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Sarah Catherine Collins

Divorce and separation Attorney at Manassas, VA

5.0   18 reviews

Licensed for 9 years

About Sarah

Learn Sarah’s areas of practice.

I focus my practice on family law, helping clients through divorce, custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, and protective orders. I have been an attorney since 2013, joined The Manassas Law Group in October 2017, and became a partner in June 2019. I feel lucky to be a part of such a wonderful firm, where people are valued as individuals, work-life balance is encouraged, and co-workers feel like family. My two dogs, Sawyer and Finn, are the official greeters at the office.

My philosophy and approach to family law is to help clients move forward and reach a resolution. While I enjoy being in the courtroom and advocating for my clients, I also recognize that going to court can cause further rifts between people, damage relationships, and negatively impact the likelihood of long-term peace. Family law issues tend to be highly emotional, and while the events that led a client to seek out a family law attorney are important, I have found that it is more productive to focus on the future rather than on the past. I treat my clients with empathy, respect, and compassion, and have a straight-forward approach. I genuinely enjoy the work that I do, and I believe that is reflected in the types of relationships I have with my clients.

I am licensed to practice in all courts in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and have represented clients in Prince William County, Fairfax County, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, Stafford County, and Culpeper County. I am a member of the Prince William County Bar Association and the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.

Awards

Client's Choice 2017
Client's Choice
2017
Top Contributor 2016
Top Contributor
2016
Licensed for 9 years
State VA
Status Active
Acquired 2013
Updated 12/27/2022

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Contact Sarah

The Manassas Law Group, P.C.
9255 Lee Avenue
Manassas, VA, 20110

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  18 customer reviews
5 Star
 
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Client's Choice 2017
Client's Choice
Sarah received a significant number of 4+ stars in 2017
Posted by anonymous | April 8, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
If you want the job done.
Sarah stepped in to help me when I had no one to turn too. I could not find my previous attorney who was working my case and in desperation I came across Sarah with Manassas Law Group. After my consultation, I hired her immediately to finalize my Divorce. She was kind, considerate and listened to my concerns and in the end she got it done. Thank you Sarah and your paralegal Sydney because you were able to calm my nerves during a very difficult time in my life. Sarah is professional but felt like I was speaking to someone I’ve know all my life. I wish I could give you more than 5 stars. Thank you for everything.
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Posted by Allison | April 8, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Highly recommend
Sarah Collins represented me in my divorce case. She was professional, responsive, and thorough throughout the legal process. I would highly recommend her.
Posted by Zoey | February 1, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Very Effective!
Sarah Collins and her team were very helpful every step of the way during my child custody case. She gave recommendations and explained everything thoroughly.
Posted by Jesse | October 22, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Sarah Collins
I have really enjoyed working with Sarah. I am always made to feel like I am her top priority. Her advice is always sound and well thought out. This has enabled me to make decisions that have ultimately benefited me and my family. I could not be happier with her representation of me in my cases.
Posted by Jean | June 14, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Great Fighter
She put up a great fight for me. She challenged the county's attorney fiercely and made the best case for me in front of the judge. The protective orders were disolved in a manner that allows me to go on with my life. The nature of the case was inherently a stressful journey on its own but her action(s) reduced it somehow. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND HEr.
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Posted by Elizabeth | January 21, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Listens to your needs
Sarah was amazing! She always responded to my questions and helped me to really understand the law. I would recommend her to anyone!
Posted by anonymous | October 17, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Only choose Sarah if you want to win
I highly recommend Attorney Sarah Collins. I turned to her after having a bad experience with an incompetent lawyer so my trust was a little damaged. She quickly eased my fears and gained my trust through her work ethic and compassion. She was extremely responsive, proactive and thorough. She kept me updated throughout each stage, making sure I understood her strategy and actions. I 100% recommend her.
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Posted by anonymous | May 6, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Top Knotch
Sarah was with me during my first consultation and offered guidance for when I was ready to move forward with seperation and divorce. She was very familiar with my case, and was available to answer questions or concerns that I might have had. She was also incredibly generous with her service pricing. I am so thankful I chose Sarah to represent me in filing for my divorce. It was filed and official in record time. The entire office was great.
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Posted by Synthia | March 26, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Outstanding Attorney!
I hired Attorney Collins for a traffic matter and not only was she able to help me keep my license, but got the charges reduced so I didn't get any points! She was knowledgeable, professional and genuinely seemed to care about my case. 10/10.
Posted by Leandro | September 2, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
You want her on your side
Sarah and her team worked on my separation and divorce. I worked with her for over a year. She was professional, thorough, and always very responsive. My case was building up to be an ugly custody case and we were preparing for trial. I felt confident that by having her on my side she would be prepared and argue effectively on my behalf. Thanks to her my case was a strong one and I was in a good position should it have to go to trial. We were able to avoid going to trial in the very end and I was happy with the outcome.
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Posted by Alexie | April 4, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Best lawyer in town!
-First off I wanted to say I did extensive research before I called Manassas Law Group for my custody battle with my X and hired my attorney. I had the pleasure of working with Sarah Collins and paralegal Isabella B. Ms. Collins was very professional, knowledgeable, intelligent, and showed compassion for my case. Ms. Collins was available when I needed to ask her a question via email and response was always prompt. She was honest from the beginning and told me what to expect every step of the way! I HIGHLY recommend Sarah Collins!
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Posted by Jeff | April 2, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Review
Sarah Collins represented me in a domestic issue I was having, and she was very helpful. Her compassion and interest in my problem was comforting. Her team kept me informed every step of the way. The desired outcome was achieved, and I would happily recommend them for any family dispute.
Posted by Don T | September 6, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Sharp, Aggressive and Talented Attorney & Litigator!
When you walk into a Divorce and Family law firm for the first time, you never know what type or attorney you will meet. Questions like, What's their win/success rate, how aggressive are they, will they advocate for me.... all those questions are spinning around. When it come to a Divorce -you want out, when it comes to your kids -you want to keep them part of your life and have as much time as possible, if not custody. Emotions play a large part in the initial stages... I'll start this Review by generally disclaiming, I'm a male, was being divorced by a bitter ex who wanted to take every bit of money/life from me and keep me away from my son. My case was extremly complex: Grounds of adultry, extensive marital assets, extensive Debt, child from relationship, rental asset matters, ex who wanted to take no debt but all the assets and prevent me from having anymore time with my son than the Va state minimum of every other weekend, and who refused to talk directly with me, but only through a lawyer. Not to mention she wanted a TON of money for a LONG time. My Ex made this nasty and and more difficult than it needed to be. When I first walked in a meet Sarah, she listened, asked what I wanted to see as an outcome and most importantly, she genuinally cared about me as a client. As the case progresseed, their were clear early warning signs the case was going to very adversarial. I wasn't worried, Sarah was up for the challenge! Sarah is not just a Lawyer, but an aggressive DIvorce and Child Custody Litigator (yes there is a difference) for her clients. She is extremely detail oriented, client focused, always responsive by email, and mine ranked in the thousands, and by phone. I never had a problem contacting her even late at night via email, or her being on top of every facet of my difficult case. Sarah will be very direct on where you stand, recommending how to proceed and the reality of the case. This is what you want from an attorney, No BS and the Bottom Line Up Front. That said, Sarah also envelopes herself with a talented paraleggal, Kim Cross, who was always there for questions, comment and worked tirelessly on my case. As my case winded down to settlement and while visting the office, I realized Kim managed and conducted factual legal research, prepare documents for legal transactions, draft pleadings and discovery notices, interview clients and witnesses, and assist at closing of my case. There were boxes and boxes.... and BOXES of documents and Kim knew almost everyone of them. Yes, this review is lengthly, but I wanted to make sure I convered key points. My cases, which Sarah advocated, defended and agured for me, ended up with no adultry (one year seperation), all the real estate, 50/50 custody of my son, which I believe I could have gotten more but my son needs his Mom too, shorter duration of spousal support at a reasonable amount and most of all, my life and sanity! In closing, weather you are the defendant, as in my case, or a plaintiff, You can rest assured that Sarah knows the PWC legal system, is an aggressive arguement Litigator, and will represent you to the fullest of her abilitiy. Sarah was right there with me through every step and guiding me legally, and sometimes acting as a counsolor I will always keep Sarah as the first person I will contact if I need any legal advice. I can humbly say, Thank you Sarah!
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Posted by Joseph | August 31, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
The Best In The Business
Sarah Collins handled my divorce and custody case like I was a part of her family. She was consistent and caring during the entire process. If you are looking for an attorney to get the job done, and treat you like your case is top priority, then look no further than Ms. Collins and her paralegal Kimberly Cross.
Posted by Damon | August 24, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Civil divorce for Damon Wirta
Walk me through the entire process fully explaining all of my options and the pros and cons of each option provided full access to her and Quickly responding to all correspondents
Posted by Brian | July 6, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Honest, Genuine, Well Experienced
At the beginning of what was a very " Out of the Ordinary" divorce, I was lucky enough to have Sarah be the the attorney who did my initial consultation. After only a few minutes of explaining the intricacies of my situation, I already felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders as it was very clear that Ms. Collins was extremely well versed in Family Law in all of the surrounding jurisdictions. She was able to confidently answer any questions I had in addition to recognizing where I was hesitating or unsure about something, Ms. Collins professionally provided me with how the law was written pertaining to my particular situation. While the divorce process can be a very dirty, hurtful and delicate situation.. and on occasion when needed you want the attorney on your side that knows all the in's ans outs of family law and is a pro at going head to head with opposing counsel in an always professional manner. But there is no better feeling when you observe the interaction and know you clearly choose the best attorney. During the course of my case, I must have lost count of how many times circumstances would change unexpectedly. These surprises as they came never causes Ms. Collins to skip a beat. She always has a plan or next step on how to proceed. Which is a priceless skill to have on your side when you have your family and financial future hanging in the balance. The bottom line is that I felt very comfortable that I was being represented by someone who knew how to deal with each stage of the divorce process as it developed and explained each step of the way as we proceeded. I got each thing I had asked for thanks to Ms, Collins expertise. Highly Recommended.
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Posted by Jenna | June 23, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Must hire!!
I was in need of getting a divorce and fighting over my child and it wasn't pretty at all. Sarah always made a smile on and took the challenge and we won a good one. Sarah was always telling me what was best for my child and for me. Sometimes it wasn't want I wanted to hear but she explained it perfectly so I was okay with it. Sarah is a newer attorney but you could not tell 100% of the time. She knows her stuff. Sarah is a must hire attorney if you want what is best for your child and self.
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Posted by anonymous | March 7, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Awesome Adoption
Ms Collins handled an adoption process for myself and my new family. All paperwork was handled accurately and swiftly. She was professional and supportive with answering all of our questions and kept us informed on the progress of the adoption. Because of her knowledge and expertise, the entire process went smoothly. We would highly recommend both Ms. Collins and the firm for anyone in need of a lawyer. We thank them all for their hard work in making our family complete.
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Cost

Rates
  • Hourly Rates $ 375-375 per hour
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Partner
  • The Manassas Law Group, P.C.
  • 2019 - Present
  • Associate Attorney
  • The Manassas Law Group, P.C.
  • 2017 - 2019
  • Associate Attorney
  • Livesay & Myers, P.C.
  • 2016 - 2017
  • Associate Attorney
  • Maureen A. Kersey, PLLC
  • 2015 - 2016
  • Law Clerk
  • Prince William County Circuit Court
  • 2013 - 2015
View all work experience

Education

  • George Mason University School of Law
  • J.D.
  • 2013
  • University of Michigan
  • B.A.
  • 2009

Legal Cases

  • Prince William County Driving on Suspended
  • Dismissed

Associations

  • Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
  • Member
  • 2017 - Present
  • Prince William County Bar Association
  • Member
  • 2015 - Present
  • Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section
  • Member
  • 2013 - Present
  • Virginia State Bar, Young Lawyers Conference
  • Co-Chair, Domestic Violence Safety Project
  • 2016 - 2017
  • Prince William County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Committee
  • Chair
  • 2016 - 2019
  • Prince William County Bar Association, Beat the Odds Program
  • Mentor
  • 2016 - 2021
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • Rising Star
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2022
  • Rising Star
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2021
  • Rising Star
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2020
  • Rising Star
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2019
  • Top 10 under 40
  • National Academy of Family Law Attorneys
  • 2018
  • Clients' Choice
  • Avvo
  • 2017
  • Significant Service Award
  • Virginia State Bar, Young Lawyers Conference
  • 2017
  • 2016 Top Contributor Award
  • Avvo
  • 2016
  • Equal Access to Justice Scholarship
  • National Association of Women Judges
  • 2012
View all awards

Publications

  • George Mason Law Review
  • Unreasonable Seizure: Governmental Removal of Children from Homes with Drugs But No Evidence of Neglect
  • 2013

Speaking Engagements

  • Introduction to Practicing Law in the Prince William County Courthouse
  • Young Lawyers Committee
  • 2018
  • Uncontested Divorce CLE
  • Uncontested Divorce
  • 2015

Attorney endorsements

Received (21)
Given (9)
Endorse Sarah
Divorce and separation Attorney | Oct 14
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have known Sarah for several years. She is a well-respected attorney and zealous advocate for her clients. The depth and breadth of her knowledge is impressive. I would hire her as my own counsel and recommend her with enthusiasm."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Oct 06
Relationship: Co-worker
"Sarah is a very skilled and knowledgeable attorney in the field of family law. She welcomes challenges and handles cases with confidence."
Family Attorney | Jul 08
Relationship: Friend
"As a former co-clerk with Ms. Collins, I had the privilege to work with an intelligent and capable lawyer with high ethical standards."
Divorce and separation Attorney | May 25
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have known Sarah both in law school and in practice and can confidently state that she is an excellent attorney. She is a zealous advocate while providing counsel to her clients. I would not hesitate to recommend her to those in need of legal services."
Divorce and separation Attorney | May 04
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer. Ms. Collins background and commitment to the practice of law, specifically family law, make her a strong advocate."
Divorce and separation Attorney | May 04
Relationship: Co-worker
"Sarah is a great attorney. Her reputation among her peers in the bar, not to mention among the judges that she first clerked for and now practices in front of. She is highly skilled and can tackle a variety of issues--including handling a contested misdemeanor case with very little advance notice. She works diligently for her clients to receive the best possible outcome."
Family Attorney | May 03
Relationship: Co-worker
"Ms. Collins is a knowledgeable and capable advocate. Her experience and knowledge of the law leads to excellent results for her clients. She knows the local court procedures and rules extremely well. I give her my highest endorsement."
Family Attorney | May 03
Relationship: Co-worker
"Sarah Collins is a knowledgeable attorney and caring advocate for her clients. She is well-versed in the law and procedure, and is meticulous in analyzing her cases. I give Ms. Collins my highest endorsement."
Family Attorney | May 03
Relationship: Co-worker
"Ms. Collins is knowledgeable and zealous advocate for her clients. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking an aggressive family law attorney."
Divorce and separation Attorney | May 03
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse Ms. Collins. She is focused, determined and dedicated to achieving the best results for her clients."
Family Attorney | May 03
Relationship: Co-worker
"Ms. Collins is a knowledgeable and compassionate advocate for her clients."
Divorce and separation Attorney | May 03
Relationship: Co-worker
"I wholeheartedly endorse Ms. Collins. She cares deeply about her clients and is zealous in her representation. She also has an excellent knowledge of the law and local rules."
Family Attorney | May 01
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Ms. Collins is a passionate attorney who cares about her client's needs. She works hard to provide dilligent and skillful representation. I recommend Ms. Collins as a fellow attorney in our community."
Unknown Attorney | Apr 25
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Sarah is an excellent attorney. She fights for her clients' rights and is highly respected within the legal community. I endorse this lawyer."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Apr 25
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I base this endorsement on the consistent, high quality guidance that Attorney Collins has provided as a member of the AVVO community. She would be a fantastic choice for people looking for legal help in Prince William County."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Apr 22
Relationship: Friend
"Sarah Collins is dedicated to achieving the best possible result for each and every one of her clients."
Family Attorney | Apr 22
Relationship: Co-worker
"I highly endorse Ms. Collins. She is an exceptional family law attorney, especially in the areas of divorce and custody. Ms. Collins is a dedicated attorney and works extremely hard for her clients."
Family Attorney | Apr 12
Relationship: Other
"Ms. Collins provides excellent and thoughtful responses to the inquiries that are posted on AVVO. She is clearly knowledgeable and I would recommend that anyone looking for an Family Law attorney in her area to contact her for a consultation."
Family Attorney | Apr 07
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer. Sarah Collins is an excellent attorney with solid experience and a proven track record of successfully representing her family law clients."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Apr 02
Relationship: Supervised lawyer
"Sarah Collins is a skilled and dedicated family law attorney. I highly recommend Sarah to anyone facing a divorce or custody battle in Prince William County or Northern Virginia."
View more endorsements
Divorce and separation
Divorce and separation
Divorce and separation
Criminal defense
Criminal defense
Divorce and separation
Manassas Divorce and separation Lawyer Sarah Catherine Collins
Sarah Catherine Collins
Divorce and separation Attorney
Manassas, VA
Licensed for 9 years