What are the legal requirements for filing a joint petition for a military divorce?

In Virginia, couples that are both active members of the military must adhere to certain legal requirements when filing a joint petition for a military divorce. In order to file a joint petition, both parties must have the proper power of attorney (POA) in place. This power of attorney allows an attorney to act on behalf of both parties when filing the joint petition and any other paperwork associated with the divorce. Both parties must also have filled out a military-approved financial disclosure statement, known as the SF-182. This document provides all of the financial information that the court needs in order to make legally-binding decisions on the assets, debts, and other finances associated with the marriage and divorce. The SF-182 must be filed no later than thirty days prior to filing the joint petition in order to ensure that all financial information is accurate. The couple must also submit a properly completed separation agreement to the court. This agreement outlines the terms of the divorce such as child custody, child support, alimony, division of property, and any other issue pertaining to the marriage and its dissolution. The couple must both sign the agreement, and a representative from the court must also sign in order for the document to be legally binding. Once all of the required documents are in place, the couple may submit their joint petition in person, via mail, or with the court’s e-filing system. The court will review the petition and make a legally binding decision. After the decision is made, the couple will need to wait a minimum of six months before the divorce can be finalized.

What are the legal requirements for filing a joint petition for a military divorce?

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