 +0000

Six Nichols Zauzig attorneys are selected as 2020 Super Lawyers® or Rising Stars® in Virginia and Washington D.C.

Chuck Zauzig – Personal Injury-Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff. Also named a Virginia Top 10 Super Lawyer, regardless of practice area.

Paul Nichols – Family Law. Also named a Top 100 Super Lawyer, regardless of practice area.

Cassandra Chin – Family Law, for the fifth consecutive year, after four years as a Rising Star.

Melissa Ray – Personal Injury-Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff for the third year, after four years as a Rising Star.

Claire Keena – Personal Injury-General: Plaintiff, for the first time.

Michael Hollingsworth – Criminal Defense, named a Rising Star for the first time.

Super Lawyers honors attorneys in 70 practice areas for its annual listing, which is limited to no more than 5% of the lawyers in Virginia.

Rising Stars are limited to just 2.5% of attorneys in practice 10 years or less in Virginia.

Super Lawyers and Rising Stars are a rating service of lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual award selections are made using a process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area.

See this related article: Chuck Zauzig is cover story of Virginia Super Lawyers magazine

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Paul F. Nichols named to 2019 Class of “Leaders in the Law” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly

Maureen — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 14:39:42 +0000

Paul F. Nichols, Principal with Nichols Zauzig, has been named to the 2019 Class of “Leaders in the Law” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly. The awards program recognizes lawyers who are setting the standard for other lawyers in Virginia and named 30 people to the 2019 class. The honorees were celebrated recently at a reception in Richmond.

Mr. Nichols, a founder of Nichols Zauzig, has achieved nationwide recognition from his peers in the practice of family law. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a national organization with stringent requirements for membership, including peer review and testing. In addition, Mr. Nichols has received Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating (Preeminent AV) for legal ability and ethics.

Mr. Nichols has been named a Super Lawyer® for the past 13 years and a U.S. News-Best Lawyers® Best Lawyer annually since 2006. He is regularly named among the Top Lawyers for Family Law in Northern Virginia Magazine and Washingtonian magazine. Mr. Nichols has lectured on various family law topics to local bar associations in Northern Virginia, and throughout the state for the Virginia State Bar and Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.

For a complete list of the Virginia “Leaders in the Law” honorees, click here. Every honoree was interviewed for a profile in the special supplement to Virginia Lawyers Weekly. Mr. Nichols’ interview appears below.

Nichols Zauzig was founded in 1989 by Mr. Nichols and Charles J. Zauzig, who is a past honoree of the Virginia “Leaders in the Law.” The firm’s practice areas are divorce and family law, medical malpractice/personal injury and criminal defense. Nichols Zauzig has offices in Woodbridge, Manassas and Stafford, Virginia.

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3 Partners are Top 100 Super Lawyers in Virginia

Maureen — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 19:26:28 +0000

Charles J. Zauzig, III, Paul F. Nichols and Betty Moore Sandler have been selected for inclusion in the 2019 Top 100 Super Lawyers List for Virginia and Washington D.C.

Ms. Sandler has also been named among the Top 50 Women Virginia Super Lawyers, for the sixth time.

In addition, Cassandra M. Chin has been selected to the Virginia and Washington D.C. Super Lawyers lists for Family Law for the fourth consecutive year, after four years as a Rising Star.

Attorneys on the Top 100 and Top 50 lists have been ranked highest in the selection process for Super Lawyers, regardless of the area of practice. Super Lawyers includes attorneys in 70 practice areas for its annual listing, which is limited to no more than 5% of the lawyers in Virginia.

Zauzig, Nichols and Sandler have been named to Super Lawyers since 2006. Mr. Zauzig is named for Personal Injury-Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff and Mr. Nichols and Ms. Sandler in the area of Family Law.

Super Lawyers is a rating service of lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual award selections are made using a process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area.

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6 tasks before filing for divorce in Virginia in 2019

Maureen — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 04:00:15 +0000

By: Paul F. Nichols, AAML, Divorce Attorney and Partner with Nichols Zauzig

Now that you have decided to start the divorce process, take these six steps before filing for divorce in Virginia in 2019.

1. UNDERSTAND THE GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE

In Virginia, a divorce can be granted on several grounds, which can be fault-based or no fault based. A no fault divorce can be awarded if the couple shows that they have continuously lived separate and apart for one year, without cohabitation. This time period can be reduced to six months if the couple has a property settlement agreement and there are no minor children.

Obtaining a fault or a no fault divorce is a legally complicated process and it is imperative that divorcing couples understand the existing laws concerning divorce, how property is divided, and how decisions about custody are made. The type of divorce you choose significantly impacts the elements you are required to prove, the time it will take to get a divorce, and the final divorce outcome.

At Nichols Zauzig, we assist clients with all types of divorces, whether based on fault or not. We are willing to work with clients seeking alternatives to litigation including arbitration and mediation. We also have extensive experience representing clients in litigated divorces and fighting for our client’s rights.

2. MEET RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

You or your spouse must be a resident of Virginia for at least 6 months prior to filing for divorce. That means maintaining a physical residence in Virginia, and considering Virginia as his or her home. Proof of residency can involve providing recent state tax filings, a Virginia driver’s license or Virginia voter registration. Some special residency circumstances exceptions may be applied to military and foreign service personnel. An attorney can assist in determining those situations.

3. GATHER FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

Before filing for divorce, gather financial information that is available to you. We will ask you to bring in tax returns for the last three years, information about retirement accounts, bank accounts and other assets. Copy statements from financial institutions, accountants, financial advisors and credit card companies. Consider assets you may have owned before you were married and collect paperwork showing their value prior to marriage.

Also gather data about debts owed by either of you, separately or jointly. Spouses frequently have separate accounts to pay for specific types of expenses. Try and gain information about the entire picture of family finances, so you can be prepared.

4. KNOW THAT SIGNIFICANT NEW DIVORCE AND CHILD SUPPORT LAWS CAN IMPACT YOU

Several new laws went into effect in 2018 that impact divorce and child custody. Educating yourself about them now can help with setting expectations and being updated on current law.

Federal Law Changes Taxes for Alimony Beginning in 2019

Alimony, or spousal support, is typically awarded in long-term marriages and in situations where one spouse is earning, or has the potential to earn, a higher income than the other. For instance, if one spouse has been a stay-at-home parent and the other has a successful career, the working spouse may be required to pay alimony to the non-working spouse.

A new federal law changed how alimony is taxed for both parties starting this year. For agreements and divorces executed on or after January 1, 2019 alimony is no longer deductible for the payor spouse. And the receiving spouse no longer has to pay taxes on it. The divorcing parties may negotiate an alimony arrangement on their own, or the court may award alimony. Check out our earlier blog for information about the new alimony federal tax law.

Spousal Support Modifications Revised in Virginia

Also this year, Virginia law changed how it treats alimony modifications. The new law states that if there is a material change in circumstances, a former spouse is entitled to a change in spousal support, unless there is an agreement saying it can’t be modified. In other words, an agreement that provides alimony – but does not expressly indicate that the amount and duration of alimony are not modifiable – will be subject to modification when there is a material change in circumstances.

Another revision to Virginia law in 2018 acknowledged that retirement at the maximum social security age (now 67) automatically creates a material change in circumstances that allows individuals to request modifications of spousal support.

Similarly, new Virginia requirements state that when spousal support rulings are made, courts must specifically indicate whether the parties’ retirement ages were considered. When the modification request is made for changes to a spousal support award, six factors must be considered, as described here: New laws impact spousal support and child custody.

Revised Child Support Guidelines Recalculate Financial Obligations

New Virginia child support guidelines took effect in July 2018 and recalculated parents’ financial obligations for the first time in more than 20 years. It is important to be aware that the new guidelines exist and how they may impact your children. The largest increases will affect higher income families, but there will be decreases as well. For more information, please see New child support guidelines begin July 1.

Child Custody Guideline Changed in 2018

Also effective July 1, Virginia required courts to consider both sole and joint custody as options in divorce cases. While courts have considered all custody options in the past, this addition to the law states that no particular form of custody is favored. This change could lead to more court-ordered shared parenting arrangements. As always, the court must consider the child’s best interests in making a custody determination. For more information, see New laws impact spousal support and child custody.

5. FIND AN EXPERIENCED DIVORCE ATTORNEY

How do you find a lawyer who is reputable? Consider Google and Avvo reviews, but also seek out peer-sanctioned professionals: those listed in Washingtonian Top Lawyers, Super Lawyers®, or with the highest rating, “Preeminent,” by the industry-standard Martindale/Hubbell. Another indicator of a highly qualified family law attorney is fellowship with the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), which has extensive admissions standards. Of the 55 fellows in Virginia, only three are based in Prince William County, and they are all with Nichols Zauzig. Take a moment to read the top credentials of our divorce attorneys.

Obtaining a divorce without the help of an attorney may put you at risk of losing assets or access to your children, or the risk that you will make expensive and erroneous decisions based on your emotions rather than your legal rights. Having the knowledge and expertise of a qualified attorney will lead to the best possible outcome for your future.

6. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR CONSULTATION

Most divorce attorneys offer consultations during which time you can ask questions, review the basics, get to know the attorney and decide if his or her level of experience and knowledge meet your needs. When you leave, you should have an idea of the attorney’s recommended path for you moving forward.

During the consultation, don’t be embarrassed to share personal information. Secrets are often revealed during the divorce process, and the sooner you raise issues, the more proactively you and your divorce attorney can deal with those issues. It is easy to get caught up in wanting to punish your spouse, or to become overly sentimental about what you want to keep in the divorce. The more level-headed you remain, the more quickly and easily you can resolve issues, and the less expensive your divorce will be. The divorce lawyers at Nichols Zauzig can assist you in resolving issues with your spouse outside of court, saving you the hassle and expense of litigating every aspect of your divorce.

At Nichols Zauzig, we understand that divorce is a trying time. Our dedicated team will address your concerns, guide you through every step of the legal process, fight for your rights and serve as compassionate and aggressive advocates. We will keep you informed of how your divorce is progressing and do everything in our power to ensure a fair settlement and a fast divorce so you can move on with your life. Schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys by calling 703-492-4200 or emailing us today!

DISCLAIMER: The results of every case depend on factors unique to that case, and Nichols Zauzig does not guarantee or predict results in similar cases.

Read more about the author Paul F. Nichols, Partner and Family Law Attorney with Nichols Zauzig.

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