Debra C. Albiston
Biography
Debbie has more than 30 years experience handling all aspects of family law. She is the Chair of the Family Law Practice Group at Kaufman & Canoles. Her practice includes contested and uncontested divorce, custody, support, equitable distribution (Virginia’s division of property law), post-divorce matters and pre-marital, marital and separation agreements. Debbie practices in all of the local circuit courts, juvenile and domestic relations district courts, and has argued cases in the Virginia Court of Appeals and Virginia Supreme Court.
Practices
Representative Matters
- Represents business owners or their spouse in divorces requiring expertise in business valuations
- Represents military members or their spouse requiring knowledge of military laws and the division of military pensions
- Prepares and reviews prenuptial agreements to protect assets owned prior to marriage
- Represents both the professional spouse and the spouse who has been out of the job market during the marriage
- Represents mothers/fathers/grandparents in contested custody litigation and support matters
- Handled multiple cases involving complex issues of tracing separate/marital property interests that have been commingled during the marriage
Recognition & Honors
- Norfolk Family Law “Lawyer of the Year”; Best Lawyers in America, 2021
- Best Lawyers in America, 2015-2021
- Virginia Super Lawyers; Law & Politics, 2007-2009, 2011, 2013, 2015-2020
- Virginia’s Legal Elite; Virginia Business Magazine, 2004-2006, 2008-2020
- Top Lawyers; CoVaBIZ Magazine, 2017-2021
- AV® Rated; Martindale-Hubbell
Associations
- American Bar Association; Family Law Section
- Virginia State Bar; Family Law Section
- Virginia State Bar; Domestic Relations Council
- Second District Disciplinary Committee
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
- Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association
- Virginia Beach Bar Association
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of Virginia, 1983
- U.S. District Court; Eastern District of Virginia, 1984
Education
- George Mason University; B.A., 1980
- William & Mary Law School; J.D., 1983
Press & Publications
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2021 in CoVaBIZ Magazine
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2020
- 46 Attorneys Named “Best Lawyers in America 2021”, 5 Named “Lawyer of the Year” and 7 Named “Ones to Watch”
- 18 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2020 and 4 Named As Rising Stars 2020
- 45 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named CoVaBIZ Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” 2020
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2019
- 45 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2020 and 3 Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys: 18 Named as Super Lawyers & 6 Named as Virginia Rising Stars in Virginia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars 2019
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2018
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2019 in CoVaBiz Magazine
- 43 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named “Best Lawyers in America 2019” and 8 Named “Lawyers of the Year”
- 31 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers and 5 Named As Rising Stars 2018
- 31 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2017/18 in CoVaBIZ Magazine
- 46 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2018
- 29 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2017 and 5 Named as Rising Stars 2017
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2017
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2016
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2017
- 32 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2016 and 4 Named as Rising Stars 2016
- 44 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2015
- 42 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2016
- 32 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2015 and 7 Named as Rising Stars 2015
- 45 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2014
- 42 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2015
- 29 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2014 and 8 Named as Rising Stars 2014
- 54 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2013
- 29 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2013 and 14 Named as Rising Stars 2013
- 55 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2012
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2012 and 14 Named as Rising Stars 2012
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2011
- 36 K&C Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2011 and 14 Named as Rising Stars 2011
- 39 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2010