What are the steps in the divorce process?

In Virginia, the divorce process can take some time and legal steps must be followed. Here are the steps: 1. File a Complaint: One party must file a Complaint in the Circuit Court of the city or county where they or their spouse live. 2. Service of Process: After the filing of the Complaint, the other party must be “served” with a copy of the Complaint. This either needs to be done personally by a Deputy Sheriff, or by a process server, or in some cases, it can be done by certified mail. 3. Answer to Complaint: The party who was served must file an Answer to the Complaint with the court. This must be done within a specific period of time. 4. Discovery: This is a process where the parties can ask each other questions, called interrogatories, and request documents from each other and the court to learn more information about the case. 5. Settlement: The parties can enter into a settlement agreement for all or part of the issues in the divorce. This is a legally binding document and must be signed by both parties and approved by the court. 6. Final Divorce Hearing: This is the final hearing before the judge. The judge will hear evidence from both parties, and if a settlement agreement is not entered, then the judge will make decisions on the issues in the divorce. 7. Final Decree: After the final hearing, the judge will issue a Final Decree of Divorce. This will be the court’s official order ending the marriage and settling all of the issues in the divorce.

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What are the steps in the divorce process?

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