{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/20-124.8.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/20-124.8.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/20-124.8.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/20-124.8.html"}],"law_id":55193,"edition_id":1,"section_id":55193,"structure_id":14076,"section_number":"20-124.8","catch_line":"Deployment; temporary order","history":"2008, c. 750; 2011, c. 351.","full_text":"A\n\nAny court order limiting previously ordered custodial or visitation rights of a deploying parent or guardian due to the parent’s or guardian’s deployment shall specify the deployment as the basis for the order and shall be entered by the court as a temporary order. Any such order shall further require the nondeploying parent or guardian to provide the court with 30 days advance written notice of any change of address and any change of telephone number.B\n\nThe court, on motion of the deploying parent or guardian to delegate visitation to a family member, including a stepparent, with whom the child has a close and substantial relationship and upon finding that such delegation is in the best interests of the child, may enter an order delegating visitation that:1\n\nDelegates all or a portion of the deploying parent’s or guardian’s visitation rights to such family member, if the deploying parent or guardian had visitation rights with the child prior to the deployment; or2\n\nProvides visitation rights to such family member, if the deploying parent or guardian had physical custody of the child prior to the deployment and the nondeploying parent or guardian, or a family member of the nondeploying parent or guardian, is awarded physical custody during the deployment.\n\t\t\t\tAn order delegating or providing visitation rights to a family member pursuant to this subsection does not create a separate right to visitation in the family member to whom visitation rights are delegated or provided. The deploying parent or guardian may at any time, and the nondeploying parent or guardian may upon a showing of a material change in circumstances, file a motion to rescind the order delegating or providing visitation rights to a family member and such order shall terminate by operation of law upon the return of the deploying parent or guardian from deployment. Written notice of the return of the deployed parent or guardian and the termination of the delegated visitation shall be provided by the previously deployed parent or guardian to any family member whose visitation is thereby terminated.C\n\nThe court, on motion of the deploying parent or guardian returning from deployment seeking to amend or review the custody or visitation order entered based upon the deployment, shall set a hearing on the matter that shall take precedence on the court’s docket, and shall be set within 30 days of the filing of the motion. For purposes of this hearing, the nondeploying parent or guardian shall bear the burden of showing that reentry of the custody or visitation order in effect before the deployment is no longer in the child’s best interests.D\n\nThis section shall not otherwise preclude a parent or guardian from petitioning for a modification of a custody or visitation order based upon a change in circumstances.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":202373,"text":"Any court order limiting previously ordered custodial or visitation rights of a deploying parent or guardian due to the parent’s or guardian’s deployment shall specify the deployment as the basis for the order and shall be entered by the court as a temporary order. Any such order shall further require the nondeploying parent or guardian to provide the court with 30 days advance written notice of any change of address and any change of telephone number.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":202374,"text":"The court, on motion of the deploying parent or guardian to delegate visitation to a family member, including a stepparent, with whom the child has a close and substantial relationship and upon finding that such delegation is in the best interests of the child, may enter an order delegating visitation that:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":202375,"text":"Delegates all or a portion of the deploying parent’s or guardian’s visitation rights to such family member, if the deploying parent or guardian had visitation rights with the child prior to the deployment; or","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":202376,"text":"Provides visitation rights to such family member, if the deploying parent or guardian had physical custody of the child prior to the deployment and the nondeploying parent or guardian, or a family member of the nondeploying parent or guardian, is awarded physical custody during the deployment.\n\t\t\t\tAn order delegating or providing visitation rights to a family member pursuant to this subsection does not create a separate right to visitation in the family member to whom visitation rights are delegated or provided. The deploying parent or guardian may at any time, and the nondeploying parent or guardian may upon a showing of a material change in circumstances, file a motion to rescind the order delegating or providing visitation rights to a family member and such order shall terminate by operation of law upon the return of the deploying parent or guardian from deployment. Written notice of the return of the deployed parent or guardian and the termination of the delegated visitation shall be provided by the previously deployed parent or guardian to any family member whose visitation is thereby terminated.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"C"},"4":{"id":202377,"text":"The court, on motion of the deploying parent or guardian returning from deployment seeking to amend or review the custody or visitation order entered based upon the deployment, shall set a hearing on the matter that shall take precedence on the court’s docket, and shall be set within 30 days of the filing of the motion. For purposes of this hearing, the nondeploying parent or guardian shall bear the burden of showing that reentry of the custody or visitation order in effect before the deployment is no longer in the child’s best interests.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"D"},"5":{"id":202378,"text":"This section shall not otherwise preclude a parent or guardian from petitioning for a modification of a custody or visitation order based upon a change in circumstances.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14076,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Military Parents Equal Protection Act","identifier":"6.2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12711,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:48","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:48","permalink":{"id":179199,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14076,"identifier":"6.2","token":"20\/6.2","url":"\/20\/6.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12711,"edition_id":1,"name":"Domestic Relations","identifier":"20","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":178075,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12711,"identifier":"20","token":"20","url":"\/20\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":75324,"structure_id":14076,"section_number":"20-124.10","catch_line":"Contents of temporary custody or visitation order","url":"\/20-124.10\/","token":"20\/6.2\/20-124.10","metadata":false},{"id":66623,"structure_id":14076,"section_number":"20-124.7","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/20-124.7\/","token":"20\/6.2\/20-124.7","metadata":false},{"id":55193,"structure_id":14076,"section_number":"20-124.8","catch_line":"Deployment; temporary order","url":"\/20-124.8\/","token":"20\/6.2\/20-124.8","metadata":false},{"id":74637,"structure_id":14076,"section_number":"20-124.9","catch_line":"When no order is in place; expedited hearing; conduct of hearing","url":"\/20-124.9\/","token":"20\/6.2\/20-124.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":66623,"structure_id":14076,"section_number":"20-124.7","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/20-124.7\/","token":"20\/6.2\/20-124.7","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":74637,"structure_id":14076,"section_number":"20-124.9","catch_line":"When no order is in place; expedited hearing; conduct of hearing","url":"\/20-124.9\/","token":"20\/6.2\/20-124.9","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/20-124.8\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2008. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 750<\/a> 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. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 2011, chapter 351<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":75324,"section_number":"20-124.10","catch_line":"Contents of temporary custody or visitation order","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-124.10\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":179209,"object_type":"law","relational_id":55193,"identifier":"20-124.8","token":"20\/6.2\/20-124.8","url":"\/20-124.8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/20-124.8\/","token":"20\/6.2\/20-124.8","dublin_core":{"Title":"Deployment; temporary order","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 20-124.8","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any court order<\/span> limiting previously ordered custodial or visitation rights of a deploying parent or guardian<\/span> due to the parent’s or guardian’s deployment<\/span> shall specify the deployment<\/span> as the basis for the order and shall be entered by the court as a temporary order. Any such order shall further require the nondeploying parent or guardian to provide the court with 30 days advance written notice of any change of address and any change of telephone number. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The court, on motion<\/span> of the deploying parent or guardian<\/span> to delegate visitation to a family member, including a stepparent, with whom the child has a close and substantial relationship and upon finding<\/span> that such delegation is in the best interests of the child, may enter an order delegating visitation that: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Delegates all or a portion of the deploying parent’s or guardian’s visitation rights to such family member, if the deploying parent or guardian<\/span> had visitation rights with the child prior to the deployment<\/span>; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Provides visitation rights to such family member, if the deploying parent or guardian<\/span> had physical custody<\/span> of the child prior to the deployment<\/span> and the nondeploying parent or guardian, or a family member of the nondeploying parent or guardian, is awarded physical custody<\/span> during the deployment<\/span>.\n\t\t\t\tAn order delegating or providing visitation rights to a family member pursuant to this subsection does not create a separate right to visitation in the family member to whom visitation rights are delegated or provided. The deploying parent or guardian<\/span> may at any time, and the nondeploying parent or guardian may upon a showing of a material<\/span> change in circumstances, file a motion<\/span> to rescind the order delegating or providing visitation rights to a family member and such order shall terminate by operation of law<\/span> upon the return of the deploying parent or guardian<\/span> from deployment<\/span>. Written notice of the return of the deployed parent or guardian and the termination of the delegated visitation shall be provided by the previously deployed parent or guardian to any family member whose visitation is thereby terminated. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The court, on motion<\/span> of the deploying parent or guardian<\/span> returning from deployment<\/span> seeking to amend<\/span> or review the custody<\/span> or visitation order entered based upon the deployment<\/span>, shall set a hearing<\/span> on the matter that shall take precedence on the court’s docket<\/span>, and shall be set within 30 days of the filing of the motion<\/span>. For purposes of this hearing<\/span>, the nondeploying parent or guardian shall bear the burden of showing that reentry of the custody<\/span> or visitation order in effect before the deployment<\/span> is no longer in the child’s best interests. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> This section shall not otherwise preclude a parent or guardian from petitioning for a modification of a custody<\/span> or visitation order based upon a change in circumstances. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEPLOYMENT; TEMPORARY ORDER (\u00a7 20-124.8)\n\nA. Any court order limiting previously ordered custodial or visitation rights of\na deploying parent or guardian due to the parent’s or guardian’s\ndeployment shall specify the deployment as the basis for the order and shall be\nentered by the court as a temporary order. Any such order shall further require\nthe nondeploying parent or guardian to provide the court with 30 days advance\nwritten notice of any change of address and any change of telephone number.\n\nB. The court, on motion of the deploying parent or guardian to delegate\nvisitation to a family member, including a stepparent, with whom the child has a\nclose and substantial relationship and upon finding that such delegation is in\nthe best interests of the child, may enter an order delegating visitation that:\n\n 1. Delegates all or a portion of the deploying parent’s or\n guardian’s visitation rights to such family member, if the deploying\n parent or guardian had visitation rights with the child prior to the\n deployment; or\n\n 2. Provides visitation rights to such family member, if the deploying parent\n or guardian had physical custody of the child prior to the deployment and the\n nondeploying parent or guardian, or a family member of the nondeploying parent\n or guardian, is awarded physical custody during the deployment.\n \t\t\t\tAn order delegating or providing visitation rights to a family member\n pursuant to this subsection does not create a separate right to visitation in\n the family member to whom visitation rights are delegated or provided. The\n deploying parent or guardian may at any time, and the nondeploying parent or\n guardian may upon a showing of a material change in circumstances, file a\n motion to rescind the order delegating or providing visitation rights to a\n family member and such order shall terminate by operation of law upon the\n return of the deploying parent or guardian from deployment. Written notice of\n the return of the deployed parent or guardian and the termination of the\n delegated visitation shall be provided by the previously deployed parent or\n guardian to any family member whose visitation is thereby terminated.\n\nC. The court, on motion of the deploying parent or guardian returning from\ndeployment seeking to amend or review the custody or visitation order entered\nbased upon the deployment, shall set a hearing on the matter that shall take\nprecedence on the court’s docket, and shall be set within 30 days of the\nfiling of the motion. For purposes of this hearing, the nondeploying parent or\nguardian shall bear the burden of showing that reentry of the custody or\nvisitation order in effect before the deployment is no longer in the\nchild’s best interests.\n\nD. This section shall not otherwise preclude a parent or guardian from\npetitioning for a modification of a custody or visitation order based upon a\nchange in circumstances.\n\nHISTORY: 2008, c. 750; 2011, c. 351.","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}}