As far as divorce is concerned, Virginia is a sort of tough state. We’re somewhat old fashioned in that we allow for both fault-based and no-fault based divorce; we also require a much longer period of legal separation compared to many other states nationwide. In order to finalize a divorce action in Virginia, you must...
Can I get divorced more quickly than 12 months?
There’s no good way to find out that your husband has cheated on you. Even if you don’t know – you only suspect – it’s a challenging time. You are trying to reconcile something horrible with the man that you thought you knew but, also, you’re trying to plan for what comes next. Can...
From the outset, let me be clear: you don’t need a reason to end your marriage. If you want a divorce, you can get one. No fault on either party’s part is required. That’s not to say, of course, that no fault exists. I don’t think anyone ends their marriage for no reason. But I...
Everyone, once they’ve decided their marriage is over, wants the marriage to be over as soon as possible. Absolutely no one enjoys lingering overlong in the awkward period in between separation and divorce. So, how do you get it done faster? It’s hard to get a fast divorce, especially in Virginia. Virginia is – as...
Most people want to avoid extensive litigation if at all possible. After all, it makes a case take longer, cost more, and (generally speaking) yield poorer results. Most people, after getting a couple bills from their attorney, will suddenly become much less litigious. Most people, of course, are fairly sensible. They’ll instead start to...
You’ve agonized over the decision for months – sometimes, even years. After reflection and prayer and therapy and everything else you could think of to try, you’re ready to move forward with your divorce. I’ve seen it so many times! The initial consultation is often filled with tears, but, by the end, the woman walks...
I find there’s often a lot of confusion about what it means to serve someone and at what point you have someone served in a divorce case. There’s so much confusion, and it’s really almost nearly universal, that I feel like service of process is something worthy of the devotion of an entire article. What...
You’re probably familiar with the idea that you have to separate from your husband before divorce – not just in Virginia, but in most places. Every state (and indeed every country!) handles this a little bit differently, and the required period of separation differs from one to the next. Sometimes, separation of longer duration is...