Steven L. Raynor

Divorce and Family Law

Steve’s practice is focused on family law, including divorce, the division of property, custody and visitation, support, settlement agreements, and prenuptial agreements. He has also served as local counsel in Hague Convention (International Child Abduction) litigation in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia. Steve follows a client-centered approach in which he learns his client’s goals and works with each client to create a strategy to meet those goals. Sometimes the goals are a negotiated settlement with a focus on the best interests of the children. In other cases, negotiations may not be successful and litigation is necessary. The majority of Steve’s family law cases settle, but he has extensive experience litigating a wide range of family law issues, from motions to multi-week trials.

Education and Training

National Trial Advocacy College
University of Virginia School of Law – J.D.
Randolph-Macon College – B.A.
Philosophy

Licensing and Bar Admissions

Virginia Bar
Supreme Court of the United States
United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia

Professional and Bar Association Memberships

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Fellow
American Bar Association
Family Law Section
Virginia State Bar
Board of Governors of Family Law Section, Former Chair
Virginia Bar Association
Domestic Relations Section Council, Former Chair
Virginia Family Law Coalition
Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association
Family, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Section, Former Chair

Professional Recognition

Steve has been selected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys. In addition, he has been listed or selected numerous times, including 2024, by the Virginia Business magazine as one of the Legal Elite in the Family/Domestic Relations Practice area, the Virginia Super Lawyers list in the Family Law practice area, and The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Family Law.

Book, Articles and Lectures

Book

Divorce in Virginia: The Legal Process, Your Rights, and What to Expect, Copyright 2021 by Steven L. Raynor.

Articles

Using the VSB Family Law Section “Multiple Custody” Online Worksheets “(Co-Author with Mitchell Broudy) published by the Virginia Family Law Quarterly, Fall 2018”;
“Real Estate Issues in Divorce Cases,” published by the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section, Family Law News, Winter 2012;
“Third Party Visitation in Virginia,” published in the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section, Family Law News, Spring 2010;
“Third Party Custody in Virginia,” published in the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section, Family Law News, Winter 2009.

Lectures and Seminar Presentations

“Counseling Records: Dealing with Discovery Barriers and using Records Effectively,” moderated seminar presentation sponsored by the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2024;
“Virginia Family Law Legislative Update,” seminar sponsored by the Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association, 2023;
“Prenuptial Agreements,” seminar sponsored by Virginia CLE, 2020;
“Use of Expert Witnesses in Family Law Cases,” seminar sponsored by Virginia CLE, 2016;
“Social Security and Divorce,” seminar sponsored by the Virginia Bar Association, Domestic Relations Section, 2015;
“Same-Sex Marriage: A Review of Developing Law,” seminar sponsored by Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association, 2014;
“Tax Tips for Divorce Attorneys,” Moderator and Speaker at Seminar sponsored by the Virginia Bar Association, Domestic Relations Section, 2013;
“Family Law Update 2010-2011,” Seminar sponsored by the Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association, 2011;
“Presenting and Defending Against Mental Health Expert Testimony in Custody and Visitation Cases,” Seminar sponsored by the Virginia Bar Association, Domestic Relations Section, 2011;
“Virginia Equitable Distribution: Tracing,” seminar sponsored by Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association, 2010;
“The Statutory basis of Family Law in Virginia,” seminar sponsored by Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association, 2009;
“Recent Case Law Developments,” seminar sponsored by Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association, 2008;
“Selected Constitutional Law Cases,” class presented as part of Martin & Raynor, P.C. Law School for Non-Lawyers, 2008;
“Family Law,” class presented as part of Martin & Raynor, P.C. Law School for Non-Lawyers, 2007;
“Introduction to the Law: Constitutional and Federal Law,” class presented as part of Martin & Raynor, P.C. Law School for Non-Lawyers, 2006;
“Spousal Support in Virginia,” seminar sponsored by Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association, 2003;
“Review of Equitable Distribution in Virginia,” seminar sponsored by Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association, 2000;
“Spousal Support: A Review of New Section 20-107.1,” seminar sponsored by Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association, 1999;
“Dividing Retirement Benefits in Divorce Cases,” seminar sponsored by Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association, 1998;
“Imputed Income in Child Support and Spousal Support Cases,” seminar sponsored by Virginia Continuing Legal Education, 1997;
“Spousal Support,” seminar sponsored by Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association, 1996.

Publication Links

Personal

Steve was born in Charlottesville and resides in Albemarle County, Virginia. He and his wife, Chloe, have four children. Steve has been practicing law since his graduation from law school in 1985. He is currently working on his second book.