An uncontested divorce is a no-fault divorce in which both parties agree on terms.
The divorce is therefore not contested and does not need to go to court to determine property separation, child custody, and alimony. As a result, uncontested divorces are generally much less inexpensive than contested divorces, and the process is typically much faster.
How does an uncontested divorce in Virginia work? Here are the general steps you will need to take to secure your divorce in Virginia.
Before getting started with your divorce, you must qualify for a divorce in Virginia. The requirements are as follows:
To proceed with an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse must come to a settlement agreement. You must agree on the terms of your divorce, including property, asset, and debt division, child custody (if applicable), and alimony. Without agreeing on all of these terms, the divorce cannot be considered uncontested.
The next step is filing paperwork for the divorce, also called a divorce complaint. You can file a divorce complaint or have the complaint accepted by written service before a notary. After that, the complaint would then be served and the affidavit signed and notarized by the plaintiff to confirm the terms of the complaint. Youāll then need to file these forms and pay a fee to have the court process the papers.
In an uncontested divorce, the final order, which grants the divorce, must be signed, not notarized, by the defendant. The original signature on paper is needed, typically six to eight weeks after the process, and a judge reviews all the paperwork once it is filed. The judge will sign off on the divorce, and then it will be filed.
Even if you have an uncontested divorce, itās still essential to work with an attorney to ensure all the paperwork is filed correctly and to prevent delays in the process. In addition, a divorce attorney will advocate for your best interests and protect your rights during the process.
If you need assistance with your uncontested divorce in Virginia, contact Virginia Family Law Center, P.C., today to speak with an attorney.
At Virginia Family Law Center, we protect clientsā rights and help them understand the legal processes they are working through. Schedule your 30-minute telephone consultation with an experienced lawyer by filling out the form below.