Shawna L. Stevens, Esq.
Fredericksburg Family Law Attorney

Early Practice (2003–2008)

Following her admission to the Virginia State Bar, Shawna began her career as an associate at Shoun, Bach & Walinsky (2003–2004), then at Rinehart, Lowery, Strentz & Butler, PLC (2004–2006), and subsequently at The Pagliaro Law Firm (2006–2008). These early years built her foundation in Virginia family law litigation, equitable distribution, child custody proceedings, and the procedural expectations of the Fredericksburg-area circuit courts.

Associate and Partnership Years (2008–2019)

Shawna continued her career at Rinehart, Butler, Hodge & Moss, PLC as an associate (2008–2013), then moved into partnership at Woodbridge, Coleman & Stevens PC (2013–2015) and White, Stevens & Perry (2015–2019). These partnership roles expanded her experience in complex contested divorces, high-conflict custody litigation, military divorce matters, and high-asset property division cases handled in courts throughout the Fredericksburg judicial circuit.

Founding of Shawna L. Stevens PLLC (2019)

In 2019, after 16 years of family law practice at respected regional firms, Shawna founded her own firm. The decision was straightforward: to build a practice structured entirely around personal service, direct client access to the attorney handling the case, and an unwillingness to compromise the quality of representation that comes from working in large team environments where client-attorney continuity is difficult to maintain.

Local Court Experience

Over 20 years, Shawna has appeared regularly before the Fredericksburg Circuit Court, Stafford County Circuit Court, Spotsylvania County Circuit Court, King George County Circuit Court, and Caroline County Circuit Court. That familiarity with local judges, courtroom expectations, and administrative procedures is not something that can be replicated by an attorney arriving from another jurisdiction — it is built one hearing at a time over two decades.

Juris Doctor — Thomas M. Cooley Law School (2003)

Shawna earned her law degree summa cum laude from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. Her academic record reflected both intellectual rigor and sustained excellence across a demanding curriculum. During law school she earned the President's Achievement Award and the WLAM Foundation Outstanding Woman Law Student Award (2003). She served as Chair of the Mock Trial Board, competed in the ABA National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition (2002), and served as Managing Editor of the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review. These leadership and advocacy roles established the foundation for the litigation and negotiation skills she applies in Fredericksburg courtrooms today.

Bachelor of Arts — Michigan State University

Shawna completed her undergraduate education at Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts cum laude with a major in Criminal Justice. Her undergraduate focus on the legal system, evidence, and criminal procedure provided direct preparation for law school and for a career in which understanding procedural frameworks is essential to effective advocacy.

Bar Admissions

• Virginia State Bar — Admitted 2003
• Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section — Member

Professional Memberships

• Fredericksburg Bar Association — Member
• Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section — Member

Divorce & Separation

• Contested and uncontested divorce
• Fault-based divorce — Va. Code § 20-91
• No-fault divorce
• Separation agreements
• High-asset and complex property divorce
• Military divorce — USFSPA and SCRA

Custody & Children

• Child custody and visitation
• Physical and legal custody determinations
• Parenting plan negotiation and litigation
• Child support — Va. Code § 20-108.2
• Custody and support modifications
• Grandparents' rights and paternity

Financial & Property Matters

• Equitable distribution — Va. Code § 20-107.3
• Spousal support and alimony
• Retirement account division (QDROs)
• Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
• Property settlement agreements

Family Building & Protection

• Adoption — Va. Code §§ 63.2-1200 et seq.
• Stepparent, relative, agency, and adult adoption
• Protective orders — Va. Code § 16.1-279.1
• Emergency, preliminary, and permanent protective orders

Preparation Before Strategy

Effective advocacy in family law — whether in a negotiated settlement or before a circuit court judge — depends entirely on preparation. Shawna reviews financial records, parenting histories, and relevant case law before any strategy is developed. Clients who walk into a mediation session or a courtroom with a well-prepared attorney consistently reach better outcomes than those who rely on last-minute decisions.

Realistic Expectations, Clear Communication

Family law clients often arrive with expectations shaped by what they have heard from friends, read online, or seen in media portrayals of divorce and custody proceedings. Shawna's job is to give clients an accurate picture of what Virginia law actually provides for, what the local courts in Fredericksburg and the surrounding counties are likely to decide, and what realistic outcomes look like — so that every decision is made with full information rather than false hope or unnecessary fear.

Tailored Strategy — Negotiation or Litigation

Not every family law matter needs to be litigated. Not every matter can be resolved through negotiation. Shawna evaluates each case on its specific facts and the client's specific goals. When negotiated resolution serves the client's interests, she pursues it. When litigation is necessary to protect what matters most, she is prepared to advocate firmly in the Fredericksburg-area circuit courts without hesitation.

Personal Service — No Hand-Offs

At Shawna L. Stevens PLLC, clients work directly with Shawna on their case. There are no junior associates handling hearings while the lead attorney is occupied elsewhere, no rotating staff who are unfamiliar with the details of your matter. The attorney you consult at the outset is the attorney who appears with you in court. For clients facing the most consequential legal proceedings of their lives, that continuity is not a luxury — it is a fundamental requirement of quality representation.

Your Attorney Is in Your Case — Not Someone Else’s

At multi-attorney firms, the attorney who handles your intake is often not the attorney who handles your trial. When the lead attorney is occupied with another matter, hearings get handed to associates who may be meeting your file for the first time that morning. That is not a hypothetical — it is a standard feature of how large litigation practices are structured.

At Shawna L. Stevens PLLC, one attorney takes your case from the initial consultation through final resolution. Shawna appears at hearings, prepares your motions, and is the attorney who knows the details of your matter when you walk into the Fredericksburg Circuit Court or the Stafford County courthouse.

Local Court Knowledge Outweighs Headcount

Large firms point to staff size and resources as proxies for quality. In family law, the most valuable resource is not headcount — it is the procedural expectations of the local courts, knowledge of how contested matters move through each specific circuit, and the accumulated familiarity that comes from appearing in the same courtrooms for two decades.

With more than 20 years of experience in Virginia family law, Shawna L. Stevens has appeared regularly before the Fredericksburg Circuit Court, Stafford County Circuit Court, Spotsylvania County Circuit Court, King George County Circuit Court, and Caroline County Circuit Court. That court-specific knowledge is built one hearing at a time. It is not something a larger firm’s staffing structure can replicate from outside this judicial circuit.

Two Decades Handling the Cases That Demand It

Larger firms assign cases based on availability, not always on fit. High-conflict custody disputes, military divorce matters involving USFSPA pension division, and cases with overlapping financial and parenting complexity require an attorney who has worked through those specific fact patterns many times.

Shawna L. Stevens has handled military divorce matters — including USFSPA pension division, SCRA protections, and the BAH and housing allowance questions common to clients at Quantico and Dahlgren — throughout her career. She has handled high-conflict custody litigation in the Fredericksburg circuit for over 20 years. That record of personal experience belongs to the attorney in the room with you, not to a firm name on a letterhead.

You Hire Shawna. You Get Shawna.

Name-partner firms are often built around the reputation of one or two attorneys whose profiles attract clients. After retention, the work is distributed to associates at lower billing rates. The named attorney reviews and signs off — but is rarely the attorney doing the day-to-day work on your case.

Shawna L. Stevens PLLC does not operate that way. There are no associates to whom work is delegated and no intake staff who become your primary point of contact after the first call. The attorney managing your case is Shawna — every filing, every hearing, every conversation. To discuss your matter, call (540) 310-4088 or schedule a confidential consultation.