Virginia statutory factors
Three sections of the Virginia Code carry most contested family law decisions. Each sets out a list of factors the judge is required to weigh — and in two of the three, the court must put its findings in writing.
Organising your evidence around the statutory headings, rather than telling the story chronologically, is the single change that most improves how a case reads to a court.
10Va. Code § 20-124.3Best Interests FactorsAll ten factors a Virginia judge must weigh in a custody case under § 20-124.3, what each one means in practice, and which ones carry the most weight.11Va. Code § 20-107.3Equitable Distribution FactorsHow Virginia divides marital property under § 20-107.3: classification first, then the eleven factors — and why equitable does not mean equal.13Va. Code § 20-107.1Spousal Support FactorsThe thirteen factors a Virginia court weighs for spousal support under § 20-107.1, the adultery bar, types of award, and why there is no formula.
Statutory text on each page is checked againstlaw.lis.virginia.gov and carries the date it was verified. Several published summaries of § 20-124.3 still quote the pre-2020 text.