{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/16.1-278.18.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/16.1-278.18.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/16.1-278.18.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/16.1-278.18.html"}],"law_id":59856,"edition_id":1,"section_id":59856,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.18","catch_line":"Money judgments","history":"1991, c. 534; 2002, c. 747; 2004, c. 204; 2005, c. 880.","full_text":"A\n\nEach juvenile and domestic relations district court may enter judgment for money in any amount for arrears of support and maintenance of any person in cases in which (i) the court has previously acquired personal jurisdiction over all necessary parties or a proceeding in which such jurisdiction has been obtained has been referred or transferred to the court by a circuit court or another juvenile and domestic relations district court and (ii) payment of such money has been previously ordered by the court, a circuit court, or another juvenile and domestic relations district court. Such judgment shall include reasonable attorneys&#8217; fees in cases where the total arrearage for support and maintenance, excluding interest, is equal to or greater than three months of support and maintenance. However, no judgment shall be entered unless the motion of a party, a probation officer, a local director of social services, or the court&#8217;s own motion is duly served on the person against whom judgment is sought, in accordance with the applicable provisions of law relating to notice when proceedings are reopened. The motion shall contain a caption stating the name of the court, the title of the action, the names of all parties and the address of the party against whom judgment is sought, the amount of arrearage for which judgment is sought, and the date and time when such judgment will be sought. No support order may be retroactively modified. It may, however, be modified with respect to any period during which there is a pending petition for modification in any court, but only from the date that notice of such petition has been given to the responding party.B\n\nThe judge or clerk of the court shall, upon written request of the obligee under a judgment entered pursuant to this section, certify and deliver an abstract of that judgment to the obligee or Department of Social Services, who may deliver the abstract to the clerk of the circuit court having jurisdiction over appeals from juvenile and domestic relations district court. The clerk shall issue executions of the judgment.C\n\nIf the judgment amount does not exceed the jurisdictional limits of subdivision (1) of &#xA7; 16.1-77, exclusive of interest and any attorneys&#8217; fees, an abstract of any such judgment entered pursuant to this section may be delivered to the clerk of the general district court of the same judicial district. The clerk shall issue executions upon the judgment.D\n\nArrearages accumulated prior to July 1, 1976, shall also be subject to the provisions of this section.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":219259,"text":"Each juvenile and domestic relations district court may enter judgment for money in any amount for arrears of support and maintenance of any person in cases in which (i) the court has previously acquired personal jurisdiction over all necessary parties or a proceeding in which such jurisdiction has been obtained has been referred or transferred to the court by a circuit court or another juvenile and domestic relations district court and (ii) payment of such money has been previously ordered by the court, a circuit court, or another juvenile and domestic relations district court. Such judgment shall include reasonable attorneys&#8217; fees in cases where the total arrearage for support and maintenance, excluding interest, is equal to or greater than three months of support and maintenance. However, no judgment shall be entered unless the motion of a party, a probation officer, a local director of social services, or the court&#8217;s own motion is duly served on the person against whom judgment is sought, in accordance with the applicable provisions of law relating to notice when proceedings are reopened. The motion shall contain a caption stating the name of the court, the title of the action, the names of all parties and the address of the party against whom judgment is sought, the amount of arrearage for which judgment is sought, and the date and time when such judgment will be sought. No support order may be retroactively modified. It may, however, be modified with respect to any period during which there is a pending petition for modification in any court, but only from the date that notice of such petition has been given to the responding party.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":219260,"text":"The judge or clerk of the court shall, upon written request of the obligee under a judgment entered pursuant to this section, certify and deliver an abstract of that judgment to the obligee or Department of Social Services, who may deliver the abstract to the clerk of the circuit court having jurisdiction over appeals from juvenile and domestic relations district court. The clerk shall issue executions of the judgment.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":219261,"text":"If the judgment amount does not exceed the jurisdictional limits of subdivision (1) of &#xA7; 16.1-77, exclusive of interest and any attorneys&#8217; fees, an abstract of any such judgment entered pursuant to this section may be delivered to the clerk of the general district court of the same judicial district. The clerk shall issue executions upon the judgment.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":219262,"text":"Arrearages accumulated prior to July 1, 1976, shall also be subject to the provisions of this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13006,"edition_id":1,"name":"Disposition","identifier":"9","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12701,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:08","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:08","permalink":{"id":161781,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13006,"identifier":"9","token":"16.1\/11\/9","url":"\/16.1\/11\/9\/","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":61839,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278","catch_line":"Cooperation of certain agencies, officials, institutions and associations","url":"\/16.1-278\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278","metadata":false},{"id":71042,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.1","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/16.1-278.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.1","metadata":false},{"id":82666,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.10","catch_line":"Traffic infractions","url":"\/16.1-278.10\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.10","metadata":false},{"id":81073,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.11","catch_line":"Mental illness and intellectual disability","url":"\/16.1-278.11\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.11","metadata":false},{"id":63604,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.12","catch_line":"When judicial consent in lieu of parental consent authorized","url":"\/16.1-278.12\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.12","metadata":false},{"id":65268,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.13","catch_line":"Work permits; petitions for treatment, etc","url":"\/16.1-278.13\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.13","metadata":false},{"id":75260,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.14","catch_line":"Criminal jurisdiction; protective orders; family offenses","url":"\/16.1-278.14\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.14","metadata":false},{"id":78408,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.15","catch_line":"Custody or visitation, child or spousal support generally","url":"\/16.1-278.15\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.15","metadata":false},{"id":61778,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.16","catch_line":"Failure to comply with support obligation; payroll deduction; commitment","url":"\/16.1-278.16\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.16","metadata":false},{"id":63607,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.17","catch_line":"Pendente lite support","url":"\/16.1-278.17\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.17","metadata":false},{"id":83584,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.17:1","catch_line":"Formula for determination of pendente lite spousal support","url":"\/16.1-278.17_1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.17_1","metadata":false},{"id":59856,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.18","catch_line":"Money judgments","url":"\/16.1-278.18\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.18","metadata":false},{"id":74062,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.19","catch_line":"Attorney fees","url":"\/16.1-278.19\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.19","metadata":false},{"id":59979,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.2","catch_line":"Abused, neglected, or abandoned children or children without parental care","url":"\/16.1-278.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.2","metadata":false},{"id":54079,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.3","catch_line":"Relief of care and custody","url":"\/16.1-278.3\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.3","metadata":false},{"id":86609,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.4","catch_line":"Children in need of services","url":"\/16.1-278.4\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.4","metadata":false},{"id":62708,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.5","catch_line":"Children in need of supervision","url":"\/16.1-278.5\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.5","metadata":false},{"id":74489,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.6","catch_line":"Status offenders","url":"\/16.1-278.6\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.6","metadata":false},{"id":80876,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.7","catch_line":"Commitment to Department of Juvenile Justice","url":"\/16.1-278.7\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.7","metadata":false},{"id":54722,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.7:01","catch_line":"Department to give notice of the receipt of certain persons","url":"\/16.1-278.7_01\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.7_01","metadata":false},{"id":87505,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.7:02","catch_line":"Department to give notice of Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry requirements to certain persons","url":"\/16.1-278.7_02\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.7_02","metadata":false},{"id":62824,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.8","catch_line":"Delinquent juveniles","url":"\/16.1-278.8\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.8","metadata":false},{"id":67041,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.8:01","catch_line":"Juveniles found delinquent of first drug offense; screening; assessment; drug tests; costs and fees; education or treatment programs","url":"\/16.1-278.8_01\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.8_01","metadata":false},{"id":74546,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.9","catch_line":"Delinquent children; loss of driving privileges for alcohol, firearm, and drug offenses; truancy","url":"\/16.1-278.9\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.9","metadata":false},{"id":72132,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-279","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/16.1-279\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-279","metadata":false},{"id":62456,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-279.1","catch_line":"Protective order in cases of family abuse","url":"\/16.1-279.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-279.1","metadata":false},{"id":76101,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-280","catch_line":"Commitment of juveniles with mental illness or intellectual disability","url":"\/16.1-280\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-280","metadata":false},{"id":58560,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-281","catch_line":"Foster care plan","url":"\/16.1-281\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-281","metadata":false},{"id":56077,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-282","catch_line":"Foster care review","url":"\/16.1-282\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-282","metadata":false},{"id":55053,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-282.1","catch_line":"Permanency planning hearing for children in foster care","url":"\/16.1-282.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-282.1","metadata":false},{"id":56299,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-282.2","catch_line":"Annual foster care review","url":"\/16.1-282.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-282.2","metadata":false},{"id":75076,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-283","catch_line":"Termination of residual parental rights","url":"\/16.1-283\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-283","metadata":false},{"id":74001,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-283.1","catch_line":"Authority to enter into voluntary post-adoption contact and communication agreement","url":"\/16.1-283.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-283.1","metadata":false},{"id":85194,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-283.2","catch_line":"Restoration of parental rights","url":"\/16.1-283.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-283.2","metadata":false},{"id":55428,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-283.3","catch_line":"Review of voluntary continuing services and support agreements for former foster youth","url":"\/16.1-283.3\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-283.3","metadata":false},{"id":61757,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-284","catch_line":"When adult sentenced for juvenile offense","url":"\/16.1-284\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-284","metadata":false},{"id":54157,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-284.1","catch_line":"Placement in secure local facility","url":"\/16.1-284.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-284.1","metadata":false},{"id":59506,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-285","catch_line":"Duration of commitments","url":"\/16.1-285\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-285","metadata":false},{"id":75164,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-285.1","catch_line":"Commitment of serious offenders","url":"\/16.1-285.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-285.1","metadata":false},{"id":70403,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-285.2","catch_line":"Release and review hearing for serious offender","url":"\/16.1-285.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-285.2","metadata":false},{"id":84274,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-286","catch_line":"Cost of maintenance; approval of placement; semiannual review","url":"\/16.1-286\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-286","metadata":false},{"id":78593,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-287","catch_line":"Transfer of information upon commitment; information to be furnished by and to local school boards","url":"\/16.1-287\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-287","metadata":false},{"id":86549,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-288","catch_line":"Protection of religious affiliations","url":"\/16.1-288\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-288","metadata":false},{"id":70444,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-289","catch_line":"Review of order of commitment","url":"\/16.1-289\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-289","metadata":false},{"id":67111,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-289.1","catch_line":"Motions to reconsider orders for participation in continuing programs","url":"\/16.1-289.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-289.1","metadata":false},{"id":65314,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-290","catch_line":"Support of committed juvenile; support from estate of juvenile","url":"\/16.1-290\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-290","metadata":false},{"id":54758,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-290.1","catch_line":"Payment for court-ordered counseling, treatment or programs","url":"\/16.1-290.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-290.1","metadata":false},{"id":66947,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-290.2","catch_line":"Certain information to be made available to certain defendants found not guilty","url":"\/16.1-290.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-290.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":83584,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.17:1","catch_line":"Formula for determination of pendente lite spousal support","url":"\/16.1-278.17_1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.17_1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":74062,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.19","catch_line":"Attorney fees","url":"\/16.1-278.19\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.19","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/16.1-278.18\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1991. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 534 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1991 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 2002, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?021+ful+CHAP0747\">747<\/a>; in 2004, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?041+ful+CHAP0204\">204<\/a>; in 2005, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0880\">880<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":56123,"section_number":"20-78.1","catch_line":"Effect of entry of support order in certain garnishment proceedings","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-78.1\/"},{"id":64307,"section_number":"20-79.1","catch_line":"Enforcement of support orders; income deduction; penalty for wrongful discharge","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-79.1\/"},{"id":72009,"section_number":"8.01-511","catch_line":"Institution of garnishment proceedings","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-511\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":72168,"section_number":"16.1-77","catch_line":"Civil jurisdiction of general district courts; amending amount of claim","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-77\/"}],"permalink":{"id":161827,"object_type":"law","relational_id":59856,"identifier":"16.1-278.18","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.18","url":"\/16.1-278.18\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/16.1-278.18\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.18","dublin_core":{"Title":"Money judgments","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 16.1-278.18","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> Each juvenile and domestic relations district court may enter <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span> for money in any amount for <span class=\"dictionary\">arrears<\/span> of support and maintenance of any person in cases in which (i) <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span> has previously acquired personal <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span> over all necessary parties or a proceeding in which such <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span> has been obtained has been referred or transferred to <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span> by a <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> court or another juvenile and domestic relations district court and (ii) payment of such money has been previously ordered by <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span>, a <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> court, or another juvenile and domestic relations district court. Such <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span> shall include reasonable attorneys&#8217; fees in cases where the total arrearage for support and maintenance, excluding interest, is equal to or greater than three months of support and maintenance. However, no <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span> shall be entered unless the <span class=\"dictionary\">motion<\/span> of a <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span>, a <span class=\"dictionary\">probation officer<\/span>, a local <span class=\"dictionary\">director<\/span> of social services, or <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span>&#8217;s own <span class=\"dictionary\">motion<\/span> is duly served on the person against whom <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span> is sought, in accordance with the applicable provisions of <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span> relating to notice when proceedings are reopened. The <span class=\"dictionary\">motion<\/span> shall contain a caption stating the name of <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span>, the title of the action, the names of all parties and the address of the <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span> against whom <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span> is sought, the amount of arrearage for which <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span> is sought, and the date and time when such <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span> will be sought. No support <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> may be retroactively modified. It may, however, be modified with respect to any period during which there is a pending <span class=\"dictionary\">petition<\/span> for modification in any court, but only from the date that notice of such <span class=\"dictionary\">petition<\/span> has been given to the responding <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-219259\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/16.1-278.18\/#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> <span class=\"dictionary\">The judge<\/span> or clerk of <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span> shall, upon written request of the obligee under a <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span> entered pursuant to this section, certify and deliver an abstract of that <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span> to the obligee or <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Social Services, who may deliver the abstract to the clerk of the <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> court having <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span> over <span class=\"dictionary\">appeals<\/span> from juvenile and domestic relations district court. The clerk shall <span class=\"dictionary\">issue<\/span> executions of the <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-219260\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/16.1-278.18\/#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> If the <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span> amount does not exceed the jurisdictional limits of subdivision (1) of &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Civil jurisdiction of general district courts; amending amount of claim\" href=\"\/16.1-77\/\">16.1-77<\/a>, exclusive of interest and any attorneys&#8217; fees, an abstract of any such <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span> entered pursuant to this section may be delivered to the clerk of the general district court of the same judicial district. The clerk shall <span class=\"dictionary\">issue<\/span> executions upon the <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-219261\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/16.1-278.18\/#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> Arrearages accumulated prior to July 1, 1976, shall also be subject to the provisions of this section. <a id=\"paragraph-219262\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/16.1-278.18\/#D\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMONEY JUDGMENTS (\u00a7 16.1-278.18)\n\nA. Each juvenile and domestic relations district court may enter judgment for\nmoney in any amount for arrears of support and maintenance of any person in\ncases in which (i) the court has previously acquired personal jurisdiction over\nall necessary parties or a proceeding in which such jurisdiction has been\nobtained has been referred or transferred to the court by a circuit court or\nanother juvenile and domestic relations district court and (ii) payment of such\nmoney has been previously ordered by the court, a circuit court, or another\njuvenile and domestic relations district court. Such judgment shall include\nreasonable attorneys&#8217; fees in cases where the total arrearage for support\nand maintenance, excluding interest, is equal to or greater than three months of\nsupport and maintenance. However, no judgment shall be entered unless the motion\nof a party, a probation officer, a local director of social services, or the\ncourt&#8217;s own motion is duly served on the person against whom judgment is\nsought, in accordance with the applicable provisions of law relating to notice\nwhen proceedings are reopened. The motion shall contain a caption stating the\nname of the court, the title of the action, the names of all parties and the\naddress of the party against whom judgment is sought, the amount of arrearage\nfor which judgment is sought, and the date and time when such judgment will be\nsought. No support order may be retroactively modified. It may, however, be\nmodified with respect to any period during which there is a pending petition for\nmodification in any court, but only from the date that notice of such petition\nhas been given to the responding party.\n\nB. The judge or clerk of the court shall, upon written request of the obligee\nunder a judgment entered pursuant to this section, certify and deliver an\nabstract of that judgment to the obligee or Department of Social Services, who\nmay deliver the abstract to the clerk of the circuit court having jurisdiction\nover appeals from juvenile and domestic relations district court. The clerk\nshall issue executions of the judgment.\n\nC. If the judgment amount does not exceed the jurisdictional limits of\nsubdivision (1) of &#xA7; 16.1-77, exclusive of interest and any\nattorneys&#8217; fees, an abstract of any such judgment entered pursuant to this\nsection may be delivered to the clerk of the general district court of the same\njudicial district. The clerk shall issue executions upon the judgment.\n\nD. Arrearages accumulated prior to July 1, 1976, shall also be subject to the\nprovisions of this section.\n\nHISTORY: 1991, c. 534; 2002, c. 747; 2004, c. 204; 2005, c. 880.","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}}