The laws are changing beginning July 1 – so, though my answer to this question up until now would have been one thing, now it is different. Let’s talk about it! In Virginia, we have both fault and no fault divorce. (At least for now – the Virginia Family Law Coalition is looking into this...
When can I file for divorce?
Coming up with a parenting plan isn’t just about how you’ll share the days in each week, though it is certainly about how you’ll share the days in the week. To make matters even more complicated, there are many other considerations that should be reflected in your parenting plan, and you’ll want to make sure...
In the wake of the murder of Cerina Fairfax, I’ve been talking a lot about the state of Virginia law – including the new updates on July 1, 2026 that allow separating couples to immediately get a “divorce” from bed and board – including separation under the same roof. There have been a number of...
The murder of Cerina Fairfax – who was in the midst of a divorce in Northern Virginia at the time that her husband, a former Virginia lieutenant governor, killed her and then himself in the family home while the children were home – has made waves over the last few months, sparking renewed attention on...
Question: My husband and I are separating. He’s verbally and emotionally abusive, and I can’t take it anymore. After I told him it was over, he told me he was going to leave the apartment we’re renting and I’d have to “figure it out.” I’ve been a stay at home mom and he knows I...
We definitely get a lot of questions about our decision to represent women only and, because it’s unusual, we get it! One of the first questions we get – often when a man inadvertently calls our office – is “Isn’t that discrimination?” What they mean isn’t to really ask whether it is discrimination; by definition,...
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...
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...