Paul F. Nichols
Mr. Nichols is a principal of Nichols, Zauzig & Sandler, P.C., and concentrates his practice primarily on family law and related criminal defense matters, including divorce, custody, child support, distribution of assets and determination of alimony. As a litigator, his practice routinely sees him in all levels of our court system.
Mr. Nichols has achieved the highest possible level of recognition from his peers in the practice of family law nationwide. He has been recognized as a Best Lawyer® for family law and divorce every year since 2006. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a national organization with stringent requirements for membership, including peer review and testing. The qualification for membership of each fellow includes being recognized by the bench and bar in his jurisdiction as a leading practitioner in matrimonial law. In addition, Mr. Nichols has received Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating (AV) for legal ability and ethics and been named a Super Lawyer® repeatedly since the award's inception. In the D.C. area, Mr. Nichols is regularly named a Top Lawyer by Washingtonian and Northern Virginia magazines. 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.
Mr. Nichols' broad experience in all areas of the family practice provides a substantial benefit to his clients. He has had the good fortune to handle clients with a wide range of financial backgrounds, from those of modest means to clients whose incomes and assets are significant. His philosophy in handling any case is to litigate to the fullest if necessary, but to settle in an amicable way, if possible. He recognizes that “seek and destroy” is not a fruitful approach when there are children, careers, and other common interests that will bind two people together long after the ink is dry on a final divorce, and therefore, a more practical approach is oftentimes best.
HONORS & PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
- Martindale/Hubbell A/V Preeminent Attorney
- Fellow American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Recognized in The Wall Street Journal as Top Rated Legal Leader in Washington D.C. and Baltimore, 2015
- Super Lawyer, Family Law, Washington D.C., since 2006
- Best Lawyers in America, since 2006
- Top Lawyer, Family Law, Washingtonian Magazine
- Top Lawyer, Northern Virginia Magazine
- Board of Governors, Family Law Section, Virginia State Bar, 2001-05
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
- Virginia Family Law Coalition
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America
- Neutral Case Evaluator and a Conciliator, Prince William County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court
- Prince William County Bar Association
- Alexandria Bar Association
Manassas, Virginia 20110
Stafford, Virginia 22554
Woodbridge, Virginia 22192