Virginia divorce at a glance
Residency requirement
6 months residency + domicile by either spouse.
No-fault ground
Living separate and apart without cohabitation for 1 year; reduced to 6 months if a written separation agreement exists AND no minor children (Va. Code 20-91(A)(9)). No additional waiting period; uncontested divorces may proceed by affidavit/deposition…
Filing fee
~$86-$105 circuit court filing fee plus service costs (varies slightly by locality). Fee waiver: CC-1414 Petition for Proceeding in Civil Case Without Payment of Fees (granted below 125% FPL).
Child support
Income shares model (Va. Code 20-108.2; income cap raised to $42,500/mo combined gross by SB 805 eff. 7/1/2025). Official worksheets: DC-637 (sole), DC-638 (split), DC-640 (shared custody, 1.4 multiplier at 90+ days).
E-filing (self-represented)
VJEFS (Virginia Judiciary E-Filing System) is attorney-only (VSB members); self-represented litigants file paper with the circuit clerk. eFileVA/File & ServeXpress serves some courts, also…
County differences
High — each of 120 circuit courts sets its own pro-se packet, decree preferences, ore tenus vs. affidavit practice, and cover sheet (statewide CC-1416 Civil Cover Sheet used at filing). No uniform packet to target.
Official statewide forms
NO official statewide divorce forms exist — vacourts.gov states there are no official court forms for divorce; divorces are pled in Circuit Court with drafted Complaint, Final Decree (VS-4 vital stats form is the main…
Official source: Virginia court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.
Coming soon
Virginia document generation is on the way
LawCat already prepares complete divorce packets free in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and is expanding to Virginia. In the meantime, the official Virginia court forms are linked below.
Official Virginia forms →
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Why LawCat is free
Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat gives document preparation away because it is built by a law firm that helps people who later decide they want an attorney. You keep the free documents either way.
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Virginia divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Virginia?
No. Virginia allows you to file for divorce yourself (pro se). LawCat prepares your Virginia divorce documents free, and you pay only the court’s filing fee. You can hire an attorney at any point if your case becomes complicated.
How long do I have to live in Virginia to file for divorce?
6 months residency + domicile by either spouse.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Virginia?
~$86-$105 circuit court filing fee plus service costs (varies slightly by locality). Fee waiver: CC-1414 Petition for Proceeding in Civil Case Without Payment of Fees (granted below 125% FPL). With LawCat your documents are free, so the filing fee is typically your only unavoidable cost — and it can often be waived if you can’t afford it.
This page is general information about Virginia’s court process, not legal advice for your situation, and LawCat is not a law firm. Forms and fees change — verify with the official court source above. Reviewed 2026.