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Virginia Alimony Laws and Spousal Support

Virginia alimony or spousal support may be awarded based upon the following factors:

  • the ability and time necessary to acquire sufficient education and training to enable the spouse to find appropriate employment, and that spouse's future earning capacity;

  • the standard of living established during the marriage;

  • the duration of the marriage;

  • the financial resources of the spouse seeking maintenance, including marital property apportioned to such spouse and such spouse's ability to meet his or her needs independently;

  • the contribution of each spouse to the marriage, including services rendered in homemaking, child care, education, and career building of the other spouse;

  • the tax consequences to each spouse;

  • the age of the spouses;

  • the physical and emotional conditions of the spouses;

  • the educational level of each spouse at the time of the marriage and at the time the action for support was commenced;

  • the property of the spouses;

  • the circumstances which contributed to the divorce; and

  • any other factor the court deems just and equitable.

Permanent alimony or spousal support will not be awarded to a spouse who was at fault in a divorce granted on the grounds of adultery, unless such a denial of support would be unjust.



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