Northwind Law
VA

Virginia Legal Guides

Understand Virginia's specific laws and regulations across six major practice areas. Each guide covers state statutes, court procedures, and key legal differences.

Legal Guides for Virginia

Personal Injury

Virginia is one of the few jurisdictions that follows the doctrine of pure contributory negligence, which completely bars a plaintiff from recovering any damages if they are found to be even 1% at fau...

Statute of Limitations: 2 years from date of injury
Contributory Negligence: Pure contributory negligence bars all recovery
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Family Law

Virginia family law is governed by Virginia Code Title 20 (Domestic Relations). The state follows equitable distribution for marital property and recognizes both no-fault and fault-based grounds for d...

Residency Requirement: 6 months in state
No-Fault Ground: 6 months separation (with agreement, no children) or 1 year
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Criminal Defense

Virginia has undergone sweeping criminal justice reform in recent years. In 2021, the state became the first Southern state to abolish the death penalty. That same year, Virginia legalized recreationa...

DUI BAC Limit: 0.08% standard; 0.04% commercial; 0.02% for under 21
Marijuana Legalization: Adults 21+ may possess up to 1 oz; home cultivation of up to 4 plants; commercial sales not yet operational
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Estate Planning

Virginia does not impose a state estate tax or inheritance tax. The state is a common law property state with an augmented estate elective share. Virginia requires two witnesses for wills and recogniz...

State Estate Tax: No state estate tax
Small Estate Threshold: $50,000 for small estate affidavit
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Business Law

Virginia is a major business hub with a strong presence in government contracting, technology, financial services, and healthcare. The Virginia Limited Liability Company Act and the Virginia Stock Cor...

LLC Formation Filing Fee: $100 for Articles of Organization filed with State Corporation Commission
Corporate Income Tax: Flat rate of 6% on Virginia taxable income
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Real Estate

Virginia real estate law features a non-judicial foreclosure system through deeds of trust, a grantor's tax on conveyances, and comprehensive seller disclosure requirements. The state uses deeds of tr...

Grantor's Tax: $1.00 per $1,000 of consideration (state); additional regional taxes in Northern Virginia
Non-Judicial Foreclosure: Trustee sale with published and posted notice
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