Looking for divorce court in Roanoke? Under Virginia law, divorces are filed in a circuit court. In the Roanoke area, the divorce court (i.e. circuit court) is located at 315 Church Avenue, Third Floor, Roanoke, VA 24010 (for Roanoke City) or 305 E Main Street, Second Floor, Salem, VA 24153 (for Roanoke County). The Salem Virginia divorce court is at 2 E Calhoun St, Salem, VA 24153.
The phone number for divorce court in Roanoke is (540) 853-6702 (Roanoke City), (540) 387-6205 (Roanoke County), and (540) 375-3067 (Salem City). Divorce court in the Roanoke area is typically open Monday through Friday, 830am to 4pm, and when you call or visit, the circuit court civil clerk can help you with filings.
Keep in mind, divorce courts (and their clerks) do not give out legal advice. They cannot answer your questions about how to get child support, spousal support, get an uncontested divorce, or sue for divorce. All they can do by law is accept and processing your filings. Divorce courts in Roanoke do not have after hours numbers. Magistrates are not available to accept divorce filings, even though magistrates are open 24/7 in Virginia.
Determining Which Divorce Court in Roanoke Has Jurisdiction
According to Section § 8.01-261 of the Code of Virginia, divorce actions should be filed where the parties last cohabited (meaning, lived together), provided one party still resides there. If neither party remains in that jurisdiction, the appropriate court will be in the jurisdiction where the defendant is resident. Alternately, if the defendant is a nonresident, then diversity may allow filing in the jurisdiction of the complainant.
So which divorce court should you contact in Virginia? The city or county where you reside is where you file for divorce. So if you live within the Salem city limits, you would need to file for divorce at the Salem City courthouse on Calhoun Street, even through the Roanoke County courthouse is also in Salem city limits.
“Do I Need a Lawyer for Divorce Court?
Yes, it is often a good idea to hire a divorce lawyer before attempting to file a complaint for divorce in the circuit court. Divorce proceedings are complex. A good divorce lawyer can help ensure that your case is filed in the right divorce court, the pleadings comply with the court rules, and your case is handled properly.
If you need help going to divorce court in Roanoke, please do not hesitate to contact our firm. Our attorneys have worked with hundreds of clients on divorce matters in each of the area circuit courts. We can protect your rights and help you and your family through this process.