Business Details
Experienced Virginia Beach Divorce & Family Law Attorney
Hardt Law, P.L.L.C. has served Virginia Beach and surrounding communities with distinction since our founding. Our practice focuses on family law, divorce litigation, and criminal defense, combining deep legal expertise with compassionate client advocacy. With extensive experience in both civilian and military divorce cases, we provide tailored solutions for complex legal challenges. Our team's background as former prosecutors and public defenders gives us unique insight into navigating the judicial system effectively. We prioritize personalized attention, ensuring every client receives strategic representation grounded in Virginia state law.Our commitment to excellence extends to estate planning, child custody matters, and DUI defense, where we leverage decades of combined legal experience. By maintaining membership in multiple state bars, we uphold rigorous professional standards while delivering accessible, client-centered service. Through transparent communication and ethical practice, we build trust with clients facing life's most sensitive legal issues.
Services
Divorce Representation
Military Divorce
Child Custody
Criminal Defense
Estate Planning
Adoption Services
DUI Defense
Prenuptial Agreements
Protective Orders
Post-Divorce Modifications
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of combined experience in family law and criminal defense
- Our attorney has served as both prosecutor and public defender
- We provide personalized attention to every case
- Our team maintains multi-state bar certifications
- We specialize in complex military divorce and custody cases
What people say
Exceptional attorney
Kept me informed
Case dismissed
Highly recommended
Compassionate representation
Services
Divorce Representation
Our firm provides comprehensive divorce representation for both contested and uncontested cases in Virginia. We handle property division, alimony negotiations, and separation agreements while protecting your parental rights. With experience in fault-based and no-fault divorces, we guide clients through equitable distribution of marital assets and post-divorce modifications. Our strategic approach minimizes conflict while securing favorable outcomes for complex cases involving military service members or high-net-worth individuals.
Military Divorce
Specialized legal services for military divorces requiring unique considerations under the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act. We handle division of retirement pay, Survivor Benefit Plan allocations, and family care plan modifications. Our expertise includes navigating the Service Members Civil Relief Act protections and addressing custody arrangements for deployed service members. We ensure proper division of Thrift Savings Plan assets while maintaining compliance with Virginia's 20/20/20 rule for military benefits eligibility.
Child Custody
We advocate for clients in all child custody matters including joint physical custody, visitation rights, and relocation requests. Our practice addresses parental alienation syndrome concerns and enforces existing custody orders through contempt proceedings. We work with Guardian ad Litem appointments while prioritizing children's best interests in Juvenile Domestic Relations Court. Our experience includes modifying custody arrangements due to changed circumstances and defending against false abuse allegations in protective order proceedings.
Criminal Defense
Our criminal defense practice handles misdemeanor and felony charges including DUI/DWI, reckless driving, and domestic violence cases. We challenge blood alcohol test results and negotiate reduced charges for traffic violations. With former prosecutorial experience, we develop defense strategies for drug-related offenses and probation violations. We represent clients facing license suspension hearings and work to minimize long-term consequences of criminal records through expungement options for dismissed charges.
Family Law
Comprehensive family law services covering adoption proceedings, paternity establishment, and prenuptial agreements. We handle protective order petitions for domestic abuse victims and defend against false allegations in CPS investigations. Our practice includes modifying existing child support orders based on changed financial circumstances and enforcing spousal support agreements. We assist with reproductive rights issues and LGBTQ family formation matters while maintaining strict confidentiality throughout sensitive legal proceedings.
People
Patricia Hardt
Attorney at Law
Patricia Hardt is a Virginia Beach attorney with extensive experience in family law, military divorce, and criminal defense. A former public defender and prosecutor, she brings unique perspective to complex legal cases. Licensed in four jurisdictions, she provides strategic representation for divorce proceedings, child custody matters, and DUI defense while maintaining membership in multiple state bar associations.
Questions
What types of divorce cases do you handle?
We handle both contested and uncontested divorces, including military divorces, fault-based divorces, and no-fault divorces requiring separation agreements.
How does military status affect divorce proceedings?
Military divorces require special considerations for benefits division, deployment-related custody arrangements, and compliance with federal military laws and regulations.
Can child custody arrangements be modified after divorce?
Yes, custody arrangements can be modified when there's a significant change in circumstances affecting the child's best interests.
What should I do if charged with DUI in Virginia?
Contact our office immediately to protect your rights - Virginia imposes strict penalties for DUI convictions including license suspension and potential jail time.
How do you handle out-of-state relocation requests?
We help clients navigate legal requirements for modifying custody agreements when relocating outside Virginia while protecting parental rights.
What payment options are available for legal services?
We offer flexible payment arrangements and provide transparent fee structures during initial consultations for all our legal services.
