Divorce is a relatively common legal process that some couples choose to pursue in order to end the partners legal relationships. After a divorce two people who were once married under the law are returned to their single status and become free to marry other individuals. Getting a divorce in Virginia requires individuals to follow certain rules, and one of those rules involves satisfying the Commonwealth’s recognized grounds for divorce.
Both no-fault and fault grounds are recognized as bases to end marriages in Virginia. In order to pursue a no-fault divorce, the parties to the ending marriage must live separate and apart for a year with no periods of cohabitation during that time. Once they reach a year, they may file for divorce without claiming fault on the part of either party.
Virginia recognizes some divorce grounds based on fault, and those grounds include but are not limited to adultery, conviction of a felony, and cruelty. Use of a fault grounds for divorce may speed up the process in terms of when the divorce may be entered into and finalized, but not all individuals wish to present allegations of wrongdoing against their spouses in court. Knowing what grounds to use and how to begin the divorce process can be a good conversation for a person to have with their trusted family law and divorce attorney.
Even though divorces occur with some frequency, it is important to remember that every divorce will be different and the parties to divorces have their own needs, expectations, and circumstances to cope with. This post does not offer any legal advice. The path to divorce that an individual elects to follow should represent their interests and legal objectives.