×
Menu
Search

Divorce Lawyers Virginia Beach

Home/Divorce Lawyers Virginia Beach

Divorce Lawyers Virginia Beach

Divorce comes with its own unique difficulties and complications, and any one of these can derail your best intentions to move forward with a smooth divorce that causes as little stress as possible under the circumstances. This is a laudable plan, and a dedicated divorce lawyer in Virginia Beach can help you adhere to this goal as closely as possible. Additionally, better understanding the basics is a great place to start. 

First Requirements

Filing for divorce in the State of Virginia, there are some fairly specific residency requirements, including:

  • One of you must have been an actual resident of the state for at least six months.
  • In order to obtain a no-fault divorce, which the majority of Virginia divorces are, you and your spouse must have lived separately for at least one year prior to divorcing. If you have no minor children, however, and you have a separation agreement in place that addresses all necessary separation terms, this requirement is reduced to six months. 

Going to Court

It is not uncommon for divorcing couples to believe they’ll have to go to court in order to obtain a divorce, but the truth is you can obtain a divorce in Virginia without ever having to set foot in a courtroom. Ultimately, you and your divorcing spouse will need to find common ground in relation to all the following terms before your divorce can be finalized:

If any one of these terms stymies your ability to reach a consensus, you and your divorcing spouse – after availing yourself of all means of negotiation – will need to have the court step in and make the necessary decisions on your behalf, which does entail going to court. 

Matters that Tend to Complicate Divorce

No one would call divorce a simple matter, but there are certain factors that take things to the next level of complication, including:

  • Owning a business that is either separate or marital property can make the division of marital property far more complex and contentious. Keeping a business separate can be exceptionally difficult, and determining a business’s value for the purpose of divorce (and that you are both willing to sign off on) can feel like a Herculean effort.
  • Owning high assets can be a similarly complicating factor. 
  • Having one-sided financials (that your spouse controls, for example) can make the fair division of marital property slow going.
  • If your spouse is determined to make the divorce process as difficult and protracted as possible, it will be.  

Turn to an Experienced Divorce Lawyer in Virginia Beach

If your next chapter involves a divorce, the skilled divorce lawyers at Mahoney Richmond Thurston, PLLC, in Virginia Beach are committed to skillfully advocating for your parental and financial rights while pursuing divorce terms that align with your divorce goals. To learn more about how we can help you, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.