A Virginia divorce, or dissolution of marriage, can be filed in the state of Virginia by either spouse to end the marital relationship. Upon completion of a Virginia divorce, the parties are restored back to single status. The court will also issue any necessary orders for child support and custody, alimony (spousal support) and the division of marital and separate assets and debts.
Alternatives to Divorce in Virginia
A legal separation is not the same as a divorce in Virginia. A legal separation is when two people live separate and apart but remain legally married to one another. The grounds for legal separation are:(1) cruelty; (2) willful desertion; (3) abandonment; and (4) reasonable apprehension of bodily injury. In order to file for legal separation, one of the spouses must have been a resident of Virginia for at least 6 months prior to filing.
Generally, an annulment is not the same as a divorce in Virginia. An annulment is a procedure sought in order to nullify the marriage and disavow its existence, returning the parties to their prior single status, as if they never married.
