Proving adultery in a divorce case
Written by our divorce lawyers in Manassas
Many divorces occur because one spouse believes the other has committed adultery. However, proving adultery in a divorce case can be problematic.
For more than 30 years our divorce lawyers in Manassas have been helping individuals with adultery cases in Prince William, Manassas Park, Gainesville, Haymarket, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Dumfries, Bristow, Warrenton, Centreville, Fairfax, Stafford, Chantilly, Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Herndon, Reston, Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, and throughout Northern Virginia.
One reason in the difficulty of proving adultery is that the courts have long held that adultery must be proven by “clear and convincing evidence.” Therefore, simply showing strongly suspicious circumstances is not enough. While it does not have to be proven beyond all doubt, adultery cannot be proven upon speculation or suspicion.
In one particular case from the Court of Appeals of Virginia, the husband contracted genital herpes from his wife. When the husband confronted her about the disease, she replied that “he didn’t know he had it.” The husband claimed his wife was referring to a man she was having an affair. The court said “everybody knows what is going on” but did not find that the wife committed adultery. A divorce was instead granted on the grounds of one year of separation.
According to our divorce lawyers in Manassas, to prove adultery in your divorce case you must do so by clear and convincing evidence. To determine whether your adultery evidence is “clear and convincing” it is highly recommended that you consult one of our experienced divorce lawyers who have addressed the adultery issue many times before.
If you are in need of experienced divorce lawyers who get results, please contact us online or by calling 703-361-0776.
Divorce lawyers in Manassas serving Fairfax, Prince William, Arlington, Manassas Park, Gainesville, Haymarket, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Dumfries, Bristow, Warrenton, Centreville, Stafford, Chantilly, Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Herndon, Reston, Alexandria, and Annandale.
