Adultery divorce in Chesterfield County, Virginia, is a fault ground under Va. Code § 20-91(1) with no waiting period; Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. has 15 documented results in Chesterfield County, including favorable outcomes in all reported instances.
Adultery Divorce Lawyer in Chesterfield County, Virginia
Under Virginia law, adultery is a fault ground for divorce under Va. Code § 20-91(1). Unlike no-fault divorce, which requires a 6-month or 1-year separation period, adultery allows you to file immediately without waiting. The court considers adultery when dividing marital property, awarding spousal support, and determining custody. Chesterfield County Circuit Court, located at 9500 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832, handles all divorce and equitable distribution matters. Founded in 1997 by Mr. Sris, former prosecutor — Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., ‘Advocacy Without Borders,’ brings 120+ years combined legal experience.
Last verified: April 2026 | Chesterfield County Circuit Court | Virginia General Assembly — official site
For the full text of Virginia’s divorce grounds, see Va. Code § 20-91 (Virginia General Assembly — official site). For equitable distribution factors, see Va. Code § 20-107.3 (Virginia General Assembly — official site).
In Chesterfield County Circuit Court, prosecutors and family court judges routinely scrutinize adultery allegations for corroborating evidence. We have observed that the court requires independent proof beyond a spouse’s admission — such as text messages, hotel receipts, or witness testimony — to establish adultery as a fault ground.
- Gather corroborating evidence: text messages, emails, credit card statements, or witness affidavits.
- File a divorce complaint at Chesterfield County Circuit Court citing Va. Code § 20-91(1).
- Serve the complaint on your spouse via sheriff or private process server.
- Attend a pendente lite hearing for temporary support and custody (typically within 21-60 days).
- Negotiate a property settlement agreement or proceed to trial.
- Obtain the final decree of divorce from Chesterfield County Circuit Court.
In Chesterfield County, adultery divorce carries no criminal penalty but affects equitable distribution, spousal support, and custody under Va. Code § 20-91(1) and § 20-107.3.
| Offense | Classification | Incarceration | Fine | License Impact | Additional Consequences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adultery (Fault Ground) | Civil — Fault Ground for Divorce | None | None | None | May bar spousal support; affects equitable distribution; custody considerations |
Results may vary.
Founded in 1997 by Mr. Sris, former prosecutor — Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. brings 120+ years combined legal experience, 4,739+ documented firm-wide results across VA, MD, DC, NY and NJ, and a favorable-outcome rate above 93%. Mr. Sris personally amended Va. Code § 20-107.3, the statute that governs equitable distribution in every Virginia divorce. The firm has 15 documented case results in Chesterfield County, with favorable outcomes in all reported instances.
Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. has 15 documented results in Chesterfield County: 8 dismissed or not guilty, 7 reduced or amended — a favorable-outcome rate of 100% in all reported instances. Results may vary. Firm-wide, SRIS has 4,739+ documented results across VA, MD, DC, NY and NJ.
Our location in Richmond is approximately 20 miles from Chesterfield County Circuit Court, with access via I-95, I-295, Route 1, Route 10, and Route 360 (Hull Street).
Adultery divorce lawyer near Chesterfield County.
Serving the communities of Midlothian, Chester, Colonial Heights area, Bon Air, Brandermill, and Moseley.
24/7 phone consultations — (888) 437-7747 — meetings by appointment only.
Richmond Location: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Room 395, Richmond, VA 23225 | (804) 201-9009 | By appointment only.
Frequently Asked Questions About Adultery Divorce in Chesterfield County
How long does a divorce take in Chesterfield County, Virginia?
It depends. Uncontested divorces in Virginia typically resolve in 2-6 months after filing at Chesterfield County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court (custody/support/protective orders) and Chesterfield County Circuit Court (divorce/equitable distribution), depending on mandatory separation periods and court calendar. Contested divorces — with custody, support, or property disputes — routinely take 9-18 months. Under Va. Code § 20-91, no-fault divorce requires a 6-month or 1-year separation, but adultery as a fault ground has no waiting period.
Uncontested divorces take 2-6 months; contested divorces take 9-18 months in Chesterfield County Circuit Court.
How much does a divorce cost in Chesterfield County, Virginia?
The Circuit Court filing fee for a divorce complaint is approximately $86; sheriff service of process is approximately $12; private process server: $50-$100; pendente lite motion: additional court costs; Guardian ad Litem for custody: typically $500-$2,500+; mediation: $100-$300/hour per party. Mr. Sris personally amended Virginia’s equitable distribution statute (Va. Code § 20-107.3). Cases are filed at Chesterfield County Circuit Court.
Filing fee is approximately $86; total costs vary from $200 to $3,000+ depending on complexity.
Is Virginia a community property state?
No. Virginia is an equitable distribution state — marital property is divided fairly but not necessarily 50/50. The court considers 11 factors under Va. Code § 20-107.3 (personally amended by Mr. Sris). Chesterfield County Circuit Court (9500 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832) handles all property division. Separate property (pre-marriage, inheritance, gifts) is excluded.
No, Virginia is an equitable distribution state, not a community property state.
How is child custody decided in Chesterfield County, Virginia?
Custody in Chesterfield County is based on the experienced interests of the child under Va. Code § 20-124.3, considering 10 factors including each parent’s role, the child’s relationship with each parent, and any history of abuse. Chesterfield County J&DR Court handles standalone custody. Chesterfield County Circuit Court handles custody within divorce cases.
Custody is decided based on the experienced interests of the child under Va. Code § 20-124.3.
What are the grounds for divorce in Virginia?
No-fault: 6-month separation (no minor children + signed agreement) or 1-year separation. Fault grounds: adultery (no waiting period), cruelty, desertion (1 year), felony conviction (1+ year imprisonment). Filed at Chesterfield County Circuit Court. Adultery under Va. Code § 20-91(1) requires corroborating evidence.
Virginia allows no-fault divorce after separation or fault grounds including adultery with no waiting period.
How does a Virginia lawyer defend against adultery divorce charges?
Defense strategies for adultery divorce in Virginia may include challenging evidence, examining procedural compliance, negotiating with prosecutors, and presenting mitigating factors. An experienced attorney evaluates the specific facts under Va. Code § 20-91(1) (adultery as fault ground — no waiting period) to build the strongest possible defense.
What should I do if I am facing adultery divorce charges in Virginia?
If facing adultery divorce charges in Virginia, contact a family law attorney immediately. Do not discuss the case with anyone except your lawyer. Preserve all relevant documents and evidence. The statute of limitations and court deadlines under Virginia law require prompt action.
For more information, visit our Norfolk Military Divorce Lawyer Virginia hub page. You may also be interested in our Family Law Lawyer Albemarle County and Family Law Lawyer Arlington County pages. For related practice areas, see Cannabis Possession Lawyer Chesterfield County and DUI Lawyer Chesterfield County.
Last updated: 2026-04-29