Charles E. Powers
Attorney at Law
Shareholder
- P (804) 545-9935
- F (804) 545-9805
- cpowers@familylawrva.com
Areas of Practice
- Adoption
- Child Custody, Visitation & Support
- Complex Property Division
- Divorce
- Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
- Spousal Support
loading ...
loading ...
loading ...
Chuck Powers has devoted his entire career to the practice of family law. Mr. Powers was recently named Richmond “Lawyer of the Year” in Family Law for 2025, a recognition he also earned in 2017, 2020 and 2023. Earlier this year, Mr. Powers was awarded the 2024 Family Law Service Award by the Virginia State Bar, an award given to someone “who has consistently given freely of time, talent and energies to provide valuable services in advancing family, domestic relations or juvenile law in Virginia”. He was also recently recognized as a Newsmaker of the Year by Virginia Lawyers Weekly, a recognition given to attorneys who handled significant or newsworthy cases in 2023.
Mr. Powers is a past chair of the Board of Governors for the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and has served as president of the Metro Richmond Family Law Bar Association.
Mr. Powers has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America® since 2010 and has also been named to Virginia Super Lawyers® since 2006 and was named to the 2024 Top 100 Virginia Super Lawyers® and Top 50 Richmond Super Lawyers® and holds Martindale-Hubbell’s highest (AV Preeminent) rating.
Mr. Powers has presented numerous seminars to bar associations and other professional groups and has been appointed by local courts to serve as a Commissioner in Chancery and Judge Pro Tempore. He is one of the original partners of Stiles Ewing Powers PC, initially forming Batzli Wood PC in October 2004. He and his wife reside in Richmond’s historic Church Hill.
Bar Admissions
- Virginia
- Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia
- Virginia Supreme Court
- U.S. Supreme Court
Past Employment Positions
- Barnes & Batzli, P.C., Shareholder/Director, 2003 – 2004
- Barnes & Batzli, P.C., Senior Associate, 1993 – 2003
- Charles E. Powers, Private Practice, 1992 – 1993
- Hon. John F. Daffron, Jr., Chesterfield Circuit Court, Law Clerk, 1990 – 1992
- Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, Intern, 1988 – 1990
Classes/Seminars Taught
- Speaker, Virginia Appellate Law for the Trial Practitioner, Fairfax Bar Association, 2020
- Speaker, Valuation During Uncertain Times, Virginia Society of CPAs, 2020
- Speaker, When and How to Use Forensic Psychological Evaluations: A Lawyer’s Perspective, Virginia State Bar Annual Family Law Seminar, 2018
- Speaker, Passport to International Custody Issues, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2016
- Moderator, Advanced Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia State Bar – 2016
- Moderator, Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia State Bar, 2009 – 2014
- Speaker, Are the ‘New’ Rules of Evidence Really New?, Virginia State Bar Annual Family Law Seminar, 2012
- Moderator, Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2004, 2007-2008
- Speaker, Whatever Happened to Rehabilitative Alimony?, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2006
- Speaker, Anatomy of a Property Settlement Agreement, Virginia State Bar, 2005
- Speaker, Family Law for New Lawyers, Virginia State Bar, 2005 – 2006
- Speaker, Trying Family Law Cases in a Limited Time, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2005
- Speaker, Separation and Divorce in Virginia: An Overview of Its Financial Considerations, Virginia Society of Enrolled Agents, 2005
- Speaker, Local Guidelines, Metro Richmond Family Law Bar Association, 2004
- Speaker, Change of Circumstance: A View From the Bench, Metro Richmond Family Law Bar Association, 2003
Education
- J.D. – The College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law, Williamsburg, Virginia, 1990
- B.S. – Suffolk University, Boston, Massachusetts, 1987, Honors: Cum Laude
Published Works
- Obergefell v. Hodges: Seismic Shift or Business as Usual? Virginia Lawyer, August, 2015
- Jurisdiction: The Word of Too Many Meanings, Virginia Lawyer, February , 2012
- Nemo Tenetur Seipsum Accusare, Comments on the Fifth Amendment and its Use in Family Law Cases, Virginia Lawyer, February, 2002
Honors & Awards
- Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2003 – present
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America®, 2010 – present
- Named Best Lawyers® 2020 Richmond Lawyer of the Year in Family Law
- Named Best Lawyers® 2017 Richmond Lawyer of the Year in Family Law
- Listed in Virginia Super Lawyers®, 2006 – present
- Named to the list of 2015 Top 100 Virginia Super Lawyers® and Top 50 Richmond Super Lawyers®
- Virginia Business “Legal Elite”, 2018
Professional Associations & Memberships
- Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section, – Member (Board of Governors, 2010-2017; Chair, 2015-2016)
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Fellow
- Metro Richmond Family Bar Association – Member (President, 2002-2003)
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association – Member
- Chesterfield County Bar Association – Member
- Henrico County Bar Association – Member
- Richmond Bar Association – Member
- Judge Pro Tempore, 2003-Present
- Commissioner-in-Chancery, 2001-Present
