by VA Family Law Firm

Divorce, UncategorizedOctober 30, 20200 comments

Guide to Divorce in Alexandria VA

Filing for divorce in Alexandria, VA requires that certain procedures be followed. Choosing an attorney familiar with this jurisdiction is recommended. Read our guide to divorce in Alexandria VA.

Equitable Distribution Cases

Cases that involve child or spousal support and equitable distribution require that counsel meet ten days before the trial and prepare a written submission of agreed upon statutory factors five days before the trial.  If the parties cannot agree they should each submit their own proposed factors.

The court recommends mediation for all disputed custody cases.

Uncontested Divorce Hearings

Uncontested, or Ore Tenus divorces, are heard at 9 a.m. by the court; pro se litigants or attorneys should call the Judges’ Chambers to schedule hearings.

Furthermore, these hearings cannot be scheduled on Motions days, Commonwealth days, or Traffic/Misdemeanor Appeals days.

The court also processes uncontested divorces by deposition or affidavit, pursuant to Virginia Code Section 20-106.

Plaintiffs must file the following documents before scheduling an ore tenus hearing (or when submitting the affidavits or depositions if using one of those methods):

• proposed Final Order of Divorce
• Property Settlement Agreement
• proof of service and notice
• VS-4 Form
• privacy addendum

Contested Divorce Hearings

The court requires that the Plaintiff complete a parenting seminar in all contested divorce cases involving minor child, and submit a parenting seminar certificate.

Pro Se Litigants

The court strongly advises hiring counsel for contested or equitable distribution cases. Yet, it does provide suggestions and expectations for pro se divorces:

1. The court will expect pro se litigants to follow the Rules of Evidence and the Rules of the Court.
2. All witnesses who are not willing to testify in court voluntarily must be issued a lawful subpoena.
3. All proper pleadings must be prepared and filed no later than one week before the trial.
4. The court expects that you will be able to: know how to present your case, including testifying, examining witnesses and introducing exhibits such as documents, photographs, etc. The court is unable to help with any of these processes.

No legal advice can be given by anyone other than an attorney, and the court strongly suggests hiring one for a divorce, especially a contested one.

Divorce in Alexandria VA

Hiring an attorney for a divorce is one of the most important things you can do. Look to the professionals at Grenadier, Duffett, Levi, Winkler & Rubin P.C. to guide you through this process. Call 703-683-9000 or click here to schedule an appointment in person or remotely.