It does not necessarily matter who pays the bills associated with the marital home because spouses have a duty to support each other during a marriage and sometimes beyond. Unless and until one party has been granted exclusive use and possession of the premises by a court order or by agreement of the parties, you cannot exclude the other spouse from access to the marital home. In cases of domestic violence, for example, a spouse can be banned from the property by a protective order. Also in a situation such as yours, where it sounds as if she has abandoned the home, you may be successful in obtaining a court order, pursuant to a divorce, that would grant you exclusive use and possession of the property, making it unlawful for her to return.
This answer is given in accordance with the laws of Virginia and may not be applicable in any other state. It should not be construed as legal advice, as that would require a more thorough analysis of all of the facts involved in a specific case.
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