{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/16.1-274.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/16.1-274.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/16.1-274.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/16.1-274.html"}],"law_id":56443,"edition_id":1,"section_id":56443,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-274","catch_line":"Time for filing of reports; copies furnished to attorneys; amended reports; fees","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 16.1-208.1; 1972, c. 111; 1975, c. 286; 1977, c. 559; 1983, c. 174; 1987, c. 5; 1989, c. 725; 1990, c. 752; 1991, cc. 534, 618; 1992, c. 554; 1993, c. 975; 2001, c. 364; 2006, c. 675; 2012, cc. 164, 456; 2020, c. 21; 2022, c. 543.","full_text":"A\n\nWhenever any court directs an investigation pursuant to subdivision A of &#xA7; 16.1-237 or &#xA7; 16.1-273 or 9.1-153, or an evaluation pursuant to &#xA7; 16.1-278.5, the probation officer, court-appointed special advocate, or other agency conducting such investigation shall file such report with the clerk of the court directing the investigation. The clerk shall furnish a copy of such report to all attorneys representing parties in the matter before the court no later than 72 hours, and in cases of child custody, 15 days, prior to the time set by the court for hearing the matter. If such probation officer or other agency discovers additional information or a change in circumstance after the filing of the report, an amended report shall be filed forthwith and a copy sent to each person who received a copy of the original report. Whenever such a report is not filed or an amended report is filed, the court shall grant such continuance of the proceedings as justice requires. All attorneys receiving such report or amended report shall return such to the clerk upon the conclusion of the hearing and shall not make copies of such report or amended report or any portion thereof. However, the chief judge of each juvenile and domestic relations district court may provide for an alternative means of copying and distributing reports or amended reports referenced above.B\n\nNotwithstanding the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; 16.1-69.48:2 and 17.1-275, when the court directs the appropriate local department of social services to conduct supervised visitation or directs the appropriate local department of social services or court services unit to conduct an investigation pursuant to &#xA7; 16.1-273 or to provide mediation services in matters involving a child&#8217;s custody, visitation, or support, the court shall assess a fee against the petitioner, the respondent, or both, in accordance with fee schedules established by the appropriate local board of social services when the service is provided by a local department of social services or by a court services unit. The fee schedules shall include (i) standards for determining the paying party&#8217;s or parties&#8217; ability to pay and (ii) a scale of fees based on the paying party&#8217;s or parties&#8217; income and family size and the actual cost of the services provided. The fee charged shall not exceed the actual cost of the service. The fee shall be assessed as a cost of the case and shall be paid as prescribed by the court to the local department of social services, locally operated court services unit or Department of Juvenile Justice, whichever performed the service, unless payment is waived. The method and medium for payment for such services shall be determined by the local department of social services, Department of Juvenile Justice, or the locally operated court services unit that provided the services.C\n\nWhen a local department of social services or any court services unit is requested by another local department or court services unit in the Commonwealth or by a similar department or entity in another state to conduct an investigation involving a child&#8217;s custody, visitation or support pursuant to &#xA7; 16.1-273 or, in the case of a request from another state pursuant to a provision corresponding to &#xA7; 16.1-273, or to provide mediation services, or for a local department of social services to provide supervised visitation, the local department or the court services unit performing the service may require payment of fees prior to conducting the investigation or providing mediation services or supervised visitation.D\n\nIn any matter in which the court appoints a guardian ad litem to represent a child, such guardian ad litem shall conduct an investigation in accordance with the Standards to Govern the Performance of Guardians Ad Litem for Children established by the Judicial Council of Virginia. Prior to the commencement of the dispositional hearing of any such matter, the guardian ad litem shall file with the court, with a copy to all attorneys representing parties to such matter and all parties proceeding pro se in such matter, a certification of the guardian ad litem&#8217;s compliance with the Standards to Govern the Performance of Guardians Ad Litem for Children established by the Judicial Council of Virginia, specifically addressing compliance with such standards requiring face-to-face contact with the child in such certification. The guardian ad litem shall document the hours spent satisfying such face-to-face contact requirements in such certification, which shall be compensated at the same rate as that for in-court service.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":206645,"text":"Whenever any court directs an investigation pursuant to subdivision A of &#xA7; 16.1-237 or &#xA7; 16.1-273 or 9.1-153, or an evaluation pursuant to &#xA7; 16.1-278.5, the probation officer, court-appointed special advocate, or other agency conducting such investigation shall file such report with the clerk of the court directing the investigation. The clerk shall furnish a copy of such report to all attorneys representing parties in the matter before the court no later than 72 hours, and in cases of child custody, 15 days, prior to the time set by the court for hearing the matter. If such probation officer or other agency discovers additional information or a change in circumstance after the filing of the report, an amended report shall be filed forthwith and a copy sent to each person who received a copy of the original report. Whenever such a report is not filed or an amended report is filed, the court shall grant such continuance of the proceedings as justice requires. All attorneys receiving such report or amended report shall return such to the clerk upon the conclusion of the hearing and shall not make copies of such report or amended report or any portion thereof. However, the chief judge of each juvenile and domestic relations district court may provide for an alternative means of copying and distributing reports or amended reports referenced above.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":206646,"text":"Notwithstanding the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; 16.1-69.48:2 and 17.1-275, when the court directs the appropriate local department of social services to conduct supervised visitation or directs the appropriate local department of social services or court services unit to conduct an investigation pursuant to &#xA7; 16.1-273 or to provide mediation services in matters involving a child&#8217;s custody, visitation, or support, the court shall assess a fee against the petitioner, the respondent, or both, in accordance with fee schedules established by the appropriate local board of social services when the service is provided by a local department of social services or by a court services unit. The fee schedules shall include (i) standards for determining the paying party&#8217;s or parties&#8217; ability to pay and (ii) a scale of fees based on the paying party&#8217;s or parties&#8217; income and family size and the actual cost of the services provided. The fee charged shall not exceed the actual cost of the service. The fee shall be assessed as a cost of the case and shall be paid as prescribed by the court to the local department of social services, locally operated court services unit or Department of Juvenile Justice, whichever performed the service, unless payment is waived. The method and medium for payment for such services shall be determined by the local department of social services, Department of Juvenile Justice, or the locally operated court services unit that provided the services.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":206647,"text":"When a local department of social services or any court services unit is requested by another local department or court services unit in the Commonwealth or by a similar department or entity in another state to conduct an investigation involving a child&#8217;s custody, visitation or support pursuant to &#xA7; 16.1-273 or, in the case of a request from another state pursuant to a provision corresponding to &#xA7; 16.1-273, or to provide mediation services, or for a local department of social services to provide supervised visitation, the local department or the court services unit performing the service may require payment of fees prior to conducting the investigation or providing mediation services or supervised visitation.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":206648,"text":"In any matter in which the court appoints a guardian ad litem to represent a child, such guardian ad litem shall conduct an investigation in accordance with the Standards to Govern the Performance of Guardians Ad Litem for Children established by the Judicial Council of Virginia. Prior to the commencement of the dispositional hearing of any such matter, the guardian ad litem shall file with the court, with a copy to all attorneys representing parties to such matter and all parties proceeding pro se in such matter, a certification of the guardian ad litem&#8217;s compliance with the Standards to Govern the Performance of Guardians Ad Litem for Children established by the Judicial Council of Virginia, specifically addressing compliance with such standards requiring face-to-face contact with the child in such certification. The guardian ad litem shall document the hours spent satisfying such face-to-face contact requirements in such certification, which shall be compensated at the same rate as that for in-court service.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13301,"edition_id":1,"name":"Adjudication","identifier":"8","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12701,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:36","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:36","permalink":{"id":161719,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13301,"identifier":"8","token":"16.1\/11\/8","url":"\/16.1\/11\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12701,"edition_id":1,"name":"Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts","identifier":"11","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12700,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":160945,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12701,"identifier":"11","token":"16.1\/11","url":"\/16.1\/11\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12700,"edition_id":1,"name":"Courts Not of Record","identifier":"16.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":160919,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12700,"identifier":"16.1","token":"16.1","url":"\/16.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":84576,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-273","catch_line":"Court may require investigation of social history and preparation of victim impact statement","url":"\/16.1-273\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-273","metadata":false},{"id":56443,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-274","catch_line":"Time for filing of reports; copies furnished to attorneys; amended reports; fees","url":"\/16.1-274\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-274","metadata":false},{"id":66915,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-274.1","catch_line":"Admission of evidence of juvenile's age","url":"\/16.1-274.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-274.1","metadata":false},{"id":75959,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-274.2","catch_line":"Certain education records as evidence","url":"\/16.1-274.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-274.2","metadata":false},{"id":68027,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-275","catch_line":"Physical and mental examinations and treatment; nursing and medical care","url":"\/16.1-275\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-275","metadata":false},{"id":87109,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-276","catch_line":"Fees and travel expenses of witnesses","url":"\/16.1-276\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-276","metadata":false},{"id":64722,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-276.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/16.1-276.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-276.1","metadata":false},{"id":79168,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-276.2","catch_line":"Transportation orders in certain proceedings","url":"\/16.1-276.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-276.2","metadata":false},{"id":76333,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-276.3","catch_line":"Use of telephonic communication systems or electronic video and audio communication systems to conduct hearing","url":"\/16.1-276.3\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-276.3","metadata":false},{"id":82701,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-276.4","catch_line":"Use of restraints on juveniles in court prohibited; exceptions","url":"\/16.1-276.4\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-276.4","metadata":false},{"id":79123,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-277","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/16.1-277\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-277","metadata":false},{"id":73490,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-277.01","catch_line":"Approval of entrustment agreement","url":"\/16.1-277.01\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-277.01","metadata":false},{"id":73075,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-277.02","catch_line":"(Effective January 1, 2026) Petition for relief of care and custody","url":"\/16.1-277.02\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-277.02","metadata":false},{"id":54290,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-277.1","catch_line":"Time limitation","url":"\/16.1-277.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-277.1","metadata":false},{"id":75663,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-277.2","catch_line":"Rejection of plea agreement; recusal","url":"\/16.1-277.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-277.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":84576,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-273","catch_line":"Court may require investigation of social history and preparation of victim impact statement","url":"\/16.1-273\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-273","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":66915,"structure_id":13301,"section_number":"16.1-274.1","catch_line":"Admission of evidence of juvenile's age","url":"\/16.1-274.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-274.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/16.1-274\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 15 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1972, chapter 111; in 1975, chapter 286; in 1977, chapter 559; in 1983, chapter 174; in 1987, chapter 5; in 1989, chapter 725; in 1990, chapter 752; in 1991, chapters 534 and 618; in 1992, chapter 554; in 1993, chapter 975; in 2001, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?011+ful+CHAP0364\">364<\/a>; in 2006, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?061+ful+CHAP0675\">675<\/a>; in 2012, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?121+ful+CHAP0164\">164<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?121+ful+CHAP0456\">456<\/a>; in 2020, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?201+ful+CHAP0021\">21<\/a>; in 2022, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?221+ful+CHAP0543\">543<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":62708,"section_number":"16.1-278.5","catch_line":"Children in need of supervision","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-278.5\/"},{"id":69040,"section_number":"63.2-314","catch_line":"Funds received from public or private sources; authority of local governing bodies to make grants; authority of local boards to establish regulations and fees for court ordered services","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-314\/"},{"id":71015,"section_number":"9.1-153","catch_line":"Volunteer court-appointed special advocates; powers and duties; assignment; qualifications; training","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-153\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":69673,"section_number":"16.1-237","catch_line":"Powers, duties and functions of probation and parole officers","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-237\/"},{"id":84576,"section_number":"16.1-273","catch_line":"Court may require investigation of social history and preparation of victim impact statement","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-273\/"},{"id":62708,"section_number":"16.1-278.5","catch_line":"Children in need of supervision","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-278.5\/"},{"id":60355,"section_number":"16.1-69.48:2","catch_line":"Fees for services of district court judges and clerks and magistrates in civil cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-69.48_2\/"},{"id":71931,"section_number":"17.1-275","catch_line":"Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generally","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-275\/"},{"id":71015,"section_number":"9.1-153","catch_line":"Volunteer court-appointed special advocates; powers and duties; assignment; qualifications; training","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-153\/"}],"permalink":{"id":161725,"object_type":"law","relational_id":56443,"identifier":"16.1-274","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-274","url":"\/16.1-274\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/16.1-274\/","token":"16.1\/11\/8\/16.1-274","dublin_core":{"Title":"Time for filing of reports; copies furnished to attorneys; amended reports; fees","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 16.1-274","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> Whenever any court directs an investigation pursuant to subdivision A of &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Powers, duties and functions of probation and parole officers\" href=\"\/16.1-237\/\">16.1-237<\/a> or &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Court may require investigation of social history and preparation of victim impact statement\" href=\"\/16.1-273\/\">16.1-273<\/a> or <a class=\"law\" title=\"Volunteer court-appointed special advocates; powers and duties; assignment; qualifications; training\" href=\"\/9.1-153\/\">9.1-153<\/a>, or an evaluation pursuant to &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Children in need of supervision\" href=\"\/16.1-278.5\/\">16.1-278.5<\/a>, the <span class=\"dictionary\">probation officer<\/span>, court-appointed special advocate, or other agency conducting such investigation shall file such report with the clerk of <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span> directing the investigation. The clerk shall furnish a copy of such report to all attorneys representing parties in the matter before <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span> no later than 72 hours, and in cases of child <span class=\"dictionary\">custody<\/span>, 15 days, prior to the time set by <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span> for <span class=\"dictionary\">hearing<\/span> the matter. If such <span class=\"dictionary\">probation officer<\/span> or other agency discovers additional information or a change in circumstance after the filing of the report, an amended report shall be filed forthwith and a copy sent to each person who received a copy of the original report. Whenever such a report is not filed or an amended report is filed, <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span> shall grant such <span class=\"dictionary\">continuance<\/span> of the proceedings as justice requires. All attorneys receiving such report or amended report shall return such to the clerk upon the conclusion of the <span class=\"dictionary\">hearing<\/span> and shall not make copies of such report or amended report or any portion thereof. However, the <span class=\"dictionary\">chief judge<\/span> of each juvenile and domestic relations district court may provide for an alternative means of copying and distributing reports or amended reports referenced above. <a id=\"paragraph-206645\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/16.1-274\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> Notwithstanding the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Fees for services of district court judges and clerks and magistrates in civil cases\" href=\"\/16.1-69.48_2\/\">16.1-69.48:2<\/a> and <a class=\"law\" title=\"Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generally\" href=\"\/17.1-275\/\">17.1-275<\/a>, when <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span> directs the appropriate local <span class=\"dictionary\">department<\/span> of social services to conduct supervised visitation or directs the appropriate local <span class=\"dictionary\">department<\/span> of social services or court services unit to conduct an investigation pursuant to &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Court may require investigation of social history and preparation of victim impact statement\" href=\"\/16.1-273\/\">16.1-273<\/a> or to provide mediation services in matters involving a child&#8217;s <span class=\"dictionary\">custody<\/span>, visitation, or support, <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span> shall assess a fee against the petitioner, the respondent, or both, in accordance with fee <span class=\"dictionary\">schedules<\/span> established by the appropriate local board of social services when the service is provided by a local <span class=\"dictionary\">department<\/span> of social services or by a court services unit. The fee <span class=\"dictionary\">schedules<\/span> shall include (i) standards for determining the paying <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span>&#8217;s or parties&#8217; ability to pay and (ii) a scale of fees based on the paying <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span>&#8217;s or parties&#8217; income and family size and the actual cost of the services provided. The fee charged shall not exceed the actual cost of the service. The fee shall be assessed as a cost of the case and shall be paid as prescribed by <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span> to the local <span class=\"dictionary\">department<\/span> of social services, locally operated court services unit or <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Juvenile Justice, whichever performed the service, unless payment is waived. The method and medium for payment for such services shall be determined by the local <span class=\"dictionary\">department<\/span> of social services, <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Juvenile Justice, or the locally operated court services unit that provided the services. <a id=\"paragraph-206646\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/16.1-274\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">C.<\/span> When a local <span class=\"dictionary\">department<\/span> of social services or any court services unit is requested by another local <span class=\"dictionary\">department<\/span> or court services unit in the Commonwealth or by a similar <span class=\"dictionary\">department<\/span> or entity in another state to conduct an investigation involving a child&#8217;s <span class=\"dictionary\">custody<\/span>, visitation or support pursuant to &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Court may require investigation of social history and preparation of victim impact statement\" href=\"\/16.1-273\/\">16.1-273<\/a> or, in the case of a request from another state pursuant to a provision corresponding to &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Court may require investigation of social history and preparation of victim impact statement\" href=\"\/16.1-273\/\">16.1-273<\/a>, or to provide mediation services, or for a local <span class=\"dictionary\">department<\/span> of social services to provide supervised visitation, the local <span class=\"dictionary\">department<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span> services unit performing the service may require payment of fees prior to conducting the investigation or providing mediation services or supervised visitation. <a id=\"paragraph-206647\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/16.1-274\/#C\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"D\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">D.<\/span> In any matter in which <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span> appoints a <span class=\"dictionary\">guardian ad litem<\/span> to represent a child, such <span class=\"dictionary\">guardian ad litem<\/span> shall conduct an investigation in accordance with the Standards to Govern the Performance of Guardians Ad Litem for Children established by the Judicial Council of Virginia. Prior to the commencement of the dispositional <span class=\"dictionary\">hearing<\/span> of any such matter, the <span class=\"dictionary\">guardian ad litem<\/span> shall file with <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span>, with a copy to all attorneys representing parties to such matter and all parties proceeding <span class=\"dictionary\">pro se<\/span> in such matter, a certification of the <span class=\"dictionary\">guardian ad litem<\/span>&#8217;s compliance with the Standards to Govern the Performance of Guardians Ad Litem for Children established by the Judicial Council of Virginia, specifically addressing compliance with such standards requiring face-to-face contact with the child in such certification. The <span class=\"dictionary\">guardian ad litem<\/span> shall document the hours spent satisfying such face-to-face contact requirements in such certification, which shall be compensated at the same rate as that for in-court service. <a id=\"paragraph-206648\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/16.1-274\/#D\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nTIME FOR FILING OF REPORTS; COPIES FURNISHED TO ATTORNEYS; AMENDED REPORTS; FEES\n(\u00a7 16.1-274)\n\nA. Whenever any court directs an investigation pursuant to subdivision A of\n&#xA7; 16.1-237 or &#xA7; 16.1-273 or 9.1-153, or an evaluation pursuant to\n&#xA7; 16.1-278.5, the probation officer, court-appointed special advocate, or\nother agency conducting such investigation shall file such report with the clerk\nof the court directing the investigation. The clerk shall furnish a copy of such\nreport to all attorneys representing parties in the matter before the court no\nlater than 72 hours, and in cases of child custody, 15 days, prior to the time\nset by the court for hearing the matter. If such probation officer or other\nagency discovers additional information or a change in circumstance after the\nfiling of the report, an amended report shall be filed forthwith and a copy sent\nto each person who received a copy of the original report. Whenever such a\nreport is not filed or an amended report is filed, the court shall grant such\ncontinuance of the proceedings as justice requires. All attorneys receiving such\nreport or amended report shall return such to the clerk upon the conclusion of\nthe hearing and shall not make copies of such report or amended report or any\nportion thereof. However, the chief judge of each juvenile and domestic\nrelations district court may provide for an alternative means of copying and\ndistributing reports or amended reports referenced above.\n\nB. Notwithstanding the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; 16.1-69.48:2 and 17.1-275,\nwhen the court directs the appropriate local department of social services to\nconduct supervised visitation or directs the appropriate local department of\nsocial services or court services unit to conduct an investigation pursuant to\n&#xA7; 16.1-273 or to provide mediation services in matters involving a\nchild&#8217;s custody, visitation, or support, the court shall assess a fee\nagainst the petitioner, the respondent, or both, in accordance with fee\nschedules established by the appropriate local board of social services when the\nservice is provided by a local department of social services or by a court\nservices unit. The fee schedules shall include (i) standards for determining the\npaying party&#8217;s or parties&#8217; ability to pay and (ii) a scale of fees\nbased on the paying party&#8217;s or parties&#8217; income and family size and\nthe actual cost of the services provided. The fee charged shall not exceed the\nactual cost of the service. The fee shall be assessed as a cost of the case and\nshall be paid as prescribed by the court to the local department of social\nservices, locally operated court services unit or Department of Juvenile\nJustice, whichever performed the service, unless payment is waived. The method\nand medium for payment for such services shall be determined by the local\ndepartment of social services, Department of Juvenile Justice, or the locally\noperated court services unit that provided the services.\n\nC. When a local department of social services or any court services unit is\nrequested by another local department or court services unit in the Commonwealth\nor by a similar department or entity in another state to conduct an\ninvestigation involving a child&#8217;s custody, visitation or support pursuant\nto &#xA7; 16.1-273 or, in the case of a request from another state pursuant to a\nprovision corresponding to &#xA7; 16.1-273, or to provide mediation services, or\nfor a local department of social services to provide supervised visitation, the\nlocal department or the court services unit performing the service may require\npayment of fees prior to conducting the investigation or providing mediation\nservices or supervised visitation.\n\nD. In any matter in which the court appoints a guardian ad litem to represent a\nchild, such guardian ad litem shall conduct an investigation in accordance with\nthe Standards to Govern the Performance of Guardians Ad Litem for Children\nestablished by the Judicial Council of Virginia. Prior to the commencement of\nthe dispositional hearing of any such matter, the guardian ad litem shall file\nwith the court, with a copy to all attorneys representing parties to such matter\nand all parties proceeding pro se in such matter, a certification of the\nguardian ad litem&#8217;s compliance with the Standards to Govern the\nPerformance of Guardians Ad Litem for Children established by the Judicial\nCouncil of Virginia, specifically addressing compliance with such standards\nrequiring face-to-face contact with the child in such certification. The\nguardian ad litem shall document the hours spent satisfying such face-to-face\ncontact requirements in such certification, which shall be compensated at the\nsame rate as that for in-court service.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 16.1-208.1; 1972, c. 111; 1975, c. 286; 1977, c. 559;\n1983, c. 174; 1987, c. 5; 1989, c. 725; 1990, c. 752; 1991, cc. 534, 618; 1992,\nc. 554; 1993, c. 975; 2001, c. 364; 2006, c. 675; 2012, cc. 164, 456; 2020, c.\n21; 2022, c. 543.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}