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Equitable Distribution: Virginia Code Section 20-107, Ingrid Michelsen Hillinger, Sharon A. Henderson, David A. Glazer

Ingrid Michelsen Hillinger

In Virginia traditional alimony was the only form of recompense allowed to a divorced spouse until 1977. Property was divided according to title, either his, hers or theirs. In 1977, the legislature added the possibility of a "lump sum payment" based upon the "property interests of the parties" after considering "the contributions, monetary and non-monetary, of each party to the well-being of the family," among other factors. This language gave little guidance as to when such an award might be appropriate or what specific factors were to be considered. A survey conducted by Ingrid Hillinger for the Family Law Section …