Legal Separation and Limited Divorce in Virginia
There is no such term as “legal separation” in Virginia law. Sometimes people may refer to themselves as legally separated after they have signed a Marital Settlement Agreement with their spouse and are waiting out the required separation period until they can file for an uncontested divorce.
However, you can obtain a limited divorce, also called a “divorce a mensa et thoro” (from bed and board) if you have grounds. The grounds for a limited divorce are different than the grounds required for a final divorce. They are as follows:
Desertion or abandonment – no minimum duration
Cruelty – no required duration after the act of cruelty.
Note that, unlike for final divorce, there are no “no fault” limited divorce grounds in Virginia.
In Virginia, the reason for filing a limited divorce is usually to get your support or custody case into Circuit Court rather than Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court when you need a court order regarding support or custody and you do not have grounds for a final divorce. If you think you have this situation, ask us about it.