Divorce
Contested and uncontested divorce, property division, spousal support, separation, and the agreements around them, explained under Virginia law.
Learn more About the firm
About Smith | Ashcraft
Smith | Ashcraft is a family law firm serving Metro Richmond and Central Virginia. Jacob Smith and Drew Ashcraft personally lead every case alongside their lead paralegal, Christy Adams, so the people you meet are the people preparing your case and standing with you in court, not a name on the door.
We respond the same business day. Real people, real answers, and a team that treats your case like it matters, because it does.
4.9 / 40+ Google reviews
Midlothian, Virginia
Same-day response
Who we are
A Virginia family law firm, focused on families
Smith | Ashcraft was built around a simple idea: family law is hard enough without feeling like a case number. We handle one kind of work, we do it for people across Metro Richmond and Central Virginia, and we do it with care, clarity, and compassion.
Between them, Jacob Smith and Drew Ashcraft bring more than 15 years of combined Virginia family law experience, and their lead paralegal, Christy Adams, adds more than 30 years of her own. That depth matters when your case involves the things that matter most, your children, your home, your finances, and your future. When you call, you are not routed through a chain of associates you will never meet again. Jacob and Drew personally lead every case alongside their paralegal, from the first conversation to the final order.
We focus exclusively on family law: divorce, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, property division, protective orders, adoption, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, legal separation, and post-decree modifications. Concentrating on this one area is deliberate. It means the attorney reviewing your case has stood in these Virginia courtrooms many times before and knows how local judges and clerks actually work.
How we work with you
We believe in honesty over easy answers. Sometimes that means telling a client a hard truth about what the law allows or what a realistic outcome looks like. We would rather you hear it from us early than be surprised later. Our job is to give you clear guidance, a steady hand, and a plan you understand.
On billing, we keep things straightforward. Smith | Ashcraft works on transparent hourly rates and is clear with you about the initial retainer from the start. Because family law is unpredictable, we do not pretend a case can be reduced to a single flat number, but we do offer flexible payment options, including Affirm financing, and payment plans for divorce matters with sufficient assets. Consultations are paid, which means the time you spend with us is real, case-specific legal guidance rather than a sales pitch.
The best first step is a callback. Tell us a little about your situation using the form on this page, and a member of our team will reach out the same business day. We will listen, explain how we can help, and be honest about what working together would look like.
Managing Partner
Jacob E. Smith
Attorney and Managing Partner, Smith | Ashcraft. Practicing law since 2012.
Jacob E. Smith is the Managing Partner of Smith | Ashcraft, where he focuses his practice on family law. He has practiced law since 2012 and has represented clients in courtrooms across Virginia, covering matters in nearly every county in the Commonwealth and serving well over a thousand clients along the way.
Jacob spent his early years in Utah before his family moved to Virginia, where he finished middle and high school. He earned his bachelor's degree in Philosophy, with a focus on political philosophy and ethics, from Southern Virginia University, and went on to receive his Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. He practiced for several years in Utah before returning to Virginia, where he has built the last decade of his career.
Clients describe Jacob as steady and straightforward. He believes the most important thing a family lawyer can offer is care, clarity, and compassion, and that sometimes the most caring thing to do is tell a client a difficult truth rather than an easy one. He sees his work as helping families move through some of the hardest moments of their lives and come out the other side with a foundation to rebuild on.
"My job is to give people clarity when everything feels uncertain. That means being honest, even when the honest answer is hard, and staying in their corner the whole way through."
- Role Managing Partner
- Practicing since 2012
- Law school Capital University Law School
- Undergraduate Southern Virginia University, B.A. Philosophy
Partner
Drew Ashcraft
Attorney and Partner, Smith | Ashcraft. Licensed in Virginia since 2022.
Drew Ashcraft is a Partner at Smith | Ashcraft and has spent thousands of hours in the courtroom representing clients through some of the most significant challenges of their lives. Licensed in Virginia since 2022, he brings a steady, detail-driven approach to family law, from divorce and custody to child support and the agreements that surround them.
Drew earned his bachelor's degree in Commercial Business Administration from the University of Alabama, then went on to law school at Ohio Northern University's Claude W. Pettit College of Law. Before completing his Juris Doctor, he interned with the United States Tax Court and worked as a student-practitioner with the Hancock County, Ohio, Public Defender's Office, experiences that sharpened both his research and his courtroom instincts.
What clients notice most is that Drew pairs that courtroom experience with genuine empathy. He believes people going through a family law matter deserve a fierce advocate with both the experience and the unwavering commitment their case demands, and he holds himself to exactly that standard on every file he touches.
"People come to us at a vulnerable moment. They deserve someone who will do the work, sweat the details, and fight for them without ever losing sight of the human being behind the case."
- Role Partner
- Licensed in Virginia Since 2022
- Law school Ohio Northern University, Claude W. Pettit College of Law
- Undergraduate University of Alabama, B.B.A.
Lead Paralegal
Christy Adams
Lead Paralegal, Smith | Ashcraft. More than 30 years of legal experience.
Christy Adams is the Lead Paralegal at Smith | Ashcraft and one of the first people many of our clients come to know. A lifelong resident of the tri-cities area who grew up in Matoaca, she holds a bachelor's degree in Government from William & Mary and has spent more than 30 years working exclusively as a paralegal.
Christy specializes in case preparation, document management, and client communication, the behind-the-scenes work that keeps a case organized, on schedule, and moving forward. Her knowledge, her experience, and her customer service make her a favorite with the clients she works with, who often remember her steady reassurance as much as the outcome of their case.
"Behind every successful case is a foundation of meticulous preparation and unwavering support. My role is to ensure no detail is overlooked, so our clients feel confident and cared for every step of the way."
Away from the office, Christy is the proud mom of three adult children and two Labrador retrievers. She loves fitness, music, and a good book, her favorite is Pride & Prejudice , and she is happiest with an iced coffee in hand.
- Role Lead Paralegal
- Experience 30+ years as a paralegal
- Undergraduate William & Mary, B.A. Government
- Focus Case preparation, documents, client care
What sets us apart
Why families across Central Virginia choose us
A boutique family law firm means you get senior attention, honest counsel, and a team that knows your name. Here is what that looks like in practice.
01
Partners lead your case
Jacob and Drew personally lead every matter alongside Christy. You will not be handed off to a rotating cast of associates you never met at the consultation.
02
Family law is all we do
We focus exclusively on Virginia family law, so the people handling your case are in these courtrooms constantly and know how the local process really works.
03
Honest, clear guidance
We tell you what the law actually allows and what a realistic outcome looks like, early and plainly, so there are no surprises down the road.
04
Straightforward billing
Transparent hourly rates, a clear conversation about the retainer up front, and flexible payment options including Affirm financing and payment plans.
How we help
Explore our practice areas
Whatever brought you here, there is likely a page that speaks directly to it. Start with the area closest to your situation.
Common questions
About Smith | Ashcraft
Smith | Ashcraft is led by two attorneys: Jacob E. Smith, the Managing Partner, who has practiced law since 2012, and Drew Ashcraft, a Partner licensed in Virginia since 2022. They are supported by Lead Paralegal Christy Adams, who brings more than 30 years of legal experience.
Jacob and Drew personally lead every case alongside their paralegal, so the people you meet are the people handling your matter from the first call to the final order.
The firm's office is at 1231 Alverser Drive, Midlothian, VA 23113. Smith | Ashcraft serves families across Metro Richmond and Central Virginia, including Chesterfield, Henrico, and Hanover, and the surrounding counties.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and you can call or text the team at (804) 773-1751.
Smith | Ashcraft focuses exclusively on family law. That includes divorce, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, property division, protective orders, adoption, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, legal separation, and post-decree modifications.
Concentrating on family law is a deliberate choice, so that every case is handled by attorneys who do this work day in and day out.
No. Smith | Ashcraft uses a paid consultation model, which lets the attorneys give you real, case-specific guidance rather than a sales pitch.
The best first step is to request a callback through the form on this site. The team responds the same business day, learns about your situation, and explains how the firm can help and what working together would look like.
The firm works on transparent hourly rates and is clear with you about the initial retainer up front. Family law is unpredictable, so rather than promise a single flat number, Smith | Ashcraft keeps its billing practices straightforward.
Flexible payment options are available, including Affirm financing and payment plans for divorce matters with sufficient assets. You will always understand how the firm charges before you commit.
Let's talk about your situation.
Tell us a little about what is going on and a member of our team will reach out within one business day. Everything you share is confidential, and there is no obligation. If a court date or a filing deadline is involved, please let us know.
Prefer to talk it through right now? Call or text us and we will point you in the right direction.
Thanks. We've got it.
A member of our team will reach out within one business day. If your matter is time-sensitive or you have a court date coming up, please call (804) 773-1751 .
Visit us
Serving Metro Richmond and Central Virginia.
Call or Text
Hours
Monday to Friday
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
