Edward D. Barnes

Top rated Family Law attorney in Richmond, Virginia

Barnes & Diehl, P.C.
Edward D. Barnes
Barnes & Diehl, P.C.
804-414-1600
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Practice Areas: Family Law, Estate Planning & Probate; view more

Licensed in Virginia since: 1971

Education: University of Richmond School of Law

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2023

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804-414-1600

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Barnes & Diehl, P.C.

7401 Beaufont Springs Drive
Suite 200
Richmond, VA 23225 Visit website

Attorney Edward D. Barnes is the founder of the highly respected law firm of Barnes & Diehl, P.C., which has served the residents of Virginia's capital since 1978. From the firm's two Richmond law offices, serving Richmond, Chesterfield and Henrico County, and its Mechanicsville location, serving Hanover, Mr. Barnes has offered the residents of the Richmond Metropolitan Area and nearby Petersburg a wide range of high-quality family services, including the following:

• Divorce

• Military divorce

• Property division

• Spousal support

• Child custody

• Child support

• Child visitation

• Grandparents' rights

• Paternity

• Adoption

• Post-decree modifications

• Enforcements

• Child relocation

• Domestic violence

• Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements

Mr. Barnes began his legal career in 1971 after earning his law degree from the University of Richmond Williams School of Law and his admission to the Virginia State Bar. In addition to receiving the approval to practice law in all of Virginia's state courts, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court have also issued their approvals for him to practice in their courtrooms.

Over the course of Mr. Barnes' 45-year legal career, he has built a reputation as one of the commonwealth's leading family law attorneys. This excellent reputation has resulted in numerous honors and awards, including an AV Preeminent peer review rating* from Martindale-Hubbell and inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America's list of the nation's top attorneys for two decades.Attorney Barnes is also a highly valued member of the legal community and one of its recognized leaders. He is a fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation, and he has served as president of the Metro Richmond Family Law Bar Association, to name only a few.

* AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.

Practice areas

Family Law, Estate Planning & Probate

Focus areas

Adoption, Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Estate Planning, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, Same Sex Family Law

  • 100% Family Law
  • 0% Estate Planning & Probate

First Admitted: 1971, Virginia

Professional Webpage: https://barnesfamilylaw.com/attorney-edward-d-barnes/

Pro bono/Community Service:
  • Chief Justice Supreme Court of Virginia Pro Bono Summit (2016-Current)
  • Henrico Bar Association Pro Bono Project (2010-Current)
  • Advisory Board Member and Attorney, Old Dominion Eye Bank (1975-1983)
  • Counsel and Registered Agent, Tuckahoe Volunteer Rescue Squad, Henrico County, Virginia (1977)
  • Central Virginia Legal Aid Society Pro Bono Family Law (2012-Current)
  • National Chairman, University of Richmond Law School Fund (1999-2002)
  • Province Commander - Ammen Province (Virginia) Kappa Alpha Order (1977-1980)
  • Board Member, Richard Bland College Foundation
  • Supreme Court of Virginia Pro Bono Summit (2014-Current)
  • University of Richmond Law School Richmond Downtown Pro Bono Project
  • Counsel and Member, Advisory Board of the Eye Bank Association of America, Houston, Texas (1976-1982)
  • Counsel and Advisory Board Member, Virginia Head Injury Foundation
Bar/Professional Activity:
  • The Founders Society - University of Richmond
  • Chairman, Board of Governors, Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section (2004-2005)
  • 1870 Society - University of Richmond Law School
  • President-Elect, Board of Managers, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Virginia Chapter (2001-2004)
  • Fellow, Virginia Law Foundation
  • President, Metro Richmond Family Law Bar Association
  • President, Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Bar Association (1998-1999)
  • Member, MENSA Society
  • Fellow, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (1995-2010)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1972
  • Member, Family Law Section, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (2006)
  • The Gothic Society - University of Richmond
  • Leadership Patron, Virginia Bar Association Foundation (2005)
  • Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section, Member
  • Member, Regional Courts Guidelines Committee, guidelines for trial and practice related to family law cases (2003-2004)
  • Member, International Society for Philosophical Enquiry
  • Member, Committee on Special Issues, Virginia Bar Association (2000)
  • The Spider Club - University of Richmond
  • President-Elect , American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Virginia Chapter (2011-2013)
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia, 1972
  • Chairman, The National Center for Family Law (2008)
  • Associate Editor, Virginia Bar Association Journal, 1975
  • Judge, National Trial Advocacy Competition, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (2006)
  • The Charter Associates - University of Richmond
  • Secretary, Board of Governors, Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section (2003-2004)
  • Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
  • National Chairman, University of Richmond School of Law Fund (1999-2002)
  • The Rectors Club - University of Richmond
  • Chairman, The National Center for Family Law at the University of Richmond Law School (2006-Current)
  • Chairman, The City of Richmond Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section (1978)
  • Virginia, 1971
  • Member, Virginia Bar Association, Family Law Section (1975-2006)
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1974
  • Member, Law Practice Management Division, Virginia Bar Association (2006)
Honors/Awards:
  • Voted Best Lawyers in America for 20 years
  • Voted Super Lawyer Top 10 Lawyers in Virginia, Richmond Magazine Law & Politics (2006-2015)
  • Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, University of Richmond Law School, 2006
  • Named to the Top 50 Lawyers in Richmond Area (2012)
  • Voted One of the Top 50 Super Lawyers in Virginia, Richmond Magazine Law & Politics (2006-2007)
  • Richmond Business Magazine named him "Top Family Lawyer in the City of Richmond and the Region", 2001
  • Voted Super Lawyer, Top Family Lawyers in Virginia, Richmond Magazine Law & Politics (2006-2016)
  • Virginia Legal Elite, Virginia Business Magazine (2000-2015)
  • Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Chicago)
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section (2008)
  • University of Richmond School of Law, Distinguished Alumni of the Year (2006)
  • AV Rating, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
  • Named Family Lawyer of the Year for Richmond by Best Lawyers in America (2009, 2015)
  • Leader in The Law, Virginia Lawyer's Weekly , 2006
  • Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section (2008)
  • Voted One of Fifteen "Leaders In The Law" by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (2006)
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
  • "Going for the Gold: Locating and Using Winning Evidence," Moderator, 19th Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE (2000)
  • "Nemo Tenetur Prodere Seipsum - Adultery & the Fifth Amendment's Affect on Spousal Support & Equitable Distribution," State Bar Journal (2000)
  • "Avoiding Litigation in Child Custody Relocation Issues (Topic No. 2) - Four Hot Topics for Family Law Attorneys," Virginia CLE (2000)
  • "Presentation on Stocks and Options; The Case of the Millionaire Couple: Solving the Mystery of the Financially Complex Divorce," 16th Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE (2000)
  • "Goldfarb: The End of Self-Regulation?," Virginia Bar Association Journal (October, 1975)
  • "Income in Support Cases," 19th Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE (2000)
  • University of Richmond, The T.C. Williams School of Law, Richmond, Virginia, University of Richmond Law Review
  • "Work Product Doctrine - New Cases, New Advice on Spousal Support, New Rules of Professional Conduct," 18th Annual Family Law Seminar: News You Need to Know, Virginia CLE, Richmond, Roanoke, Falls Church and Norfolk (1999)
  • "Virginia Law and Practice: A Handbook For Attorneys," (Chapter on Domestic Relations) Edward D. Barnes , Fellows of the Virginia Law Foundation (2014)
  • "Use And Abuse Of Experts," Moderator, 18th Annual Family Law Seminar (1999)
  • "The Spousal Support Case Every Family Law Practitioner Should Know: Is Gamble Dead?," Edward Barnes, Virginia Bar Association News Journal, Vol. 35, No.4, (Winter, 2009)
  • "How Do I Handle the Hard Issues? Difficult Issues, Practical Solutions," 17th Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE, Tysons Corner, Norfolk, Roanoke and Richmond (1998)
  • "Presentation and Trial - Virginia's New Statute on Rehabilitative Alimony: How to Present and Argue Your Case," Virginia CLE, Richmond and Tysons Corner (1998)
  • "Nemo Tenetur Seipsum Accusare, Comments on the Fifth Amendment and its Use in Family Law Cases,", Virginia Lawyer (February, 2002)
  • "Wiretaps And Video As Evidence In Family Law Litigation," (1998)
  • "Negotiating and Drafting Divorce Agreements,", Virginia CLE (2000)
  • "VTLA- Moving Ahead: the New Millennium- A Documents And Documentation Regarding Family Law," (1997)
  • "Divorce Agreements: Federal laws can thwart intent," Virginia Lawyers Weekly (December, 2000)
  • "Comments on the Fifth Amendment and Its Use in Family Law," Virginia Lawyers Weekly (February, 2000)
  • "Figuring Good Time - The Post Conviction Process," 16 Univ. Rich. Law Review 505 (1982)
  • "Cruel and Unusual Punishment - Constitutionality of the Death Penalty," 5 Univ. Rich. Law Rev. 392 (1971)
  • "Civil Rights - Arrest Record as Basis for Job Denial Held Discriminatory," Gregory v. Litton Systems, Univ.Rich. L. Rev.
  • "Overcooked Boilerplate and Other Morsels: Practice Tips and Traps"
  • Use and Abuse of Expert Testimony in Custody and Visitation
  • Adjunct Faculty, University of Richmond Law School
  • Adjunct Faculty, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
  • Annual Divorce Practice Seminar
  • "Advanced Family Law Seminar," Moderator, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Richmond & Norfolk, Virginia (2005-Present)
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Richmond, School of Law, "Ethics in Family Law" (2009)
  • "Update on the Law: Recent Cases for Annual Family Law Seminar," Author and Presenter, Montgomery County Bar Association (2005-2009)
  • "Update on the Law: Recent Cases," Author and Presenter, Virginia Continuing Legal Education (2002-2009)
  • "Successful Strategies for Your Custody Case," 22nd Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE (October, 2004)
  • "Question and Answer Session on Electronic Evidence Issues,'" Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE, Richmond, Virginia (2004)
  • "What All Practitioners Should Know About Divorce," Midyear Legal Seminar of the Virginia State Bar, Scottsdale, Arizona (2003)
  • The Imputation of Income - Cases and Issues: Four Hot Topics for Family Law Attorneys," American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Virginia Chapter (2003)
  • "Use of Experts in Custody Cases, Insights on Tough Custody Issues," 21st Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE (2002)
  • Negotiating and Drafting Marital Agreements (2002)
  • "Spousal Support and Maintenance; Family Law: A Systematic Approach," 17th Annual Fundamentals Course, Virginia CLE (2001)
  • "Spousal Support and Maintenance; Family Law: A Systematic Approach," 17th Annual Fundamentals Course, Virginia CLE (2001)
Verdicts/Settlements:
  • Donohue v. Donohue, No. 2675-96-2 (Henrico Cty. Cir. Ct. 1997)
  • Zervos v. YMCA, No. CL95-40 (12th Judicial Cir. 1995)
  • McDavid v. McDavid, 451 S.E.2d 713 (Va. Ct. App. 1994)
  • Westbrook v. Westbrook, 364 S.E.2d 523 (Va. S.Ct. 1988)
  • Payne v. Warden of Powhatan Correctional Center, 285 S.E.2d 886 (Va. S.Ct. 1982)
  • Joynes v. Payne, 36 Va.App. 401, 551 S.E.2d. 10 (Va. Ct. App. 2001)
  • Washington v. Commonwealth, 217 S.E.2d 815 (Va. S.Ct. 1975)
  • Panner v. Sillmon, No. 1739-97-2 (Chesterfield Cty. Cir. Ct. 1998)
  • Gifford v. Dunkum, 1996 Va.App. LEXIS 114 (Va. Ct. App. 1996)
  • Pugh v. Bowles, No. CJ93C-113 (Chesterfield Cty. Cir. Ct. 1994)
  • Goodwin v. Hare, 436 S.E.2d 605 (Va. S.Ct. 1993)
  • Cook v. Commonwealth, 309 S.E.2d 325 (Va. S.Ct. 1983)
  • Lazarchic v. Lazarchic, Unpublished (Va. Ct. App. 2005)
  • Allied Products, Inc. v. Duesterdick, 232 S.E.2d 774 (Va. S.Ct. 1977)
  • Baker v. Baker, No. CH98-262 (Richmond Cir. Ct. 1999)
  • Lee v. Lee, 149CL9000044-00 (Prince George Cty. Cir. Ct. 1997)
  • Claytor v. Suter, No. CH346-88 (Chesterfield Cir. 1994)
  • Cottrell v. General Sys. Software Corp., 448 S.E.2d 421 (Va. S.Ct. 1994)
  • Howard v. Warden, 348 S.E.2d 211 (Va. S.Ct. 1986)
  • Stamper v. Commonwealth, 257 S.E.2d 808 (Va. S.Ct. 1979)
  • Reese v. Reese, Record No. 2564-00-2 (Va. Ct. App. 2001)
Educational Background:
  • Army Corps of Engineers Officer Candidate School, Fort Belvoir, Honors: Leadership, Academic and Honor Graduate, 1967
  • East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, B.A., Honors: Who's Who Among American Colleges and Universities, 1966

Office location for Edward D. Barnes

7401 Beaufont Springs Drive
Suite 200
Richmond, VA 23225

Phone: 804-414-1600

Selections

18 Years Super Lawyers
  • Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2023

Top Lists

Top 10: Virginia Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2009, 2014 - 2015, 2017 - 2023
Top 100: Virginia Super Lawyers: 2012 - 2023
Top 50: Richmond Super Lawyers: 2012 - 2023
Top 50: Virginia Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2010

Certificates and credentials

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
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