After our 6 months of separation, I believe that my ex got pregnant. I was unaware of this and our divorce was finalized by the judge in April. How long do I have to appeal or is it not possible since it has been 30 days since the final decree.
Orders are final after 21 days. Rule 1:1(a).
Appeals must be filed within 30 days. Rule 5A:6(a).
If we can't just say something along the lines of: "everything is divided the way we want, we are and will remain happy with this agreement." would a judge just throw that out when it came time to file the divorce? For context, currently she is a student with no income and upon... Read more »
A lawyer cannot represent both parties in preparing a separation agreement. Either spouse can agree to separate, live separate lives as if unmarried, and waive or give up their rights against the other in a written separation agreement. The court will look out for the rights of minor children,... Read more »
Awarded retirement back pay
In a divorce in Virginia, an award for distribution of part of an ERISA retirement plan should be evidenced by a separate Qualified Domestic Relations Order, or, if not an ERISA plan, by a Domestic Relations Order. The QDRO must be approved by the plan administrator, who then separates a portion... Read more »
If we think the right thing to do is sell the house and divide the sale money, can we put up the house on sale after signing the separation agreement? However, if we decide to do one spouse buyout, does the price of buyout will be determined on the day of divorce?
With the cooperation of his or her spouse, a married person can sell his or her house whenever he or she chooses to do so. If the sale is part of the dissolution of the marriage, it would usually be to the advantage of that spouse to have a comprehensive written separation agreement addressing all... Read more »
Divorce agreement aligned with VA child support law, in which child support ends at 19 or completion of high school which ever comes first. Child graduates this May and the custodial parent is expecting continued child support through college. Can I end child support, and am I responsible to pay... Read more »
A parent has a legal obligation to support his or her minor children until age 18, or until 19 if the child is still living in the home of the custodial parent and has not yet graduated high school. A parent has no legal obligation to support an adult child above age 18 or 19 unless he or she... Read more »
Yes.
Va. Code § 20-121.02. Decree of divorce without amended bill or amended cross-bill.
In any divorce suit wherein a bill of complaint or cross-bill prays for a divorce from the bonds of matrimony under § 20-91 or prays for a divorce from bed and board under § 20-95, at such... Read more »
It’s almost been 1 year and I was ready to file in VA but I’m reading MD is better for child support. Is this correct?
Your choice of court is not determined by gained benefit but rather jurisdiction.
If you live in Va for six months, you can file for divorce only, i.e., terminate the marriage, but nothing more.
If you want to do property, financial, money matters, etc., you need personal... Read more »
I grew up in the home in question and per our separation agreement I got sole rights to this property once divorce was final now 2 years later, I have since remodeled and out grew my home so do I need to consult with my ex husband to sell or is my signed document that’s notarized enough to sell... Read more »
First, your question assumes that the home was in both of your names. If so, usually the Property Settlement Agreement (PSA) will say that one spouse to convey title to the other. If that has not happened, then your ex husband may still be on the deed and he may be needed to sign documents. So, I... Read more »
I would like to know what course of action I have to make sure that she doesn’t get like 50% of our joint marital property while also having full inheritance of her parents bank cash. Can that nomination be used to help reduce our martial property distribution?
There are several issues to be addressed in your question. First of all, there is no presumptive 50-50% split of marital property in equitable distribution in Virginia. In fact, in published opinions, the Court of Appeals has repeatedly corrected a number of lawyers and trial judges who believe... Read more »
Filed for divorce in Chesapeake in '96. In '97, I was stationed overseas, and flew back for the divorce hearing. My spouse did not respond to anything about the hearing, but had a lawyer call in to ask for a continuance. Judge did not grant delay since I was able to make it and was active... Read more »
It depends upon what the final order of divorce says. It is possible, but highly unlikely that the court ordered the marriage be terminated but then ordered that matters of equitable distribution, support, etc. are left open indefinitely.
Va. Code 20-107.3 provides for divorce and property... Read more »
The answer depends on who the "we" is that broke up. If the intended groom terminated the engagement, the intended bride keeps the gift. If it was the intended bride terminated the engagement, or the engagement was terminated by mutual decision, the gift should be returned to the groom.
Had property before marriage, added wife to deed but she’s not on the mortgage loan . I pay all the bills, gas , lights, water, HOA FEES, cellphone etc etc. what happens when we get divorced????
"f. When separate property is retitled in the joint names of the parties, the retitled property shall be deemed transmuted to marital property. However, to the extent the property is retraceable by a preponderance of the evidence and was not a gift, the retitled property shall retain its... Read more »
We have no children or property or joint debt, we arrived in July 16 and she left me in oct 16. She left Va some time later in early 17. I have no real idea of her current location
You file a complaint for divorce to seek a divorce. If you separated in October 2016, you have been separated for more than a one year, so you can file on that basis.
If her whereabouts are truly unknown, and you have exhausted reasonable efforts to locate her, you can serve her by... Read more »
An award of a part of a spouse's 401K plan in a divorce case is transferred with a separate court order known as a Qualified Domestic Relations Order or QDRO. The award should also appear in the Final Decree. The QDRO must be signed by the judge and approved by the plan administrator. As... Read more »
He has since moved out of state and has had no contact. How can I let the courts know that he has no intention of going through with the divorce proceedings? I want to start the process myself.
Many lawyers advise their clients to file an Answer and Counterclaim for the very reasons illustrated by your situation. A defendant spouse can file a motion for leave of court to file a late answer and counterclaim due to the failure to prosecute the case by the plaintiff. You would do much... Read more »
My ex and I divorced 6 years ago. We had a jointly titled exotic car. In our divorce decree, my ex was supposed to pay me for my share of the car before he could retitle it into his name alone. He made a few payments then stopped. He subsequently died and now the executor of his estate is... Read more »
Your question does not match your description of the legal problem. Joint property with a right of survivorship will pass to the survivor upon the death of a co-owner. In Virginia, divorce severs survivorship rights between spouses. The estate would now include your deceased ex-husband's... Read more »
My husband and I have been married for 20+ years. We have two children in college and I have covered all household / educational / vacation, etc. expenses for 13+ years. We own a house and a condo. His brother lives in our condo, but I would like to propose that my husband gets our 1 bedroom... Read more »
It’s not as simple as that. Virginia is an equitable distribution state, which does not mean “equal” distribution necessarily. The courts look at a series of factors (really just predetermined categories of evidence) in order to determine what division of assets and debts would be... Read more »
Jan 24 will be a year since we separated but our daughter was born in October. We both agree that we are never getting back together
The required separation agreement for a no fault divorce in Virginia is one year from the date of separation, with at least one of the parties intending for the separation to be permanent, and maintaining that intent continuously for the period of separation. If the parties have no minor children... Read more »
we have been legally separated for 3 years. The complaint was filed in 2017 and the case is still active. My ex's attorney is demanding that I give him my SSN in order to file an affidavit to submit to the court. I don't think that I need to provide this confidential information.
The spouses's social security numbers appear on at least two forms in a divorce in Virginia, the VS-4 form for Vital Statistics and a Confidential Addendum for identification purposes. The Confidential Addendum is sealed and confidential in the case file, so members of the public cannot view... Read more »
Neither representing attorneys or judge adhered to the Federal Military Spouse Protection Act regarding community property. I would of been under the 1982 rules. I did not know about this federal act at the time.
Your question contains a mixture of somewhat complex issues and illustrates a conflict between federal and state law. The first issue is preemption. Preemption occurs when exclusive federal jurisdiction and law on specific areas of law prevent action under state jurisdiction and laws, for... Read more »
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
