Opinion ID: 1339746
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Was the Custody Order Void?

Text: Stephen argues that the custody order of October 3, 1980, was void since the trial court did not accord him a de novo trial on his appeal from the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court's initial award of custody to Marilyn and did not permit him to call various witnesses on his behalf. He points to Robertson v. Commonwealth, 181 Va. 520, 536, 25 S.E.2d 352, 358 (1943), where we said: It is, of course, well settled that disobedience of, or resistance to a void order, judgment, or decree is not contempt .... This is so because a void order, judgment, or decree is a nullity and may be attacked collaterally. [Citations omitted.] This issue, however, was foreclosed in Leisge I where we affirmed the trial court and declared the custody order of October 3, 1980, to be valid. [2] 223 Va. at 694, 292 S.E.2d at 355.