Virginia Beach divorce cases require a 6-month separation (no minor children) or 1-year separation (with minor children) under Va. Code § 20-91. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. has 8 documented case results in Virginia Beach. A Post Divorce Enforcement Lawyer Virginia Beach can help enforce court orders.
Last verified: April 2026 | Virginia Beach General District Court | Va. Code § 20-91 (official Virginia General Assembly)
Virginia is an equitable distribution state under Va. Code § 20-107.3 (personally amended by Mr. Sris). Marital property is divided fairly but not necessarily 50/50. The court considers 11 factors for property division. Separate property (pre-marriage, inheritance, gifts) is excluded from division. Child support follows Virginia guidelines based on combined gross income. Spousal support depends on 13 statutory factors. Founded in 1997, Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. has over 120 years of combined legal experience.
Virginia Beach General District Court (official court website)
- File a complaint for divorce at Virginia Beach Circuit Court (2425 Nimmo Parkway, Bldg 10B).
- Serve the other party with the divorce papers through sheriff or private process server.
- File a pendente lite motion for temporary support and custody (typically set within 21-60 days).
- Attend mediation to resolve property division, custody, and support issues.
- Finalize the divorce through a final decree hearing with corroborating witness testimony.
In Virginia Beach, divorce carries a 6-month to 1-year separation requirement with Circuit Court filing fees of approximately $86.
| Offense | Classification | Incarceration | Fine | License Impact | Additional Consequences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No-fault divorce (no minor children) | No-fault | N/A | $86 filing fee | N/A | 6-month separation required |
| No-fault divorce (with minor children) | No-fault | N/A | $86 filing fee | N/A | 1-year separation required |
| Fault divorce (adultery) | Fault | N/A | $86 filing fee | N/A | No waiting period |
Results may vary. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Samantha Rae Powers — Of Counsel, Family Law. VA Bar 2023 | FL Bar 2005 | J.D./M.A. University of Florida 2005 | Ph.D. Communication UCSB 2017 | 18+ years experience. Samantha Powers handles family law matters in Virginia Beach.
Mr. Sris, founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., personally amended Va. Code § 20-107.3 (equitable distribution statute). The firm has 4,739+ total case results firm-wide across VA, MD, NJ, NY, and DC with a 93%+ favorable outcome rate. Our firm has 8 documented case results in Virginia Beach across all practice areas (100% favorable outcome rate).
Results may vary. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. — Richmond
7400 Beaufont Springs Dr, Suite 300, Rm 395, Richmond, VA 23225
Toll-Free: (888) 437-7747 | Local: (804)201-9009
By appointment only. 24/7 phone consultations.
Our Richmond location is accessible from Virginia Beach courts via I-64 and I-264. Post Divorce Enforcement Lawyer Virginia Beach services are available. Our Virginia family law lawyer hub page provides state-wide information. For nearby localities, see our Henrico County divorce lawyer or Chesterfield County divorce lawyer pages. For related services in Virginia Beach, see our Virginia Beach criminal defense lawyer page. An enforce final decree lawyer Virginia Beach can assist with post-judgment matters. A post-judgment enforcement lawyer Virginia Beach is available at our Richmond location.
We serve Virginia Beach, Sandbridge, and Oceana. Our Virginia Beach family law lawyer near Virginia Beach Oceanfront provides case-specific representation.
24/7 phone consultations — (888) 437-7747 — meetings by appointment only.
How long does a divorce take in Virginia Beach, Virginia?
Uncontested divorce with signed separation agreement: 2-4 months from filing to final decree; contested divorce: 9-18 months; complex equitable distribution with business valuation or retirement assets: 12-24 months; pendente lite hearing for temporary support and custody: typically set within 21-60 days of motion Virginia requires a 6-month separation (no minor children with signed agreement) or 1-year separation (with minor children) before filing no-fault. Virginia Beach Circuit Court handles all divorces.
How much does a divorce cost in Virginia Beach, Virginia?
Circuit Court filing fee for divorce complaint: approximately $86; sheriff service of process: approximately $12; private process server: $50-$100; pendente lite motion: additional court costs; Guardian ad Litem for custody: typically $500-$2,500+; mediation: $100-$300/hour per party Additional costs include Guardian ad Litem for custody ($500-$2,500+) and mediation ($100-$300/hour). Mr. Sris personally amended Virginia’s equitable distribution statute (Va. Code § 20-107.3). Cases filed at Virginia Beach General District Court.
Is Virginia a community property state?
No. Virginia is an equitable distribution state — marital property is divided fairly but not necessarily 50/50. The court considers 11 factors under Va. Code § 20-107.3 (personally amended by Mr. Sris). Virginia Beach Circuit Court (2425 Nimmo Parkway, Bldg 10B, Virginia Beach, VA 23456) handles all property division. Separate property (pre-marriage, inheritance, gifts) is excluded.
How is child custody decided in Virginia Beach, Virginia?
Custody in Virginia Beach is based on the best interests of the child under Va. Code § 20-124.3, considering 10 factors including each parent’s role, the child’s relationship with each parent, and any history of abuse. Virginia Beach J&DR Court handles standalone custody. Virginia Beach Circuit Court handles custody within divorce cases. 8 total documented case results across all practice areas (100% favorable outcome rate).
What are the grounds for divorce in Virginia?
No-fault: 6-month separation (no minor children + signed agreement) or 1-year separation. Fault grounds: adultery (no waiting period), cruelty, desertion (1 year), felony conviction (1+ year imprisonment). Filed at Virginia Beach Circuit Court. Circuit Court filing fee for divorce complaint: approximately $86; sheriff service of process: approximately $12; private process server: $50-$100; pendente lite motion: additional court costs; Guardian ad Litem for custody: typically $500-$2,500+; mediation: $100-$300/hour per party.
Can a Post Divorce Enforcement Lawyer Virginia Beach help enforce a divorce decree?
Yes. A Post Divorce Enforcement Lawyer Virginia Beach can file motions for contempt, wage garnishment, or property division enforcement. Virginia Beach Circuit Court handles post-judgment enforcement. The court can hold non-compliant parties in contempt, order payment plans, or modify existing orders. An enforce final decree lawyer Virginia Beach can assist with these matters.
What does a post-judgment enforcement lawyer Virginia Beach do?
A post-judgment enforcement lawyer Virginia Beach handles violations of divorce decrees, including unpaid child support, spousal support arrears, and failure to transfer property. They file enforcement motions, request wage garnishment, and seek contempt orders. Virginia Beach Circuit Court has jurisdiction over post-judgment enforcement matters.
How do I enforce a child support order in Virginia Beach?
You can file a motion for contempt at Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. The court can order wage garnishment, intercept tax refunds, suspend driver’s licenses, or impose jail time for willful non-payment. A Post Divorce Enforcement Lawyer Virginia Beach can guide you through this process. DCSE (Division of Child Support Enforcement) can also assist with enforcement.
Last verified: April 2026. Information current as of April 2026. Laws change — contact Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747 for updated guidance.