Legal Separation in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake
Understanding Separation in VA
The Law Firm of Stallings & Bischoff, P.C., helps clients who want to explore separation in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Hampton Roads as an alternative or precursor to divorce.
The term separation" is used to mean two different things in our Commonwealth how it applies to you varies depending on the specifics of your unique situation. Contact our offices to learn about what sort of separation is best for you.
Types of Virginia Beach Separation
Physical separation: When you live apart for a year or, if you have no children and a separation agreement, for six months you are physically separated and may use that physical separation as the precursor to a divorce. This is the only no-fault ground for divorce in Virginia. You don't need to document living apart in any special way one person establishes a separate household with the intention of permanent separation and, then, one of the spouses and a third-party witness testify to the same.
Separation agreements: Separation agreements are the contracts that settle the issues that a court might address during a divorce. Your separation agreement might outline who lives where, how certain property and debts are divided, how time is spent with children, who pays for the children, and anything else related to living apart. Your separation agreement does not have to cover all of these issues sometimes, a pendente lite hearing will determine these once you are in official divorce proceedings.
Our offices can assist you with the terms of separation, writing a separation agreement, or helping you arrange to present the testimony of your third-party witness after separation and during divorce.
