If you are married, it is a violation of the criminal law to voluntarily have sex with someone other than your spouse. This is called “adultery.” Although adultery is not prosecuted as a crime, it is grounds for divorce and, in some cases, can affect the award of spousal support, the division of property, and the sharing of legal and court costs. When you get married, you can change your surname to your spouse`s, but you are not required by law to do so. You can also use a hyphenated last name after marriage. However, if you want to change your name and records and use a previous name again later, you will need to apply to the district court of the city or county where you live for a legal name change. You can also reuse your old name in divorce proceedings. If your big day in Virginia is fast approaching, you may be wondering how you and your future partner should legally get your marriage license. There are steps you should follow as you go through the marriage license application process, but don`t worry, the process should be pretty straightforward and straightforward. You should also learn more about how to change your name to Virginia (as these rules can be a bit trickier). We`ve included the basics of legally obtaining your VA marriage license in this guide. Here we go! Although it is quite difficult to obtain permission to perform marriages as a minister in Virginia, it is relatively easy to obtain a marriage license in Virginia. Couples planning to get married in Virginia will be happy to know that there is no waiting period for the wedding – you can hold your wedding ceremony on the same day you get your license.

Virginia`s marriage license requirements are among the friendliest in the country for engaged couples, but finding an official authorized to perform marriages in Virginia is considerably more difficult than in other states. Below is information about Virginia`s marriage laws and the procedure for applying for a marriage license. In some cases, you and your fiancé may want to enter into a written matrimonial or prenuptial agreement. (If such an agreement is made after marriage, it is called a marriage contract or a post-marriage contract.) This contract, which is legally binding when properly drafted and entered into voluntarily with full disclosure, can set out the duties and obligations of each spouse and determine the rights that each will have over the property of the other and both. It may guarantee a certain level of support in the event of separation or divorce, or it may indicate that there will be no child support. A great advantage of getting married in Virginia is that the legal and logistical process is not complicated at all compared to other states. The Commonwealth of Virginia allows you to legally seal the deal. Here`s what you need to know regarding the legal requirements and how to get married in VA. As a married couple, you can file a joint tax return with the state and federal governments if you were married at the end of the tax year.

Getting back together can often save money, but its benefits depend on each couple`s individual financial situation. Some married taxpayers would be better off filing separate tax returns. Consult a tax professional on these issues. Living together does not create any obligation, unless expressly agreed, informal or written. Unmarried couples can enforce these agreements, which express an agreement in the relationship about support or finances based on contractual principles. The state of Virginia requires couples to have a marriage certificate before they can be legally married by a licensed agent. Since Virginia marriage licenses are issued by the clerk of the Circuit Court, you`ll both need to go to a county or city courthouse somewhere in the state (some of these counties allow you to start the process online and complete it in person within 5-10 days). You don`t need to be a resident of this county or even the state of Virginia. Here is a list of office workers in and around Northern Virginia: After your celebrant has celebrated the ceremony, signatures of the newlyweds and officiant are required. In most cases, the public servant must then return the completed licence to the court clerk.

After that, you can request certified copies of your license. They usually cost $2.50 each, and you might want to consider getting a few and keeping them in a safe place so you don`t have to create problems in the future. They say “Virginia is for lovers” and we couldn`t agree more! Virginia is a very popular destination for runaways because there is no waiting period after receiving a marriage certificate – engaged couples can apply for and pick up their Virginia marriage license at the courthouse and get married on the same day. This makes Virginia a great place to get married quickly and easily. Maintenance considerations may change in the case of extramarital cohabitation. In such cases, a court may modify, terminate or refuse spousal support. Marriage, on the other hand, guarantees legal marital obligations and maintenance. To apply for a marriage license in Virginia, go to a district court anywhere in the Commonwealth and fill out an application for a marriage license. Marriage licenses are issued on site and can be used immediately. Virginia does not offer “court marriages.” In some jurisdictions, you may have the option to be married by a marriage commissioner, but there are often restrictions on who can participate and what services are offered. Our Virginia Elopements™ wedding managers have no restrictions, please visit our Virginia Marriage Services page for more details and pricing. When a married couple buys a house or other property together, they usually buy it as a “tenant through the set,” meaning that if one of them dies, the other automatically becomes the owner of the entire property and is not subject to inheritance tax or probate procedures at that time.

If a “tenant in its entirety” goes into debt individually and the spouse does not co-sign the loan, the property is free of claims from these creditors. Marriage does not automatically entail the transfer of the property of the spouses in both names. However, most property and annuities acquired during the marriage (with the exception of inheritance, certain bodily injuries, property held separately before the marriage and gifts from other persons) are treated as property of both spouses in the event of divorce. State and federal laws give married people many different rights over each other`s property, pensions, and insurance in the event of divorce or death. However, if you choose to invest property only in your spouse`s name or title your prenuptial property in both names, this may reduce your legal right to them in the event of divorce. Virginia generally applies the concept of equitable distribution to all property acquired by the parties from the date of marriage, regardless of how ownership of that property is held. No. A common-law marriage is a marriage by consent of two people who consider themselves married without formal ceremony or license and pretend to be married. Such agreements are not marriages in Virginia, but they are recognized here if they were valid in the state in which they took place and if they were between persons who would have been entitled to marriage under Virginia law. And only unmarried people can get marriage licenses, meaning that if you or your future spouse was already married, you may have to swear by a government official that you`re no longer married during your current application process. A copy of the divorce decree is not required. Once your application is approved, there is no waiting period for the use of your licence, but it expires within 60 days.

Self-union marriages are not legally recognized in the state, so you must obtain an official to perform your ceremony.