Where can a husband or wife file a divorce case?
A husband or wife can file a divorce case in a court that has jurisdiction in a proper venue. Jurisdiction has several different meanings and is concerned with the power of the court to decide a matter and bind the parties to the decision. The Virginia city and county circuit courts have subject matter jurisdiction over divorce cases under Virginia Code Section 20-96: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+20-96 . A person must have a certain connection to the Commonwealth of Virginia in order to file a divorce case here. At the time of filing, either the husband or wife must have been a bona fide resident and domiciliary of the Commonwealth of Virginia for at least six months preceding the filing, under Section 20-97 of the Code of Virginia. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+20-97 . A member of the armed forces who is stationed in or residing in Virginia and has lived in Virginia for at least six months is presumed to be a domiciliary and resident during
