What if husband files for divorce but does not continue?

My friend's husband petition for divorce in January. They had an initial hearing and my friend has the 3yr old child for 5/7 of the week. No finances discussed yet. She has not received a penny and her joint bank accounts were emptied out by someone. In Virginia they must wait to this coming January to finish the divorce. His lawyer quit. Husband was working full-time and she was stay at home Mom by their both desires. In January she took the child and went to a women's shelter. Now she's in government housing with a low paying job.

What happens if he doesn't want to continue the divorce? Does she never get any money? Does she have to file for divorce to get alimony? Is that another year? How can she get her lawyer paid by the same joint account they had before the separation?