Do it yourself divorce in virginia

No expensive lawyer fees, thousands of dollars of saved court costs, and a cheap divorce? Sign me up. Perhaps you feel the emotional relief of getting out of a longtime relationship … or maybe you just need to move on with your life. Those are usually best left to professional divorce attorneys with experience in family law.

A Guide to Filing for Divorce in Virginia

Considering starting with an online do-it-yourself separation agreement? Assuming the circumstances of your split are amenable as mentioned above, you and your estranged spouse must both come to terms on the dissolution of property, finances, and children. However, this guide can get you on track and help you learn what to expect. Are you really the person you want as your legal counsel?

It could cost you more in the long-run than hiring a lawyer! Not to be condescending in any way, but there are certain matters we must leave to professionals. Competent legal professionals are well-versed in the United States court systems and are paid to do the legwork for you and properly and fully represent you in a court of law.

Even further, a trained divorce lawyer will be familiar with family law in the city, county, and state in which you reside. Divorces are complicated enough. Coupled with the added tasks associated with the court system, getting experienced legal help is the ideal way to go if you want an ideal outcome. Be smart and choose the legal counsel you need to get what you deserve out of your divorce litigation. Also gather data about debts owed by either of you, separately or jointly. Spouses frequently have separate accounts to pay for specific types of expenses.

Try and gain information about the entire picture of family finances, so you can be prepared. Several new laws went into effect in that impact divorce and child custody. Educating yourself about them now can help with setting expectations and being updated on current law.

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Alimony, or spousal support, is typically awarded in long-term marriages and in situations where one spouse is earning, or has the potential to earn, a higher income than the other. For instance, if one spouse has been a stay-at-home parent and the other has a successful career, the working spouse may be required to pay alimony to the non-working spouse. A new federal law changed how alimony is taxed for both parties starting this year.

For agreements and divorces executed on or after January 1, alimony is no longer deductible for the payor spouse. And the receiving spouse no longer has to pay taxes on it.

How Long Does It Take to Finalize a Divorce in Virginia?

The divorcing parties may negotiate an alimony arrangement on their own, or the court may award alimony. Also this year, Virginia law changed how it treats alimony modifications.


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Another revision to Virginia law in acknowledged that retirement at the maximum social security age now 67 automatically creates a material change in circumstances that allows individuals to request modifications of spousal support. The largest increases will affect higher income families, but there will be decreases as well. For more information, please see New child support guidelines begin July 1. Also effective July 1, Virginia required courts to consider both sole and joint custody as options in divorce cases.

While courts have considered all custody options in the past, this addition to the law states that no particular form of custody is favored. This change could lead to more court-ordered shared parenting arrangements. How do you find a lawyer who is reputable?

Do it Yourself Divorce

Another indicator of a highly qualified family law attorney is fellowship with the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers AAML , which has extensive admissions standards. Obtaining a divorce without the help of an attorney may put you at risk of losing assets or access to your children, or the risk that you will make expensive and erroneous decisions based on your emotions rather than your legal rights.

Having the knowledge and expertise of a qualified attorney will lead to the best possible outcome for your future.


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Secrets are often revealed during the divorce process, and the sooner you raise issues, the more proactively you and your divorce attorney can deal with those issues. It is easy to get caught up in wanting to punish your spouse, or to become overly sentimental about what you want to keep in the divorce. The more level-headed you remain, the more quickly and easily you can resolve issues, and the less expensive your divorce will be.

The divorce lawyers at Nichols Zauzig can assist you in resolving issues with your spouse outside of court, saving you the hassle and expense of litigating every aspect of your divorce.

How Long is the Uncontested Divorce Process in Virginia?