When family matters come to court, you need a trial lawyer.

Family law cases sit at the intersection of legal procedure and personal upheaval. The decisions made in these cases reach into the parts of life that matter most: where children sleep, who picks them up from school, how households are funded, and what the next chapter looks like. Trial experience matters in family law more than people often realize. The cases that resolve fairly, even out of court, are usually the ones where opposing counsel knows the file is being prepared by a lawyer who is comfortable in front of a judge.

Stroebel & Stroebel handles the full range of family law matters in West Virginia. That includes contested and uncontested divorce, equitable distribution of marital property and debt, spousal support, child custody and parenting time, child support calculation and enforcement, modification of existing orders, parental relocation disputes, domestic violence protective orders, adoption, and guardianship matters. We practice regularly in West Virginia Family Court, which handles most divorce, custody, and support matters, and in circuit court where appeals and certain related actions are heard.

Common situations our clients face often involve more than one issue. A spouse files for divorce and the other learns that joint accounts have been moved. Custody is contested because one parent wants to relocate for a job. A long marriage ends and the question of how to value a closely held business or a pension becomes the central dispute. A protective order is sought because behavior has escalated. A previously workable parenting plan no longer fits because a child has aged into different needs. Each of these situations has both a legal framework and a human reality. We address both.

In divorce, the central issues are usually equitable distribution of marital property, spousal support, and custodial allocation when there are children. Each issue has its own analytical framework. Equitable distribution under West Virginia law is the framework for dividing marital assets and debts, with the default of roughly equal division adjusted by statutory factors. We help clients understand what is actually marital, what valuations are realistic, and how the court is likely to view contested questions about separate versus marital characterization, dissipation, and the treatment of business interests, retirement accounts, and the marital home.

Custody cases turn on the best interests of the child. We treat that standard seriously. We avoid scorched-earth tactics that damage children, and we do not hesitate to litigate firmly when a child's safety or stability requires it. Parenting plans address decision-making authority, residential schedules, holiday and vacation time, transportation, communication, and the resolution of future disagreements. We craft plans designed to work in the real world, not just on paper, because a plan that cannot survive contact with daily life will be back in court within a year.

How we are different is that we bring trial preparation to family law. Many family lawyers settle every case because they are uncomfortable in trial. The result is predictable: opposing parties learn that pressure works, and clients accept terms they would not have accepted if their lawyer were prepared to litigate. We are deliberate, restrained, and clear, but where safety, stability, or significant financial interests are at stake, we are prepared to litigate the issue with the same preparation we bring to any trial. What you can expect is honest counsel about cost, timeline, and realistic outcomes, communicated in plain language and without false promises designed to retain a fee.

What We Handle

• Contested and uncontested divorce, including high-asset and complex marital estates.
• Equitable distribution of marital property, debt, business interests, and retirement accounts.
• Child custody, parenting time schedules, and decision-making authority disputes.
• Child support calculation, deviation, and enforcement under the West Virginia guidelines.
• Spousal support requests, modifications, and termination proceedings.
• Parental relocation cases involving moves within or outside West Virginia.
• Domestic violence protective orders, including emergency, temporary, and final orders.
• Modification of existing custody, support, and parenting time orders based on changed circumstances.

“The parenting plan we built worked because it was designed for two real households, not for a court order.”

What to Expect

1. 01

   Confidential consultation and triage

   We meet with you, identify the immediate issues, and address anything time-sensitive first, including emergency custody concerns, financial exposure, and protective order needs.

2. 02

   Filing and temporary relief

   We prepare and file the necessary petitions in family court. Where appropriate, we seek temporary orders for custody, support, exclusive use of the marital residence, or protection from contact.

3. 03

   Discovery, valuation, and negotiation

   We exchange financial information, value contested assets, and conduct mediation or settlement negotiations. Most cases that can resolve do resolve at this stage when both sides are prepared.

4. 04

   Final hearing or trial

   Where issues remain contested, we present the case to the family court judge. Detailed findings of fact and conclusions of law are requested where they will protect your position on appeal or modification.

Frequently Asked Questions