Reid v. Reid
Court of Appeals of Virginia
375 S.E.2d 533 (1989)
Judith Reid (plaintiff) and Dr. Robert Reid (defendant) were married nineteen years and had four children; Dr. Reid worked long hours and financially supported the family, but the couple's sex life was infrequent and marital counseling failed. After telling her husband she wanted to separate, Mrs. Reid secretly obtained an apartment, later moved out without a mutual agreement to separate, and filed for divorce two months afterward, alleging Dr. Reid's inattentiveness had compelled her departure; Dr. Reid countersued for divorce based on her desertion. The commissioner recommended, and the chancellor granted, a no-fault divorce rather than one based on fault, and Dr. Reid appealed.
Whether a no-fault divorce is warranted where a wife left her husband but claimed her departure was justified by his inattentiveness to her, the marriage, and their children.