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Divorce prep · Virginia
Protective orders for domestic violence in Virginia
A Virginia permanent (full) protective order can be issued for up to two years. Virginia VINE Protective Order provides free notifications about protective orders. A final protective order must be issued for 12 months or longer to apply for certain benefits listed in the guide.
Educational only. Not legal advice. Sources checked November 2, 2026.
What the official sources say
- A Virginia permanent (full) protective order can be issued for up to two years. Virginia Judicial System: Protective Orders in Virginia guide. Checked November 2, 2026
- Virginia VINE Protective Order provides free notifications about protective orders. Virginia Judicial System: Protective Orders in Virginia guide. Checked November 2, 2026
- A final protective order must be issued for 12 months or longer to apply for certain benefits listed in the guide. Virginia Judicial System: Protective Orders in Virginia guide. Checked November 2, 2026
Official links
How to keep these papers
Keep dated copies of the papers you already have in one place, and write the day something happened on the same day. KeepMyProof is a private phone app for that: folders with checklists, the day it happened next to the day you saved it, and one PDF of a folder when someone asks.
- Bank, retirement and debt statements
- Pay stubs and tax returns
- Household bills and expenses
- Home, car and property papers
- Agreements and court papers you have
- Messages sent to you
- Co-parenting log: dated handoff and visit notes
Download the free printable checklist (PDF)
One page, no email needed.
Coming soon to Google Play.
More for Virginia
- How child support works in Virginia
- Child custody and parenting plans in Virginia
- How to get a copy of your divorce record in Virginia
- Divorce residency rules and where to file in Virginia
- Divorce document checklist: the full guide
- Protective orders for domestic violence: all states
Neighbouring states
- Protective orders for domestic violence in Kentucky
- Protective orders for domestic violence in Maryland
- Protective orders for domestic violence in North Carolina
- Protective orders for domestic violence in West Virginia
- Protective orders for domestic violence in District of Columbia
Questions
Where do these Virginia facts come from?
Each fact on this page is copied from an official source: Virginia Judicial System: Protective Orders in Virginia guide. We checked that each source still says it on November 2, 2026. Rules and forms change, so open the official link and read the current version before you rely on it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is educational only and is not legal advice. KeepMyProof is not a law firm. For advice about your situation, ask a lawyer licensed in Virginia or your court's self-help center.
Which papers should I keep for divorce prep?
A good start: Bank, retirement and debt statements; Pay stubs and tax returns; Household bills and expenses; Home, car and property papers; Agreements and court papers you have; Messages sent to you; Co-parenting log: dated handoff and visit notes. Keep only papers you are allowed to have, write the date on each note, and keep originals somewhere safe.
How can I keep these papers private on my phone?
KeepMyProof keeps copies of the papers you already have in folders with checklists, encrypted on your phone, with no account and no ads. It is free for the first items you save. It is coming soon to Google Play.
Educational only. Not legal advice.