Virginia
Divorce, lawyers, and free legal help in Virginia — verified against official sources.
How divorce filing works in Virginia
Virginia's court system runs a self-help page covering what a divorce handles, where to file (Circuit Court), no-fault vs. at-fault divorce, and links to forms. Start there before anything else.
Virginia Courts — Divorce Self-Help
The official starting point: divorce basics, venue, no-fault vs. at-fault, and forms.
selfhelp.vacourts.gov — divorce →Find a divorce lawyer
Virginia State Bar — Lawyer Referral Service
Running since 1977. A $35 non-refundable fee covers a 30-minute consultation. Call (800) 552-7977 or (804) 775-0808 (Mon–Fri, 9–5).
vsb.org — lawyer referral →New to hiring a lawyer? Read Start Here first — it covers what to ask and what to bring.
Free or low-cost legal help
Virginia Legal Aid Programs
The Virginia State Bar's hub listing all nine civil legal aid programs statewide. Intake line: 1-866-534-5243.
vsb.org — legal aid →Report Child Abuse or Neglect
Call the Virginia CPS Hotline at (800) 552-7096 — 24/7. Mandated reporters can also report online.
dss.virginia.gov — report abuse →Virginia Housing — Foreclosure Prevention
Virginia's housing finance agency offers foreclosure prevention options and a loss-mitigation review. Call 888-756-8603.
virginiahousing.com — foreclosure prevention →Call 211
Free, confidential referrals to local help. Dial 211 from any phone.
211.org →Unpaid wages in Virginia
Your boss owes you pay and won't hand it over? Here's where to file and how long you have in Virginia.
Where to go
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, Labor & Employment Law Division
Time limit to file
3 years
What the floor is
$12.77 (2026)
Changing your name in Virginia
Whether it's marriage, divorce, or just time for a fresh start — here's the process in Virginia.
How it works
petition the circuit court in your county
Typical court fee
varies by county — e.g. ~$47 in Arlington County
Newspaper notice required?
no
Small claims court in Virginia
Suing someone without a lawyer, for smaller amounts, in a simpler court. Here's how it works in Virginia.
Maximum claim
$5,000 (small claims division of General District Court)
Filing fee
unverified
Can you bring one?
generally no — self-represented (case moves to the regular docket if a lawyer appears)
Clearing your criminal record in Virginia
Expungement or sealing can hide eligible arrests and convictions from background checks. Here's where Virginia stands.
Can records be cleared?
yes — expungement for non-convictions, sealing for some convictions since 2025
What qualifies
dismissed/acquitted charges; since July 2025, certain misdemeanor and Class 5/6 felony convictions
Waiting period
none for dismissals/acquittals; 7 crime-free years for automatic sealing of eligible misdemeanors, 10 years for eligible felonies
Learn more about clearing your criminal record in Virginia →
Child support in Virginia
How child support gets calculated — and when it ends — in Virginia.
How it's figured
income shares guidelines in Va. Code § 20-108.2; official worksheet forms (e.g. DC-637) on vacourts.gov
When it ends
age 18, or 19/graduation if still in high school
Lemon law in Virginia
Bought a new car that's constantly in the shop? Virginia's lemon law may get you a refund or a replacement.
Which vehicles qualify
new motor vehicles only
When it's legally a lemon
3+ repair attempts for the same defect (1 for a serious safety defect) or 30+ calendar days out of service within 18 months of original delivery
What you get
manufacturer must replace or repurchase the vehicle (consumer may choose a refund)
Tenant rights in Virginia
Renting comes with rights most people never hear about until something goes wrong. Here are the key ones in Virginia.
Notice before eviction
14-day notice to pay or quit for nonpayment (increased from 5 days effective July 1, 2026); 30 days to end a month-to-month tenancy
Deposit limits & return
Max 2 months' rent; return within 45 days; itemized list required
When the landlord won't fix things
May hire a third-party contractor and deduct up to $1,500 or 1 month's rent after 14 days' written notice
DUI / DWI in Virginia
Driving under the influence carries some of the stiffest penalties in everyday law. Here's how Virginia handles it.
Blood alcohol (BAC) limit
0.08; mandatory jail at 0.15 to 0.20 (5 days) or over 0.20 (10 days)
Typical penalties
Up to 12 months in jail, $250 to $2,500 fine, 1-year license revocation, VASAP program required
How far back DUIs count
10 years
Gun laws in Virginia
Gun laws vary a lot from state to state — what's perfectly legal in one state can be a crime in another. Here's the big picture for this state. Laws change often, so double-check anything before you act.
Carrying a concealed handgun
Concealed handgun permit required; shall-issue (21+)
Carrying openly
Generally allowed without a permit (18+)
Background checks & waiting periods
Private sales: Universal background checks required (restored by 2026 law after a 2025 court ruling struck down the prior version) No waiting period.
Extreme risk protection
Yes. Courts can temporarily order firearms removed from someone found to be a danger.
Reciprocity
Recognizes out-of-state permits, but only for holders age 21 and older
Filming the police: your rights in Virginia
Federal appeals courts across the country have recognized a First Amendment right to photograph and record police officers performing their official duties in public. The U.S. Supreme Court has not ruled on it directly. The right does not protect interfering with officers, trespassing, or breaking other laws while you record.
One-party consent
If you are part of a conversation, you may record it — including with police. (Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-62)
No buffer-zone law
Virginia has no law setting a minimum distance for filming police. You still must not interfere with officers doing their jobs.
Sharpe v. Winterville Police Dept., 59 F.4th 674 (4th Cir. 2023), held that livestreaming a police traffic stop is protected speech, though it did not decide a general right to record. Consent is not needed at all to record conversations in public where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy.
Drug & alcohol addiction help in Virginia
Addiction is a health issue, and help is out there — including court programs that can send people to treatment instead of jail. No insurance needed to call.
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential referrals to treatment — call 1-800-662-4357 (English & Spanish).
Human trafficking victims in Virginia
If you or someone you know is being forced to work or forced into sex against their will, you are a victim of a crime and help is available — immigration status does not matter.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
Call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 — free, confidential, for victims and anyone who suspects trafficking.
Bullying in Virginia
Every state has an anti-bullying law, and every school must have a plan. If your child is being bullied, document what happens and report it in writing to the school — and know what your state’s law requires.
Homelessness help in Virginia
If you are homeless or at risk of losing your housing, help is close by. Shelters, food, health care, and long-term housing programs exist in every community.
211 homeless services
Dial 211 and press 6 for homeless services in your area.
VA homeless veterans
Homeless veterans: call the VA National Call Center at 1-877-424-3838 (877-4AID-VET), 24/7.
Deed fraud & squatters in Virginia
Thieves can forge a deed to steal your home’s title — many counties offer free recording alerts that notify you if anything is filed against your property. And if someone is living in your property without permission, your state has specific rules for removing them: you generally cannot just change the locks.
FBI: protect your property from deed fraud
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center alert on parcel-owner impersonation →