What forms do I need to self-file for a divorce in Virginia?

I’m posting for a friend who’s going through a divorce in Virginia. They’ve resolved custody already and the attorney has drafted an agreement. They’ve been separated for a year as required by VA law, but things are getting messy. The short version is, the spouse keeps having mood swings. One day they are on board and the next it’s ‘I’ll see you in court.’ The attorney has been slow to respond to emails and calls, and the agreement is filled with things that neither spouse wanted. This caused a huge blowup. The spouse thinks my friend is dragging their feet, but it’s really just that their lawyer isn’t on top of things. They would have signed the agreement weeks ago if everything had been ready. Now it’s heated again and legal threats are being thrown around. My friend wants to know what forms they actually need to file for an uncontested divorce in the circuit court in Virginia. They want to know if they can fix the already drafted agreement and what additional forms they need to file properly. There is a house involved, and the flaky spouse is willing to sign a quitclaim deed after a set period in exchange for a check. Any ideas on how my friend can proceed?

So after the agreement is signed, your friend should check out this site: Divorce in Virginia | VaLegalAid.org - A guide to free and low cost civil legal information and services in Virginia. It has a lot of helpful resources for Virginia divorces.

Dixie said:
So after the agreement is signed, your friend should check out this site: Divorce in Virginia | VaLegalAid.org - A guide to free and low cost civil legal information and services in Virginia. It has a lot of helpful resources for Virginia divorces.

Thanks for the link, ABC. I will pass that along to my friend. They really need clear info right now.

I think your friend can definitely revise the draft agreement from the attorney. If there are parts they both agree on, they can just present those changes to the spouse.

Tian said:
I think your friend can definitely revise the draft agreement from the attorney. If there are parts they both agree on, they can just present those changes to the spouse.

That’s helpful to know. I feel like tightening up the agreement would make things easier for both of them.

It’s usually required to have a notarized agreement when filing. Your friend should double-check what the local court requires as it can vary by county.

Neve said:
It’s usually required to have a notarized agreement when filing. Your friend should double-check what the local court requires as it can vary by county.

Good to know, I’ll remind my friend to get everything notarized. Sometimes these little details can trip people up.

If your friend feels comfortable taking charge, they can probably write up a new agreement and have it signed. It’s important that both parties understand what they’re agreeing to.

Vick said:
If your friend feels comfortable taking charge, they can probably write up a new agreement and have it signed. It’s important that both parties understand what they’re agreeing to.

Yeah, I think that would ease some tension if they can come to an agreement. Hopefully, the other spouse is willing to cooperate.

It sounds like communication is key here. Maybe your friend could set a meeting with the spouse to discuss major points again? That might help clarify what each side really wants in the agreement.

Dariel said:
It sounds like communication is key here. Maybe your friend could set a meeting with the spouse to discuss major points again? That might help clarify what each side really wants in the agreement.

Definitely, that might ease some conflict before it escalates. I’ll suggest that to my friend and see what they think.