Legal terms along with the statutes governing a divorce can be confusing. For this reason, legal guidance from a Staunton, VA divorce lawyer is vital for spouses when considering divorce. A knowledgeable lawyer can provide you with explanations and valuable advice for navigating the legal system.
The terms “divorce from bed and board” and “divorce from the bond of matrimony” are unique to the State of Virginia and are found in the state’s divorce statutes. The Virginia State Bar explains that Virginia recognizes two types of divorce:
- A divorce from bed and board is a legal separation and couples obtaining this type of divorce cannot remarry. To that degree, it is only a partial divorce.
- A divorce from the bond of matrimony completely severs the bonds of marriage and is final, the way you think of divorce as being final in most states.
Individuals obtaining a divorce from bed and board, after being separated for at least one year, can request that the court “merge” this type of divorce into a divorce from the bond of matrimony. Merging their partial divorce with the final form of divorce makes the couple’s divorce absolute and no longer a mere separation.
If you have questions about Virginia divorce and your available options, seek legal help from a skilled Staunton, VA divorce lawyer.
The Alleman Law Group, PLC devotes much of its practice to providing clients with legal assistance for divorce.