General Information and Instructions about Ending Your Marriage. Blank forms to print and fill out on your own, with how-to instructions for completing and filing.You are responsible for preparing all documents to be submitted in the divorce. Those forms must be notarized and filed with the Washington State Registrar of Vital Statistics to be valid. 6. Children of the marriage. Talk to a lawyer familiar with family law before filing anything with the court. To obtain a divorce in Virginia, either you or your spouse must be a resident of Virginia for at least six months prior to filing for divorce. Death, marriage, and divorce records become public information 25 years after the event. Sometimes in a divorce case, it can be difficult to reach a child custody agreement. In the state of Virginia, children may express a preference.