It’s harder to get a “fault-based” divorce, since the fault grounds are very limited, have to be proved, and will usually be contested by your spouse.
On the other hand, to get a “no-fault” divorce in Virginia, you only need to prove:
Court procedures in the Circuit Court are complicated - even in no fault divorces - so most people hire attorneys to assist them.
However, in certain situations, you may be able to file for a divorce successfully on your own - without an attorney representing you. This is particularly important for folks with low incomes, who really can’t afford to hire an attorney.
We have designed an online interview to see if your circumstances might be appropriate for filing for a divorce without an attorney.
You can read more about the interview and find other resources on divorce below. You may also want to call your local legal aid office to see if you qualify for free legal help.