When does adultery bar spousal support in Virginia?

In Virginia, a spouse is often entitled to spousal support when the other spouse makes significantly more gross income. A rule of thumb is that if one spouse makes 70% or more of the amount earned by the other spouse, there is generally no spousal support awarded. If they make less, than the spouse earning less income can be entitled to spousal support.

Virginia recognizes three types of spousal support: pendent elite, temporary, and permanent. Pendente lite spousal support is spousal support awarded while a trial is pending or after separation and before divorce. Temporary support is also known as defined duration support and can be awarded for up to 50% of the time the parties were married and together. Permanent support is just what it sounds like: permanent or until one of the parties dies or the one receiving spousal support remarries or cohabitates with another person for over a year. Pendent elite is calculated based on a formula (usually the Fairfax Guidelines) while temporary and permanent support is not. Adultery can be a bar to most types of spousal support although not usually pendente lite.

Virginia Code § 20-107.1(B) provides that "no permanent maintenance and support shall be awarded from a spouse if there exists in such spouse's favor a ground of divorce under the provisions of subdivision (1) of § 20-91," which includes adultery. The bar, however, is subject to one exception: that the court may make such an award notwithstanding the existence of such ground if the court determines from clear and convincing evidence, that a denial of support and maintenance would constitute a manifest injustice, based upon the respective degrees of fault during the marriage and the relative economic circumstances of the parties.