Hampton Roads Divorce Lawyers Protect Spouses’ Interests
Firm has offices in Hampton, Newport News, Hayes, Chesapeake, Williamsburg, VA
A divorce is emotionally wrenching for all parties involved. However, by retaining the services of a skilled and experienced attorney, you can minimize the pain, stress and frustration typically associated with the dissolution of marriage. As professional divorce lawyers, we at Hunter Law Firm are proud to give you the respect and courtesy you deserve during this difficult time. Our lawyers will review your marital issues with you and explain the possible solutions. We always treat our clients as more than just cases. From offices in Hampton, Newport News, Chesapeake, Gloucester and Williamsburg, we explore every available option and tailor a strategy that meets your specific needs.
Understanding divorce in Virginia
Before filing, it is important that you attempt to determine if your divorce will be contested or uncontested. Uncontested divorce is the most common type of divorce, and the process is inexpensive and quick. A contested divorce, on the other hand, occurs if you and your spouse cannot agree on issues like providing child support, spousal support and the division of property and assets.
Whether you believe your divorce to be contested or uncontested, our family law attorneys are committed to giving you the highest level of legal service. In addition, we can explain the steps to divorce in Virginia, explain how a prenuptial agreement might affect property division or spousal support terms and properly advise you if you are divorcing in the military.
Dedicated attorneys advise on fault and no-fault divorce grounds
Our lawyers can detail how changes to Virginia’s divorce laws affect you and provide reliable guidance on the best marriage dissolution method in your case. For a no-fault divorce, you no longer need a corroborating witness to attest that you qualify under state law to have your marriage dissolved. Childless couples with a marital settlement agreement now only have to live apart for six months in order to obtain a divorce, while the waiting period for parents of minors is one year.
Should you opt to seek a fault-based divorce, the following grounds are available:
- Adultery — You can obtain a divorce by proving that your husband or wife had extramarital sexual relations. This can be complicated, so many parties opt for a no-fault dissolution even if they suspect their spouse had an affair.
- Cruelty — Physical mistreatment or threats that create a reasonable apprehension of harm can support a cruelty ground in a fault-based divorce proceeding.
- Desertion — If your spouse willfully leaves the marital home for at least one year without reconciliation, you have legal justification to terminate the marriage.
- Felony conviction — When one spouse is convicted of a felony following the marriage and sentenced to at least one year of imprisonment, the other spouse can obtain a divorce if they have not resumed cohabitation following the felon’s release.
In both fault and no-fault divorces, the petitioner must be a resident of Virginia for at least six months, and the parties may address the issues of division of property acquired during marriage, child and spousal support and child custody and visitation. If you choose the no-fault divorce option, our southeast Virginia divorce law firm can draft, negotiate and execute the separation agreement on your behalf.
Contact a skillful southeast Virginia divorce lawyer for a consultation
The lawyers at Hunter Law Firm are here to provide you with sound guidance for your divorce. To discuss your divorce or family law matter with one of our experienced lawyers, contact us online or call 757-825-0400 to visit us at one of our five locations. We have offices in Hampton, Chesapeake, Newport News, Gloucester and Williamsburg.
