Melissa Suzanne Vanzile

Melissa Suzanne Vanzile

4.2
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 21 years

Marriage and prenuptials Lawyer at Richmond, VA
Practice Areas: Marriage & Prenuptials, Divorce & Separation, Child Custody, Child Support

Three Paragon, 6806 Paragon Place, Suite 110, Richmond, VA

About Melissa

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in Virginia for 21 years

State: Virginia

Acquired: 2004

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Barnes & Diehl, PC

Three Paragon, 6806 Paragon Place, Suite 110, Richmond, VA, 23230

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Melissa Suzanne Vanzile's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.2 /5.0

19 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (19) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 4 of 4 reviews | Family

Posted by anonymous | March 03, 2026 | Hired Attorney | Family

Mrs. VanZile is a fierce and steady advocate

I am incredibly grateful for Melissa VanZile's professionalism and dedication shown throughout my custody matter. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone in need of strong and strategic representation. I changed my representation from a different firm a few months before trial due to the ...prior attorney’s lack of responsiveness and forward movement in my case. I am extremely glad that I made that decision. From day one, Mrs. VanZile took my case seriously and invested the time to fully understand the facts and talk me through the perceived challenges I had as a father fighting to maintain 50/50 custody. In a high-conflict matter, her steady and professional approach made a significant difference. From start to finish, Mrs. VanZile was wonderful to work with and her expertise gave me confidence during a stressful time. I appreciate her commitment to ensuring that all of the details were handled thoroughly and with care. Mrs. VanZile is a fierce advocate. Working with her was absolutely the right move for me, and I remain deeply grateful for her dedication and skill that helped me walk away with what I wanted - maintaining 50/50 custody of my daughter.

Posted by Casey | September 21, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Family

Custody Case

Melissa was always professional with my case and gathered all information she needed to do an amazing job. She took the facts and presented it in a way that kept things classy and professional. She was always honest about the outcomes that could or could not happen and gave me the best possible repre...sentation I could receive. She definitely did an amazing job with my case and was driven to help me get what was fair for my situation and child. She thought of both sides and did not give me false hope on things that were not best for everyone in the situation. I would recommend her to anyone and will use her again in the future IF that becomes necessary.

Posted by Joe | February 29, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Family

One of the Best

I would highly recommend Melissa, always a professional, well prepared. Melissa had a great ability to advise on my case in a very difficult time in my life. Melissa was able to take the emotion out of the case, help me with my children and finalize a very fair settlement. I would recommend Meliss...a to anyone and will continue to utilize her services. In my 30 year career Melissa is one of the top attorney's I have had to work with.

Posted by Jeff | August 01, 2011 | Family

Spectacular Family Law Attorney in Richmond VA,

Melissa VanZile, and the Hall and Hall firm as a whole, are spectacular family law practicioners. I used them for a bitter divorce and custody battle that stretched out for more than a year. They fought very hard for my case, kept me well infomred, and were extrememly detail oriented and well prepare...d when we ended up in the courtroom. Melissa showed great compassion, extrememly good argument skills, and her paralegal, Katja Ross, was an incredible resource in keeping my case organized, keeping me up to date, and ensuring that all details of my case were handled. I highly recommend this firm to all of my friends and collegues--and my friends who have taken those referrals have been pelased as well. They were able to walk me through a very complex and contentious case and fought for a positive outcome for me and my children.

See All Client Reviews

Melissa Suzanne Vanzile's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Melissa
Nupur Sidhu Bal headshot
Nupur Bal

Unknown lawyer | May 05

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Harris Wayne Leiner headshot
Harris Leiner

Unknown lawyer | Feb 24

Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer."

James Hill Wilson Jr. headshot
James Wilson

Divorce and separation lawyer | Jan 31

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Melissa is a very thorough and knowledgeable divorce lawyer. She was well prepared and an effective advocate for her client as opposing counsel during a divorce trial we had."

Julie Marie Cillo headshot
Julie Cillo

Family lawyer | Jun 23

Relationship: Co-worker

"Melissa is a strong advocate for her clients in divorce, custody, support and property distribution matters. She possesses a vast knowledge of the law and issues plus tremendous skills as a litigator and negotiator. It is a privilege to practice with her at Hall and Hall."

View All Endorsements
Nupur Sidhu Bal headshot
Nupur Bal

Family lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2024

Influential Women in Law Award Recipient, Virginia Lawyer's Weekly

2023

Listed for Family Law, Best Lawyers in America

2023

Family Law Attorney, SuperLawyers

2018

Top 50 Women Attorneys in Virginia, SuperLawyers

2017

Listed in Best Lawyers in America for Family Law, Best Lawyers in America

2016

Leader in the Law, Virginia Lawyers Weekly

2016

Family Law Attorney, SuperLawyers Magazine

2015

Reader's Choice for Lawyers, Richmond Times-Dispatch

2015

Family Law Attorney, Super Lawyers Magazine

2014

Family Law Attorney, Super Lawyers

2014

Legal Elite-Family Law, Virginia Business Magazine

2013

Family Law Attorney, SuperLawyers

2012

Rising Star, Superlawyers

2011

Rising Star, SuperLawyers

2010

Young Lawyer, Legal Elite

Work Experience

2017 - Present

Shareholder/Attorney, Barnes & Diehl, PC

2013 - Present

Attorney, Barnes & Diehl, PC

2011 - 2013

Partner/Family Law Attorney, Hall and Hall, PLC

2004 - 2010

Family Law Attorney, Hall and Hall, PLC

Associations

Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section

Member

Richmond Bar Association, Family Law Section

Member

Henrico County Bar Association

Member

2016 - 2017

Metro Richmond Women's Bar Association

President

2012 - 2018

Innsbrook Rotary

Member

2011 - 2017

Metropolitan Richmond Women's Bar Association

Board Member

2009 - 2011

Metropolitan Women's Bar Association

Board Member, Co-Chair of Programs Committee

2009 - 2012

Metro Richmond Family Law Bar Association

Board Member, Chesterfield County Representative

2008 - 2010

St. Joseph's Villa Flagler Home

Board Member

2008 - 2010

Virginia Trial Lawyers Association

Member

Education

2004

University of Richmond, The T. C. Williams School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

2001

Mary Washington College

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2015

Richmond Legal Staff Association

Grandparent and Third Party Custody and Visitation

2014

Richmond Paralegal Association

Custody and Visitation

2014

Financial Planning Association of Central Virginia Chapter Meeting

Financial Planning in Divorce

2011

Virginia Trial Lawyer's Association, Seminar for Paralegals

Drafting Separation Agreements, The Who, What, Where, When and How

2011

Richmond Paralegal Association Spring Seminar

Child Custody and Visitation

2010

NBI Advanced Family Law Seminar

The Evolving Realm of Family Law-Non-Traditional Family Units

2009

National Business Institute Seminar

Child Custody and Visitation

Publications

2017

Virginia Lawyers Weekly Third Party Custody and Visitation

2010

NBI Advanced Family Law Seminar The Evolving Realm of Family Law-Non-Traditional Family Units

2009

NBI Child Custody and Visitation

2008

NBI Child Custody and Visitation

2007

Bench Bar Conference Relocation and Custody and Visitation

2006

Bench Bar Conference Changes to Child Support Deviation Factors

2005

Bench Bar Conference Cross Examination of Experts in Custody Cases

Languages

English

Avvo Rating

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