Divorce Solutions To Get You Started On A Better Future

When you are going through a divorce, you must stay focused on your future, not your past.

I am attorney Joseph H. Beale, and I believe in helping my clients keep their goals in mind throughout the divorce process. I also believe that it’s necessary to really get to know my clients. I form relationships with the families I represent so I can better understand their hopes and fears; this allows me to then confidently guide them through their options.

Efficient Representation Tailor-Made For Your Family’s Needs

I offer clients cost-effective solutions out of court. If those options fail to achieve a goal, I aggressively represent them in court. I am known for my diligence and my dynamic ability to resolve cases effectively.

I represent clients whose needs include:

• Formation of a shared parenting plan
• Resolution of a child custody dispute
• The establishment and modification of child support payments
• A fair division of marital property and assets
• Temporary and long-term spousal support
• Protective orders, when domestic abuse is a factor
• The concerns specific to military families during divorce

Whether you have just begun considering a divorce or have already suggested it to your spouse, it is important to seek guidance from an experienced lawyer as quickly as possible. That is the best possible way to protect your rights and put you in a good position moving forward.

FAQs On Divorce In Virginia

My clients often have the following questions:

How are at-fault and no-fault divorces different in Virginia?

In Virginia, in an at-fault divorce, one spouse alleges the other is responsible for the end of the marriage due to their specific misconduct or wrongdoing. To proceed with an at-fault divorce, the accusing spouse must prove the grounds for the alleged fault in court.

On the other hand, in a no-fault divorce, neither spouse is required to prove misconduct or wrongdoing by the other. The couple can simply state that their irreconcilable differences have led to the breakdown of the marriage.

What are the grounds for an at-fault divorce in Virginia?

Virginia at-fault divorces can be filed based on specific grounds, which include:

• Adultery: This is voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone who is not their spouse. Sodomy and buggery are also grounds for divorce.
• Willful desertion or abandonment: If one spouse voluntarily leaves the marital home and separates for at least one year without consent or justification, it can be grounds for divorce.
• Cruelty: Cruelty as grounds for divorce can include physical violence, verbal abuse or other conduct that makes it intolerable for the spouses to continue living together.
• Felony conviction: If a spouse is sentenced to more than a year in prison for a felony-level offense, that meets the qualification for a fault-based divorce.

The specifics of each ground may vary based on individual circumstances and legal interpretation.

Are no-fault and uncontested divorces the same thing in Virginia?

No. No-fault divorces could be contested regarding support or property division. A no-fault divorce means only that the grounds or the reasons for divorce are not being challenged.

In an uncontested divorce, there is no dispute between the spouses, and they can submit a joint petition or agreement to the court outlining the divorce terms.

Contact Me Today For An Appointment

Let me sit down with you and learn about your situation, your needs and your financial concerns. I can develop a strategy to achieve your goals that is both cost-effective and efficient.

With offices in both Herndon and Aldie, I am better able to assist clients throughout Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Please contact me at 571-335-3735 or reach me through my online form.