Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
A Beacon of Legal Advocacy and Family Justice Reform
A Beacon of Legal Advocacy and Family Justice Reform
Timothy (Tim) P. Halpin, Esq., stands as the Secretary and Chief Legal Officer for National Family Justice (NFJ), channeling over 26 years of exceptional legal experience and heartfelt public service into the organization’s noble mission. A retired U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General (JAG) attorney and a licensed attorney in Virginia for more than two decades, Tim embodies a steadfast dedication to justice, advocacy, and transformative family law reform.
Legal Expertise and Visionary Leadership: Tim's extensive legal background covers a broad spectrum, including juvenile domestic relations, child custody, child support, bankruptcy, and criminal defense. This diverse expertise equips him to navigate and address the intricate challenges families encounter within the legal system. Most recently, he concluded his tenure as an Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia, focusing on child support enforcement, an area crucial to NFJ's mission of fostering equitable outcomes for families.
Additionally, Tim continues to enrich his community as a part-time advocate with the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, where he tackles cases involving juvenile domestic relations. His hands-on experience in these fields provides invaluable insights into the systemic hurdles families face within courtrooms across the nation.
Distinguished Military Service: Before embarking on his legal journey, Tim served with distinction as an Electronic Warfare Officer in the United States Air Force. During Operation Desert Storm, he completed 27 combat missions in a B-52 bomber, demonstrating extraordinary leadership under duress and an unwavering commitment to his duty. This military background has not only shaped his disciplined approach to problem-solving but has also deepened his understanding of the unique challenges military families endure that significantly enhance his advocacy efforts at NFJ.
As a retired JAG officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, Tim has steadfastly upheld the principles of justice and fairness throughout his career. His military service underscores his profound dedication to safeguarding constitutional rights and ensuring that all individuals receive equitable treatment.
Personal Insight and Passionate Advocacy: As a divorced father of four and a proud grandfather of three, Tim brings rich personal insight into the complexities surrounding family court proceedings. His firsthand experiences with custody disputes and child support challenges ignite his fervor for reforming a system that often leaves families feeling unheard and marginalized. This unique perspective allows him to resonate deeply with NFJ's mission, bridging professional expertise and personal experience. Driven by a commitment to place children's best interests at the forefront while defending parental rights, Tim ensures that families are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect. His dual perspective—as both an attorney and a parent—places him in a powerful position to advocate for meaningful systemic change.
Dedication to Justice and Inspired Reform: With a career firmly anchored in justice and a heart devoted to service, Timothy Halpin stands as an indispensable leader within NFJ. His legal prowess, disciplined military background, and unwavering passion for family advocacy fortify NFJ's tireless efforts to protect children, uphold parental rights, and champion constitutional protections within family courts across the nation.
Tim compellingly asserts that "justice begins at home," embodying his belief that equitable family court systems are essential to cultivating stronger communities. Through his vision and leadership at NFJ, he tirelessly pursues a more just and compassionate future for families throughout America.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Helping families understand their rights, options, and next steps
We support families navigating high-conflict custody, family court, and legal system abuse. Our services include education, advocacy, professional training, and support for families facing issues like violations of rights, coercive control, domestic violence, and parental alienation. We also file amicus briefs in landmark cases affecting parental rights.
No, we are not a law firm and do not provide legal representation or advice. However, we offer tools, education, document review, and strategic support to empower families and pro se litigants. We can also help you find trauma-informed legal professionals in your area.
Yes. We specialize in supporting pro se (self-represented) parents with tools and reasources to help you advocate for yourself in court. We also provide referrals to vetted professionals.
Absolutely. We recognize the difference between true “high conflict” and post-separation abuse. We help parents identify patterns of coercive control, gather documentation, and protect their children while advocating for safety in court.
We support 50/50 shared parenting as the default in the absence of abuse, supported by child development research and constitutional equal protection. We also advocate for safe exceptions when domestic violence, abuse, or coercive control is present.
An amicus brief (friend of the court brief) is a legal document we submit to offer expertise or insight in cases with broad impact. We use them to advocate for parental rights, equal custody, and protections for children in courts across the U.S.
Yes. We assist military-connected families by ensuring custody orders respect deployment obligations, federal protections like the SCRA and UDPCVA, and parent-child bonding despite service duties.
Yes. We review CPS reports, GAL conduct, parenting coordinator conduct, custody evaluations, and risk assessments for ethical violations. We also provide documentation support and can help elevate concerns when due process is denied.
You can support our mission by volunteering, donating, or joining our parent-to-parent mentorship program. We also welcome professionals who want to advocate for reform or provide trauma-informed services.
Use our contact form or email us directly at [email protected]. Please provide a short summary of your situation and what kind of support you’re seeking. A team member will follow up within 3–5 business days.
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