Alexandria Law Library
     Services Available                                            

Reference Assistance | Forms for Divorce, Separation & Name Changes
Westlaw/Westdoc | Internet Research | Photocopying | Fax (Document Delivery)
Tours | Conference Room | Floppy Disk Sales | FEE SCHEDULE

REFERENCE ASSISTANCE
A professional law librarian is available during regular hours to assist patrons in locating and using materials.  However,
the library staff is prohibited from giving legal advice, legal opinions or interpreting legal materials.  Please read our
Policy for Information Service to the Public.


FORMS FOR DIVORCE, SEPARATION & NAME CHANGES
The Library provides packets of SAMPLE forms for use in uncontested divorce cases.  The packet includes samples of the
Bill of Complaint, Final Decree, Order of Publication, Affidavit and Waiver.  The cost of the packet is $10.00.  We are not
permitted, by law, to provide fill-in-the-blank forms.**  Please use the samples in the packet as a guide to help you draft your 
own documents.  Additionally, there are several reference books in the library's collection which explain Virginia's domestic 
relations laws.  If you have difficulty understanding or creating the documents yourself, please consult with an attorney or refer 
to the Virginia Code for more information on the divorce laws in Virginia. Legal Services of Northern Virginia publishes a booklet 
about Divorce & Separation in Virginia in several languages.

**You can purchase fill-in-the-blank forms on the Internet, but we do not recommend doing so as the Court will 
often reject these forms for non-compliance with local and state laws.

The Library also provides sample separation/property settlement agreements for use in uncontested divorce cases.  
The court will not require you to file such an agreement if you have been separated from your spouse for a continuous
period of at least one year, but you may still choose to create one with your spouse.  Use the sample as a guide to help you 
draft your own separation agreement.  If you have any difficulty, please consult with an attorney or refer to the Virginia Code
for more information on legal separation in Virginia.  The separation packet is included with the divorce packet for
those who are separated less than one year.  If you wish to purchase the separation packet alone, the cost is $3.00.

The Library provides fill-in-the-blank forms for name changes.  The packet includes a Petition, an Order and a set of
instructions.  The cost of the packet is $3.00.  Please call the library for further information.

We recommend that you visit the library to pick up these forms, as you may need additional information from our reference
collection to complete your documents.  However, we will mail any of the above packets for an additional $5.00 fee.  Acceptable
forms of payment include cash (if picking up in person) or money order (if requesting forms by mail).  Forms will be mailed out
the day after payment is received.


FREE WESTLAW ACCESS 
Our customers now have free access to Westlaw on 4 state-of-the-art workstations. Our subscription includes access to state &
federal case law, statutes and court rules, AmJur, CFR, ALR, the Restatements, many forms, jury verdict materials, KeyCite, 
law reviews and journals from around the country, and treatises in selected topical areas such as Bankruptcy, Intellectual Property,
Criminal Law, Employment Law, Evidence, Federal Practice, Personal Injury, Products Liability, Property Law, Tax Law,
Workers Compensation, and much more.

Search time is free, but limited to 30 minutes per person if others are waiting. Printing is 20 cents per page.
 

INTERNET RESEARCH
We have three electronic research workstations in the library.  These workstations allow limited access to the Internet for the sole 
purpose of conducting legal research.  Each terminal provides a starting point for searching the Web for legal information, with 
links to frequently used sites such as FindLaw. There is no charge for search time, but printing is .20 per page.


PHOTOCOPYING
The library has two self-serve photocopiers for patrons' use.  The cost is 20 cents per page.  The machines accept coins and
bills up to $5.00, copy cards which can be purchased from the law librarian, and account numbers.  The librarian can give
change for larger bills.

Account holders pay the same price per copy plus a $5.00 service fee on each bi-monthly invoice.  Accounts are recommended
for patrons who wish to take advantage of our document delivery service.


FAX (DOCUMENT DELIVERY)
Accounts holders are welcome to use our document delivery and fax services.  A staff member will take your request over
the telephone, make copies for you and fax them directly to your office.  The cost is $1.50 per page.  Turn-around time is
usually less than two hours.


TOURS
With advance notice, a library staff member will be happy to give any patron a tour of the facilities and resources available.


CONFERENCE ROOM
The Grenadier conference room may be reserved for attorney-client conferences, depositions, committee meetings or any 
other law-related purpose. There is no charge for use of the room if the meeting lasts less than one hour. Otherwise, 
guests are asked to make a donation of $50 to the Law Library.


FLOPPY DISK SALES
If you wish to save information from one of our CD-ROM or Word Processing terminals onto a floppy disk, you can use 
your own disk or purchase one from the librarian for $2.00.


FEE SCHEDULE
Click here for a summary of the above-mentioned fees.

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