John Dooley, Esq.

Attorney Bio

John R. Dooley, Esq. is a litigation attorney in the Newport News, VA office of Melone Hatley, P.C. John’s practice includes family law, civil litigation, and estate planning, with experience in divorce, child custody, child support, visitation, adoption, separation agreements, wills, trusts, and probate. 

John has tried cases in Virginia’s Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts, Circuit Courts, and the Court of Appeals. His family law work includes contested and uncontested divorce, emergency custody, and pendente lite matters, show cause proceedings, adult and child adoptions, and the negotiation of separation agreements and settlement through judicial settlement conferences and mediation. On the estate planning side, John has drafted wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance medical directives, and HIPAA authorizations, advised clients on probate, and defended and litigated will challenges and estate disputes. He also has experience with military divorce retirement issues, prenuptial agreements, guardianship and conservatorship matters, and real property transfers. 

John earned his Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law, his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from James Madison University, and his Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts from Tidewater Community College. Before law school, John taught ninth-grade English and Senior Seminar at Heritage High School. 

John enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, baking, gardening, and playing music.