Divorce Resources & Guides

There is no simple path to full custody in Virginia. Learn what the law actually requires, when courts award sole custody, and how the process works step by step.

I have been practicing law in Virginia since 1996. Since 2000, I’ve focused my practice solely on family law—including divorce, custody, visitation and support.I have always found a great deal of satisfaction in working with my clients to help create some stability for their family during what can be a confusing, difficult time. However, before opening Evolution Divorce & Family Law, PLLC (“Evolution Divorce”), something about my work didn’t feel quite right.

Learn what affects the cost of divorce in Richmond, VA, and how transparent pricing options can reduce surprises and provide clearer expectations.

Explore the impact of divorce on your professional life. Discover insights from HR expert Jennifer Stern and employment law attorney Douglas Burtch as they delve into how personal relationships can affect your career. From recognizing changes in work behavior to offering support and navigating legal protections, this article provides valuable advice for employees and business owners alike. Learn how to maintain a healthy work-life balance during challenging times and ensure your career remains on track.

When clients ask about “divorce,” I often think there is much more to a “divorce case” than getting divorced. Yes, there will be a time when a Judge signs a divorce decree and you are no longer married, but before we can do that, let’s consider other things that need to be resolved. For example, what about the division of your property and debts?

Whether or not to send a minor child to private school instead of public school can be a particularly challenging issue to navigate when parents are separated or going through a divorce. While it is clearly better when separated parents can reach an agreement on this issue – and many can – when they can’t, a Judge may need to make the decision.

Watching the marriage of Charles and Diana on television all those years ago, I would have never thought that the "fairy tale" wedding would eventually set the stage for a fairly accurate portrayal of the divorce process, provided by none other than a British Prime Minister.Well, by an actor playing a Prime Minister on Netflix.The historical drama's accuracy will no doubt be debated for a long time to come. But the storyline of the episode named "Couple 31" in Season 5 of "The Crown" on Netflix provides several opportunities to consider important aspects of resolving a divorce, "royal" and otherwise.

“When is the last time you had sex with your husband and how much is in your 401(k)?”Each of those questions can be very relevant in a divorce. The scope of the work is very broad. A very experienced divorce lawyer has seen and heard a lot of what goes on inside families and the very intimate relationships between married people. But we do have some limits on our expertise and often find ourselves reaching out to other professionals for some much-needed support and guidance.

What is the difference between a contested and an uncontested divorce? An uncontested divorce is one where both parties are in agreement about everything. A contested divorce means just that, one or both parties are contesting some issues that keep the divorce from being finalized.

A 2018 study conducted by OnePoll revealed that of the 3,500 dog owners surveyed, 86% would break up with their romantic partner if that romantic partner did not like their dog.

When clients ask about “divorce,” I often think there is much more to a “divorce case” than getting divorced. Yes, there will be a time when a judge signs a divorce decree and you are no longer married, but before we can do that, let’s consider some of other things that need to be resolved first.

Under Virginia law, there are two types of divorce cases, fault-based and so-called“no-fault” divorces. I use the phrase “so-called” because there is nothing in the Virginia Code that says “no-fault” -- rather, it says “living separate and apart,” but it is not usual to say “no-fault” regardless.

I wanted to get a no-fault divorce from an out-of-state spouse. I came across Chris through a search on Google. I had talked to about 7 or 8 lawyers already and was losing hope when Chris called to do our consultation.

When thinking about divorce, there are many questions that arise creating a considerable amount of stress and anxiety. At Evolution Divorce, it's our aim to help you get all your questions answered to help eliminate as much uncertainty as we can while you consider the possibility of divorce.We've compiled a list of frequent questions people ask when considering a divorce. Many of these answers pertain to anyone going through a divorce, but since we are located in Virginia, some of the answers pertain to our geographic location.

Child custody disputes between divorcing spouses are, unfortunately, something many people have at least heard about. From neighbors, family, and co-workers, you may have heard some of their “stories” about the mother who “did this” or the father who “did that.” You may have jumped right into the conversation and dished your own gossip about the couple, or you may have steered clear and stayed out of it completely. Worse yet, you may have memories of your own child custody dispute.

Untangling the details of a marriage and shared life can be complicated, and there are many issues to be addressed. First, it should be noted that there is no requirement that a spouse “file” for legal separation in Virginia. So, in Virginia what is legal separation?

I needed help with a property settlement agreement in order to complete my divorce. I had already worked with two attorneys and neither were a good fit for me and my situation.

I came to Chris in 2020 when I decided to get a divorce. Finding the right attorney to represent me was important, but I didn’t know where to start. I asked trusted co-workers who had been through similar experiences if they could recommend a lawyer, and one of them who’d gone through a terrible divorce recommended Chris. After calling and talking with him, I decided to let him represent me.

I have come to realize many people don’t know where to start when they first meet with a divorce lawyer. I normally begin my initial consultations with potential clients asking if they have specific questions they want answered or if they would rather I ask them some questions that will give me information on how best to help. The overwhelming majority reply with, “Go ahead and ask me questions. I really don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve never done this before.”

When there are disputed issues in a divorce that the parties cannot resolve on their own or with the aid of their attorneys through traditional negotiation, typically those issues are decided in court by a judge. However, there are two alternatives to going to court in a divorce – mediation and Collaborative Law – which may be helpful in resolving disagreements.

When the trust in his marriage was broken, Collin knew he needed a divorce attorney but didn’t know anything about the process. So he turned to the only place he knew where to get one: Google.

When is the Issue of Spousal/Child Support Addressed? In addition to custody and visitation, one of your earliest concerns in a divorce will likely be the issue of financial support for the dependent spouse and/or minor children of the marriage, both during and after the divorce proceeding. If the spouses cannot reach an agreement on this matter, spousal and child support will be determined and ordered by a court, usually in conjunction with issues relating to custody/visitation. 

Prepare effectively for your divorce attorney consultation. Our guide provides essential questions and considerations to make the most of your meeting.

Every marriage and thus every divorce is unique. Each is handled differently. However, there are some basic principles governing divorce in Virginia that apply to all cases that may be helpful for you to know.