Cuando una pareja decide separarse, hay que tomar una gran cantidad de decisiones. Nuestros abogados en Brooks y Baez estamos aquí para ayudarte a superar esto. Como Abogados con experiencia en divorcios en Richmond, representamos a clientes en nuestra propia zona de Richmond, así como en todo el estado de Virginia en determinadas circunstancias. Abogados Jesse Báez y Noel Brooks son abogados con amplia experiencia en la defensa de personas que se enfrentan a un divorcio y otros asuntos de derecho familiar, brindando orientación especializada y apoyo personalizado durante este momento difícil.
As a divorce attorney in Richmond, VA, our team represents spouses in the City of Richmond and surrounding communities, including Henrico County, Chesterfield County, Hanover County, Midlothian, Glen Allen and Mechanicsville. Divorce cases in the city are decided by the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond, and temporary custody and support issues may also come before the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Knowing how these local courts handle scheduling, temporary hearings and settlement expectations helps us give you realistic advice from day one.
Llame para solicitar una consulta 804-570-7473
Cada miembro de nuestro equipo aporta fortalezas únicas a su caso, pero en lo que todos coincidimos es en buscar soluciones sensatas, en lugar de prolongar el proceso con maniobras complicadas. Queremos que se recupere y siga adelante con su vida lo antes posible.
Ayudamos a nuestros clientes en todo tipo de asuntos relacionados con el derecho de familia en materia de divorcio, incluyendo, entre otros:
Trabajamos con muchos tipos diferentes de clientes, y nuestro objetivo siempre es ayudarles a comprender el proceso, conocer sus opciones y avanzar hacia el mejor resultado posible.
Dividing bank accounts, real estate and other property can be complicated. Property division and alimony determinations call for an experienced attorney who understands how Virginia courts value and divide assets.
Virginia is an equitable distribution state (Va. Code § 20-107.3), which means marital property is divided fairly, not automatically 50/50. The court first classifies each asset or debt as marital, separate or hybrid (part marital, part separate), then weighs factors such as each spouse’s monetary and non-monetary contributions, the length of the marriage, and the circumstances that led to the divorce. Assets commonly at issue include:
Once property is divided, remember to update your plan sucesorio after divorce, including your will, powers of attorney and beneficiary designations.
Spousal support in Virginia is not automatic. Under Va. Code § 20-107.1, the court considers factors including each spouse’s needs and financial resources, earning capacity, the standard of living during the marriage, the length of the marriage, each spouse’s contributions to the family, and the property division. Support can be temporary, for a defined period, or, in some longer marriages, open-ended. We help you build the financial record needed to request support or to defend against an unreasonable claim.
For many people, child custody is their top priority. We work toward the best possible outcome for you and your children, whether through negotiation outside of court or advocacy in the courtroom.
Virginia courts decide custody and visitation based on the best interests of the child, using the factors in Va. Code § 20-124.3, such as each parent’s relationship with the child, each parent’s ability to support the child’s relationship with the other parent, the child’s needs and, when appropriate, the child’s reasonable preference. Courts can award joint or sole legal custody and shared or primary physical custody. For families with ties to another country, our international custody attorneys can also address travel and relocation concerns.
Virginia calculates child support using statutory guidelines (Va. Code § 20-108.2) based on both parents’ gross incomes, the custody arrangement, and costs such as health insurance and work-related child care. We make sure income is reported accurately, including self-employment and overtime income, so the support figure is fair.
We work with many types of clients, and our aim is always the same: explain the process clearly, lay out your options and help you reach a good result.
Virginia allows both no-fault and fault-based divorce under Va. Code § 20-91. Most Richmond divorces are no-fault, based on living separate and apart for the required period.
| Ground | Requirement |
| No-fault (separation) | 1 year of living separate and apart without cohabitation, or 6 months if there is a signed separation agreement and no minor children. |
| Adultery, sodomy or buggery | Conduct outside the marriage that occurred before the parties’ separation (narrowed by HB 303, effective July 1, 2026). |
| Cruelty / reasonable fear of bodily harm | Divorce may be granted to the innocent spouse one year after the act. |
| Willful desertion or abandonment | Divorce may be granted to the innocent spouse one year after the act. |
| Felony conviction | Spouse convicted of a felony after marriage, sentenced to more than one year and confined, with no resumed cohabitation. |
House Bill 303 amended Virginia’s divorce statutes effective July 1, 2026. A spouse can now file for a divorce from bed and board (a legal separation) under Va. Code § 20-95 as soon as the parties separate and at least one intends the separation to be permanent, without proving fault and without a waiting period. This allows the court to enter temporary support, custody and asset-protection orders early in the case. A bed and board divorce does not end the marriage, so an absolute divorce is still needed before either spouse can remarry. The law also limits adultery as a ground to conduct that occurred before separation, and it created a work group to study eliminating fault-based divorce in Virginia.
Fault can still matter even in a no-fault case: it may affect spousal support and, in some situations, the division of property.
To file for divorce in Virginia, at least one spouse must have been a resident and domiciliary of the state for at least six months before filing (Va. Code § 20-97). For City of Richmond residents, the case is filed in the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond. A typical case follows these steps:
After the required separation period, an uncontested divorce in Virginia can often be finalized within a few weeks to a few months, and many are completed on written affidavits or depositions without a contested hearing. A contested divorce commonly takes a year or longer, depending on the complexity of the finances, custody disputes and the court’s docket.
An uncontested divorce is one where spouses agree on every issue, including property, debts, support and custody. It is usually faster, less expensive and more private. A contested divorce is one where at least one issue must be decided by the court.
| Uncontested Divorce | Contested Divorce | |
| Agreement | Full agreement on all terms | One or more disputed issues |
| Typical timeline | Weeks to a few months after separation period | Often 12+ months |
| Cost | Lower | Higher (discovery, experts, hearings) |
| Court involvement | Minimal; often no contested hearing | Hearings and possibly trial |
| Key document | Separation (property settlement) agreement | Court orders and final decree |
Even if you expect an uncontested divorce, having a Richmond divorce lawyer review or draft your separation agreement protects you from terms that are unclear, unenforceable or unfair, especially regarding retirement accounts, the marital home and spousal support waivers. When spouses disagree, we use negotiation and mediation first and prepare for litigation when it is necessary to protect your rights.
To make the most of your free consultation, bring recent pay stubs and tax returns, bank, retirement and debt statements, mortgage or lease documents, any existing separation agreement or court papers, and a short timeline of key dates, such as your marriage, separation and children’s birthdates.
Para obtener un divorcio sin culpa en Virginia, debes vivir separado de tu cónyuge durante un año, o seis meses si cuentas con un acuerdo de separación firmado y no tienes hijos menores de edad (Código de Virginia, § 20-91). Desde el 1 de julio de 2026, puedes solicitar el divorcio de cama y mesa inmediatamente después de la separación, lo que permite que el tribunal dicte órdenes temporales de manutención y custodia mientras transcurre el período de separación.
En Virginia no es obligatorio contar con un abogado para un divorcio de mutuo acuerdo, pero se recomienda encarecidamente hacerlo. Un abogado especializado en divorcios de Richmond se asegura de que tu acuerdo de separación esté completo y sea ejecutable, de que aborde correctamente los temas de las cuentas de jubilación, la manutención y la custodia, y de que la documentación cumpla con los requisitos del Tribunal de Circuito para que tu sentencia definitiva no se retrase ni sea rechazada.
Virginia uses equitable distribution (Va. Code § 20-107.3). The court classifies property as marital, separate or hybrid, then divides marital property fairly based on factors such as each spouse’s contributions, the length of the marriage and the reasons the marriage ended. Equitable does not always mean 50/50, and separate property generally stays with the spouse who owns it.
Once the separation period is met, an uncontested divorce in Richmond can often be finalized in a few weeks to a few months. A contested divorce involving disputes over property, support or custody commonly takes a year or more, depending on the complexity of the issues and the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond’s schedule.
El Proyecto de Ley de la Cámara de Representantes n.º 303 entró en vigor el 1 de julio de 2026. Permite que uno de los cónyuges solicite el divorcio sin culpa por separación de vida conyugal tan pronto como las partes se separen, sin período de espera, y limita el adulterio como causa de divorcio a las conductas que hayan ocurrido antes de la separación. El divorcio absoluto sigue requiriendo un año de separación, o seis meses si hay un acuerdo y no hay hijos menores de edad.
La mejor manera de avanzar es obtener información de un abogado experto. No espere más. Para programar una consulta, llame a nuestra oficina al Richmond en 804-570-7473 hoy. También puede enviarnos un correo electrónico a haciendo clic aquí.
Brooks & Baez is located at 9100 Arboretum Parkway, Suite 190, Richmond, VA 23236, and represents divorce clients throughout Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover and Central Virginia. Schedule your free consultation with a Richmond divorce lawyer today.
Nuestro equipo cuenta con miembros bilingües, incluido uno de nuestros abogados, que trabajan para apoyar a nuestros clientes de habla hispana.
Nuestro equipo está formado por Jesse Báez y Noel Brooks, dos abogados con décadas de experiencia combinada.
Experiencia en el manejo de asuntos legales para clientes en todo el estado de Virginia.
Sea cual sea su problema legal, responderemos a sus preguntas y le ofreceremos tranquilidad mientras trabajamos para guiarle.
a lo largo del proceso hasta llegar a una solución.
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