Dumas v. Dumas

By Judge D. Arthur Kelsey

This matter comes before the Court on the Complainant’s request for a final divorce decree. After taking testimony by depositions, a Commissioner in Chancery filed a report stating that she “examined the Court file and determined that the parties are properly before this Court which has jurisdiction, proper service and notice having been obtained and given.” For the following reasons, the Court remands this matter back to the Commissioner for further review.

I. Under Virginia practice, a Chancellor should review de novo any legal conclusion reached by a commissioner.…