Effective July 1, 2026, Virginia law changed how post-separation relationships are treated in divorce cases. A spouse who begins a new romantic relationship after permanently separating is no longer considered to have committed adultery solely because the divorce has not yet been finalized. Learn what changed, what didn't, and why you should still speak with an attorney before dating during a separation.

Virginia’s new law, effective July 1, 2026, allows eligible spouses to begin the divorce process immediately upon separation through a divorce from bed and board. Learn what changed, what stayed the same, and how the new rules may affect your family in Richmond and throughout Virginia.