Legal Question in Family Law in Virginia

In the Commonwealth, there is no formal legal status specifically

recognized as "legal separation". One can, however, choose to

be separated from one's spouse and live separate and apart continuously,

without interruption, and without cohabitation for the statutorily prescribed

period of six or twelve months in preparation for a divorce.

And, if one spouse refuses to cooperate in agreeing to and signing a formal

Property Settllement Agreement(PSA), then the only other alternative is

for the other spouse to proceed with the divorce and to allow the marital

property to be divided up between the spouses by the process known as

equitable distribution in which a judge decides who gets what as part

of the divorce proceeding.