Chesapeake Attorneys Represent Clients in Uncontested Divorce
Skilled Virginia family lawyers help to make divorce less stressful in South Hampton Roads
Chesapeake has a population of more than 240,000, making it the third most populous city in Virginia. As an independent city, it has its own trial-level courts. While Chesapeake has thriving urban areas, it is an unusually rural city, with acres of protected farmland, forests, wetlands and a national wildlife refuge. This mixture makes it an attractive place for families to live, but like all cities, it’s also a place where family dynamics change over time. At Harding, Harding & Harding Attorneys at Law, we provide Chesapeake residents with a full range of family law services, including the option of uncontested divorce.
The advantages an uncontested divorce
The end of a marriage is difficult for everyone involved. However, if you and your spouse are willing to work together, you can avoid much of the stress and hostility by not contesting your divorce. Instead, you can reach an agreement on all of the outstanding issues and file for divorce jointly. Because you and your spouse settle rather than fight over divorce issues in an uncontested divorce, there is no need for a trial, so the process is quicker, easier and less expensive.
Why you need an attorney in an uncontested divorce
While an uncontested divorce lacks the acrimony of a contested divorce, it is still important to be represented by an experienced lawyer who can guide you through the process and help you reach a settlement on important issues, such as:
- Dividing the marital estate and debt and determining what constitutes separate property
- Determining whether either spouse is entitled to alimony
- Agreeing on child custody and visitation schedules
- Settling issues involving child support
Your lawyer can also make sure that you meet the qualifications for filing in Chesapeake. At least one spouse must reside in Virginia for at least six months prior to filing and at least one of you must have resided in Chesapeake itself. You must also state grounds for divorce, whether no-fault or fault-based. You can seek a no-fault divorce if you have been living separate and apart for a period of time — one year if you have children, and six months with a separation agreement and no children. You can file on grounds that include abandonment or willful desertion, adultery, cruelty, or conviction and imprisonment for at least one year. Our firm will advise you on grounds and guide you through the filing process to ensure your paperwork is correct.
Handling uncontested divorce for members of the military
An uncontested divorce may be particularly useful for military families, because it allows soldiers and sailors to waive the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which limits the ability to sue members of the U.S. Armed Services. Nevertheless, military divorces require specialized legal knowledge to address the regulations peculiar to them. Fortunately, at Harding, Harding & Harding Attorneys at Law, we understand those special rules and have extensive experience handling divorce for service members and their families in the Hampton Roads area.
A knowledgeable Chesapeake attorney assists with uncontested divorce
At Harding, Harding & Harding Attorneys at Law, we know how to protect your best interests in an uncontested or contested divorce. To schedule a free initial consultation today in our Chesapeake office, contact us online.
