Source: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title20/chapter7.1/
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Code of Virginia Code - Chapter 7.1. Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act
Table of Contents » Title 20. Domestic Relations » Chapter 7.1. Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act
Chapter 7.1. Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.
§ 20-146.2. Proceedings governed by other law.
§ 20-146.3. Application to Indian tribes.
A. A child custody proceeding that pertains to an Indian child as defined in the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq., is not subject to this act to the extent that it is governed by the Indian Child Welfare Act.
B. A court of this Commonwealth shall treat a tribe as if it were a state of the United States for the purpose of applying this article and Article 2 (§ 20-146.12 et seq.) of this chapter.
C. A child custody determination made by a tribe under factual circumstances in substantial conformity with the jurisdictional standards of this act must be recognized and enforced under Article 3 (§ 20-146.22 et seq.) of this chapter.
§ 20-146.4. International application.
A. A court of this Commonwealth shall treat a foreign country as if it were a state of the United States for purposes of applying this article and Article 2 (§ 20-146.12 et seq.) of this chapter.
B. Except as otherwise provided in subsection C, a child custody determination made in a foreign country under factual circumstances in substantial conformity with the jurisdictional standards of this act must be recognized and enforced under Article 3 (§ 20-146.22 et seq.) of this chapter.
C. A court of this Commonwealth need not apply this act if the child custody law of a foreign country violates fundamental principles of human rights.
1979, c. 229, § 20-146; 2001, c. 305.
§ 20-146.5. Effect of child custody determination.
A child custody determination made by a court of this Commonwealth that had jurisdiction under this act binds all persons who have been served in accordance with the laws of this Commonwealth or notified in accordance with § 20-146.7 or who have submitted to the jurisdiction of the court, and who have been given an opportunity to be heard. As to those persons, the determination is conclusive as to all decided issues of law and fact except to the extent the determination is modified by a court properly having jurisdiction.
1979, c. 229, § 20-135; 2001, c. 305.
§ 20-146.6. Priority.
If a question of existence or exercise of jurisdiction under this act is raised in a child custody proceeding, the question, upon request of a party, must be given priority on the calendar and handled expeditiously.
§ 20-146.7. Notice to persons outside state.
A. Notice required for the exercise of jurisdiction when a person is outside this Commonwealth may be given in a manner prescribed by the law of this Commonwealth for service of process or by the law of the state in which the service is attempted or made. Notice may also be by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the last known address of the person to be served. Notice must be given in a manner reasonably calculated to give actual notice and an opportunity to be heard but may be by publication pursuant to §§ 8.01-316 and 8.01-317 if other means are not effective.
B. Proof of service may be made in the manner prescribed by the law of this Commonwealth or by the law of the state in which the service is made.
1979, c. 229; 1982, c. 483, § 20-128; 2001, c. 305.
§ 20-146.8. Appearance and limited immunity.
A. A party to a child custody proceeding, including a modification proceeding, or a petitioner or respondent in a proceeding to enforce or register a child custody determination is not subject to personal jurisdiction in this Commonwealth for another proceeding or purpose solely by reason of having participated, or having been physically present for the purpose of participating, in the proceeding.
B. A person who is subject to personal jurisdiction in this Commonwealth on a basis other than physical presence is not immune from service of process in this Commonwealth. A party present in this Commonwealth who is subject to the jurisdiction of another state is not immune from service of process allowable under the laws of that state.
C. The immunity granted by subsection A does not extend to civil litigation based on acts unrelated to the participation in a proceeding under this act committed by an individual while present in this Commonwealth.
§ 20-146.9. Communication between courts.
A. Before finding and exercising jurisdiction, a court of this Commonwealth shall communicate with the court appearing to have jurisdiction in any other state concerning a proceeding arising under this act.
D. Except as otherwise provided in subsection C, a record must be made of a communication under this section. The parties must be informed promptly of the communication and granted access to the record.
§ 20-146.10. Taking testimony in another state.
A. In addition to other procedures available to a party, a party to a child custody proceeding may offer testimony of witnesses who are located in another state, including testimony of the parties and the child, by deposition or other means allowable in this Commonwealth for testimony taken in another state. The court on its own motion may order that the testimony of a person be taken in another state and may prescribe the manner in which and the terms upon which the testimony is taken.
B. A court of this Commonwealth may permit an individual residing in another state to be deposed or to testify by telephone, audiovisual means, or other electronic means before a designated court or at another location in that state. A court of this Commonwealth shall cooperate with courts of other states in designating an appropriate location for the deposition or testimony.
C. Documentary evidence transmitted from another state to a court of this Commonwealth by technological means that do not produce an original writing may not be excluded from evidence on an objection based on the means of transmission.
1979, c. 229, § 20-141; 2001, c. 305.
§ 20-146.11. Cooperation between courts; preservation of records.
A. A court of this Commonwealth may request the appropriate court of another state to:
4. Forward to the court of this Commonwealth a certified copy of the transcript of the record of the hearing, the evidence otherwise presented, and any evaluation prepared in compliance with the request; and
B. Upon request of a court of another state, a court of this Commonwealth may hold a hearing or enter an order described in subsection A.
C. Travel and other necessary and reasonable expenses incurred under subsections A and B may be assessed against the parties according to the law of this Commonwealth.
D. A court of this Commonwealth shall preserve the pleadings, orders, decrees, records of hearings, evaluations, and other pertinent records with respect to a child custody proceeding until the child attains eighteen years of age. Upon appropriate request by a court or law-enforcement official of another state, the court shall forward a certified copy of those records.
1979, c. 229, §§ 20-142, 20-143, 20-144, 20-145; 2001, c. 305.
§ 20-146.12. Initial child custody jurisdiction.
1979, c. 229, § 20-126; 2001, c. 305.
Except as otherwise provided in § 20-146.15, a court of the Commonwealth may not modify a child custody determination made by a court of another state unless a court of the Commonwealth has jurisdiction to make an initial determination under subdivision A 1 or A 2 of § 20-146.12 and:
1. The court of the other state determines that it no longer has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under § 20-146.13 or that a court of the Commonwealth would be a more convenient forum under § 20-146.18; or
2. A court of the Commonwealth or a court of the other state determines that neither a parent of the child, nor the child, nor any person acting as a parent of the child presently resides in the other state.
1979, c. 229, § 20-137; 2001, c. 305; 2016, c. 179.
§ 20-146.16. Notice; opportunity to be heard; joinder.
A. Before a child's custody determination is made under this act, notice and an opportunity to be heard in accordance with the standards of § 20-146.7 must be given to all persons entitled to notice under the laws of this Commonwealth as in child custody proceedings between residents of this Commonwealth, any parent whose parental rights have not been previously terminated, and any person having physical custody of the child.
B. The laws of the Commonwealth shall govern the enforceability of a child custody determination made without actual notice or an opportunity to be heard.
C. The obligation to join a party and the right to intervene as a party in a child custody proceeding under this act are governed by the laws of this Commonwealth as in child custody proceedings between residents of this Commonwealth.
1979, c. 229, §§ 20-127, 20-133; 2001, c. 305.
1979, c. 229, § 20-129; 2001, c. 305.
A. A court of this Commonwealth that has jurisdiction under this act to make a child custody determination may decline to exercise its jurisdiction at any time if it determines that it is an inconvenient forum under the circumstances and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum. The issue of inconvenient forum may be raised upon the motion of a party, the court's own motion, or request of another court.
2. The length of time the child has resided outside this Commonwealth;
3. The distance between the court in this Commonwealth and the court in the state that would assume jurisdiction;
1979, c. 229, § 20-130; 2001, c. 305.
§ 20-146.20. Information to be submitted to court.
A. In a child custody proceeding, each party, in its first pleading or in an attached affidavit, shall give information, if reasonably ascertainable, under oath as to the child's present address or whereabouts, the places where the child has lived during the past five years, and the names and present addresses of the persons with whom the child has lived during that period. The pleading or affidavit must state whether the party:
3. Knows the names and addresses of any persons not a party to the proceeding who has physical custody of the child or claims rights of legal custody or physical custody of, or visitation with, the child and, if so, the names and addresses of those persons.
B. If the information required by subsection A is not furnished, the court, upon motion of a party or its own motion, may stay the proceeding until the information is furnished.
C. If the declaration as to any of the items described in subdivisions A 1, A 2 and A 3 is in the affirmative, the declarant shall give additional information under oath as required by the court. The court may examine the parties under oath as to details of the information furnished and other matters pertinent to the court's jurisdiction and the disposition of the case.
E. If a party alleges in an affidavit or a pleading under oath that the health, safety, or liberty of a party or child would be jeopardized by disclosure of identifying information, the information shall be sealed and may not be disclosed to the other party or the public unless the court orders the disclosure to be made after a hearing in which the court takes into consideration the health, safety, or liberty of the party or child. In such a hearing the court shall make a written finding that the disclosure is or is not in the interest of justice. Such hearing and written finding of the issue of disclosure shall be held and made by the court within fifteen days of the filing of a pleading.
1979, c. 229; 1982, c. 519, § 20-132; 2001, c. 305.
§ 20-146.21. Appearance of parties and child.
A. In a child custody proceeding in this Commonwealth, the court may order a party to the proceeding who is in this Commonwealth to appear before the court in person with or without the child. The court may order any person who is in this Commonwealth and who has physical custody or control of the child to appear in person with the child.
B. If a party to a child custody proceeding whose presence is desired by the court is outside this Commonwealth, the court may direct the party to appear in person with or without the child and inform the party that failure to appear may result in a decision adverse to the party.
D. If a party to a child custody proceeding who is outside this Commonwealth is directed to appear under subsection B or desires to appear personally before the court with or without the child, the court may require another party to pay reasonable and necessary travel and other expenses of the party so appearing and of the child.
1979, c. 229, § 20-134; 2001, c. 305.
§ 20-146.22. Definitions.
"Petitioner" means a person who seeks enforcement of an order for return of a child under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction or enforcement of a child custody determination.
"Respondent" means a person against whom a proceeding has been commenced for enforcement of an order for return of a child under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction or enforcement of a child custody determination.
§ 20-146.23. Enforcement under Hague Convention.
Under this article a court of this Commonwealth may enforce an order for the return of the child made under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
§ 20-146.25. Temporary visitation.
A. A court of this Commonwealth that does not have jurisdiction to modify a child custody determination may issue a temporary order enforcing:
B. If a court of this Commonwealth makes an order under subdivision A 2, it shall specify in the order a period that it considers adequate to allow the petitioner to obtain an order from a court having jurisdiction under the criteria specified in Article 2 (§ 20-146.12 et seq.) of this chapter. The order remains in effect until an order is obtained from the other court or the period expires.
§ 20-146.28. Simultaneous proceedings.
If a proceeding for enforcement under this article is commenced in a court of this Commonwealth and the court determines that a proceeding to modify the determination is pending in a court of another state having jurisdiction to modify the determination under Article 2 (§ 20-146.12 et seq.) of this chapter, the enforcing court shall immediately communicate with the modifying court. The proceeding for enforcement continues unless the enforcing court, after consultation with the modifying court, stays or dismisses the proceeding.
§ 20-146.29. Expedited enforcement of child custody; determination.
5. Whether relief in addition to the immediate physical custody of the child and attorneys' fees is sought, including a request for assistance from law-enforcement officials and, if so, the relief sought; and
6. If the child custody determination has been registered under § 20-146.26, the date and place of registration.
C. Upon the filing of a petition, the court shall issue an order directing the respondent to appear in person with or without the child at a hearing and may enter any order necessary to ensure the safety of the parties and the child. The hearing must be held on the next judicial day after service of the order unless that date is impossible. In that event, the court shall hold the hearing on the first judicial day possible. The court may extend the date of hearing at the request of the petitioner.
D. An order issued under subsection C must state the time and place of the hearing and advise the respondent that at the hearing the court will order that the petitioner may take immediate physical custody of the child and the payment of fees, costs, and expenses under § 20-146.33, and may schedule a hearing to determine whether further relief is appropriate, unless the respondent appears and establishes that:
1. The child custody determination has not been registered under § 20-146.26, and that:
b. The child custody determination for which enforcement is sought has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a court having jurisdiction to do so under Article 2 (§ 20-146.12 et seq.) of this chapter;
§ 20-146.30. Service of petition and order.
Except as otherwise provided in § 20-146.32, the petition and order shall be served, by any method authorized by the law of this Commonwealth, upon the respondent and any person who has physical custody of the child.
§ 20-146.31. Hearing and order.
§ 20-146.32. Ex parte order to take physical custody of child.
A. Upon the filing of a petition seeking enforcement of a child custody determination, the petitioner may request in the petition that the court issue an ex parte order that the child be taken into immediate physical custody if the child is imminently likely to suffer serious physical harm or be removed from this Commonwealth. Any petition for an ex parte order shall include the statements required by subsection B of § 20-146.29.
B. If the court, upon the testimony of the petitioner or other witness, finds that the child is imminently likely to suffer serious physical harm or be removed from this Commonwealth, it may issue an ex parte order to take immediate physical custody of the child. A petition filed to enforce a child custody determination which seeks an ex parte order shall be heard on the next judicial day after the ex parte order is issued the unless that date is impossible. In that event, the court shall hold the hearing on the first judicial day possible.
C. An ex parte order to take physical custody of a child shall:
2. Direct law-enforcement officers to take physical custody of the child immediately; and
3. Provide for the placement of the child with the petitioner, suitable relative, other suitable interested individual or the local department of social services pending final relief.
D. The respondent must be served with the petition and ex parte order immediately after the child is taken into physical custody.
E. An ex parte order to take physical custody of a child is enforceable throughout this Commonwealth. If the court finds on the basis of the testimony of the petitioner or other witness that a less intrusive remedy is not effective, it may authorize law-enforcement officers to enter private property to take physical custody of the child. If required by exigent circumstances of the case, the court may authorize law-enforcement officers to make a forcible entry at any hour.
§ 20-146.33. Costs, fees, and expenses.
1979, c. 229, § 20-136; 2001, c. 305.
§ 20-146.34. Recognition and enforcement.
A court of this Commonwealth shall accord full faith and credit to an order issued by another state and consistent with this act that enforces a child custody determination by a court of another state unless the order has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a court having jurisdiction to do so under Article 2 (§ 20-146.12 et seq.) of this chapter.
§ 20-146.35. Appeals.
An appeal may be taken from a final order in a proceeding under this article in accordance with expedited appellate procedures in other civil cases. Unless the court enters a temporary emergency order under § 20-146.15, the enforcing court may not stay an order enforcing a child custody determination pending appeal.
Article 4. Miscellaneous Provisions [Repealed].
§ 20-146.36. Application and construction.
§ 20-146.37. Transitional provision.
A motion or other request for relief made in a child custody proceeding or to enforce a child custody determination that was commenced before July 1, 2001, is governed by the law in effect at the time the motion or other request was made.