Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-19
Onr Divorce Lntrs.


To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
II a mans wife deliberately and will
fully leave him without any cause upon
his part, can the man secure divorce
upon that plea?
. Please state what the usual cost to
obtain a divorce is, and under what pleas
under this States laws can a man obtain
a divorce?
g. II a man and his wife have been
separated for a period of five years, will
the law grant a divorce without cost?
!. J. A.
1. A divorce from board and bed may
be granted for wlful abandonment, and
II such abandonment continues for three
years a divorce may be granted dissolving
the marriage; but the application for d.
yorce IN either case must be made to the
court by the party deserted.
. Minimum costs IN a divorce cause
would be about So for attorneys fees,
and so for court costs; but such fees and
costs are usually much larger.
8. Separation fer period of five years
constitutes no ground for divorce with
| ont costs.
Divorces in Virginia are OF two kinds
% divorce from board and bed (2) di-
vorce dissolvlng the marriage-styled In
the law-books divorce "a Vinculo matri-
monli"
Divorce from hoard and bed separates
the parties for an indefinite time without
! dissolying the marriage.
Divorce "a VincuO matrimoni" termi-
mates and finally dlssolves the marriage
i relation, in some instances from the be
| ginning, and IN others from the date Of
| the decree granting the divorce.
The causes for divorce from board and
bed are % cruelty. % reasonable appre-
hension of bodily hurt, and CD abandon
ment or deserlion for less than three
years.
The causes for divorce "a vinculo matri-
moniW In Virginia are such as exist at
| the time Of the marriage, and such as
supcrvene afterwards. Those existing at
| the time Of the marriage are 0 prior
marriage. when consort still survives;
! @ want Of age, CD difference OF race,
! one marty being white and one negro;
| CD want OF reason. go natural or incurable
/ lmpotrncy OF body al the time Of the
/ marriage. 90 Cons2nguinity or affinity,
| Cd "enceinte" condition Of the wife az
| the time of the marriage, without the
| knowledge Of the husband, by some per-
son other than he; 90 conviction of either
| party Of an Infamous offence prior TO the
/ marriage. without the knowledge OF the
| other: 90 notorious prostitution Of the
| wife prior 70 the marriage, without the
! knowledge OF the husband; QW fraud or
/ force Aud those which superyene after
| the marriage are Cd adultery. CD sentence
/ OF either party 10 the penitcntiary, CD
| indictment OF either party for felony,
when such party IS a fugitive from JUS
| tee and has been absent for two years,
/ and ~ abandonment or desertlOn for at
/ least three years.
Males under "A and females under u
I years OF age cannot contract marriage;
| but where a marriage Of this character
| has been solemaized e is ADVISABLE TO
| procure a divorce Gissolving the marriage
! Want OF reason, insanity OF imbecility At
| the time OF marriage renders marriage
| Voidable. but not void so that a decree
dlssolv.ng the marriage IS Indispensable
| Frauds ius,aying a dissolution Of the
marriage are not deceits touching fortune.
station IN society. previous condition.
! health. etc, but are frauds relating to
I the identity OF the person.
| Virginia courts having jurisdiction 10
/ grant divorces are the Chancery Court
and Court OF Law and EQUITY in the
/ city Of Richmond circuit and corporation
courts In other cities, and circuit courts In
! tie counties. Suits fer divorce must be
brought IA The county or city In which
| the parties last cohabited or in the
county IN which the defendant resides.
/ II a resident Of the State; but II the de-
| PENDANT be not resident Il Tnay ba in
atltutcd IN the county or city where the
plaintiff resides. Such suits are con-
Quoted as other suits IN equity, except
that the cause must be heard indspen-