{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/20-146.17.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/20-146.17.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/20-146.17.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/20-146.17.html"}],"law_id":85749,"edition_id":1,"section_id":85749,"structure_id":14515,"section_number":"20-146.17","catch_line":"Simultaneous proceedings","history":"1979, c. 229, \u00a7 20-129; 2001, c. 305.","full_text":"A\n\nExcept as otherwise provided in § 20-146.15, a court of this Commonwealth may not exercise its jurisdiction under this article if, at the time of the commencement of the proceeding, a proceeding concerning the custody of the child has been previously commenced in a court of another state having jurisdiction substantially in conformity with this act, unless the proceeding has been terminated or is stayed by the court of the other state because a court of this Commonwealth is a more convenient forum under § 20-146.18.B\n\nExcept as otherwise provided in § 20-146.15, a court of this Commonwealth, before hearing a child custody proceeding, shall examine the court documents and other information supplied by the parties pursuant to § 20-146.20. If the court determines that a child custody proceeding has been commenced in a court in another state having jurisdiction substantially in accordance with this act, the court of this Commonwealth shall stay its proceeding and communicate with the court of the other state. If the court of the state having jurisdiction substantially in accordance with this act does not determine that the court of this Commonwealth is a more appropriate forum, the court of this Commonwealth shall dismiss the proceeding.C\n\nIn a proceeding to modify a child custody determination, a court of this Commonwealth shall determine whether a proceeding to enforce the determination has been commenced in another state. If a proceeding to enforce a child custody determination has been commenced in another state, the court may:1\n\nStay the proceeding for modification pending the entry of an order of a court of the other state enforcing, staying, denying, or dismissing the proceeding for enforcement;2\n\nEnjoin the parties from continuing with the proceeding for enforcement; or3\n\nProceed with the modification under conditions it considers appropriate.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":307091,"text":"Except as otherwise provided in § 20-146.15, a court of this Commonwealth may not exercise its jurisdiction under this article if, at the time of the commencement of the proceeding, a proceeding concerning the custody of the child has been previously commenced in a court of another state having jurisdiction substantially in conformity with this act, unless the proceeding has been terminated or is stayed by the court of the other state because a court of this Commonwealth is a more convenient forum under § 20-146.18.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":307092,"text":"Except as otherwise provided in § 20-146.15, a court of this Commonwealth, before hearing a child custody proceeding, shall examine the court documents and other information supplied by the parties pursuant to § 20-146.20. If the court determines that a child custody proceeding has been commenced in a court in another state having jurisdiction substantially in accordance with this act, the court of this Commonwealth shall stay its proceeding and communicate with the court of the other state. If the court of the state having jurisdiction substantially in accordance with this act does not determine that the court of this Commonwealth is a more appropriate forum, the court of this Commonwealth shall dismiss the proceeding.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":307093,"text":"In a proceeding to modify a child custody determination, a court of this Commonwealth shall determine whether a proceeding to enforce the determination has been commenced in another state. If a proceeding to enforce a child custody determination has been commenced in another state, the court may:","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"C1"},"3":{"id":307094,"text":"Stay the proceeding for modification pending the entry of an order of a court of the other state enforcing, staying, denying, or dismissing the proceeding for enforcement;","type":"section","prefixes":["C","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"C1","prefix_anchor":"C1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"C2"},"4":{"id":307095,"text":"Enjoin the parties from continuing with the proceeding for enforcement; or","type":"section","prefixes":["C","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"C2","prefix_anchor":"C2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C1","next_prefix":"C3"},"5":{"id":307096,"text":"Proceed with the modification under conditions it considers appropriate.","type":"section","prefixes":["C","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"C3","prefix_anchor":"C3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C2"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14515,"edition_id":1,"name":"Jurisdiction","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13273,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:28","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:28","permalink":{"id":179271,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14515,"identifier":"2","token":"20\/7.1\/2","url":"\/20\/7.1\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13273,"edition_id":1,"name":"Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act","identifier":"7.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12711,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:33","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:33","permalink":{"id":179223,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13273,"identifier":"7.1","token":"20\/7.1","url":"\/20\/7.1\/","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":56827,"structure_id":14515,"section_number":"20-146.12","catch_line":"Initial child custody jurisdiction","url":"\/20-146.12\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.12","metadata":false},{"id":71952,"structure_id":14515,"section_number":"20-146.13","catch_line":"Exclusive, continuing jurisdiction","url":"\/20-146.13\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.13","metadata":false},{"id":64810,"structure_id":14515,"section_number":"20-146.14","catch_line":"Jurisdiction to modify determination","url":"\/20-146.14\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.14","metadata":false},{"id":55943,"structure_id":14515,"section_number":"20-146.15","catch_line":"Temporary emergency jurisdiction","url":"\/20-146.15\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.15","metadata":false},{"id":63781,"structure_id":14515,"section_number":"20-146.16","catch_line":"Notice; opportunity to be heard; joinder","url":"\/20-146.16\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.16","metadata":false},{"id":85749,"structure_id":14515,"section_number":"20-146.17","catch_line":"Simultaneous proceedings","url":"\/20-146.17\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.17","metadata":false},{"id":85297,"structure_id":14515,"section_number":"20-146.18","catch_line":"Inconvenient forum","url":"\/20-146.18\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.18","metadata":false},{"id":63634,"structure_id":14515,"section_number":"20-146.19","catch_line":"Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct","url":"\/20-146.19\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.19","metadata":false},{"id":86444,"structure_id":14515,"section_number":"20-146.20","catch_line":"Information to be submitted to court","url":"\/20-146.20\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.20","metadata":false},{"id":84744,"structure_id":14515,"section_number":"20-146.21","catch_line":"Appearance of parties and child","url":"\/20-146.21\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.21","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":63781,"structure_id":14515,"section_number":"20-146.16","catch_line":"Notice; opportunity to be heard; joinder","url":"\/20-146.16\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.16","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":85297,"structure_id":14515,"section_number":"20-146.18","catch_line":"Inconvenient forum","url":"\/20-146.18\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.18","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/20-146.17\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1979. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 229 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 1979 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. 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 2001, chapter 305<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":55943,"section_number":"20-146.15","catch_line":"Temporary emergency jurisdiction","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-146.15\/"},{"id":86444,"section_number":"20-146.20","catch_line":"Information to be submitted to court","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-146.20\/"}],"permalink":{"id":179293,"object_type":"law","relational_id":85749,"identifier":"20-146.17","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.17","url":"\/20-146.17\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/20-146.17\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.17","dublin_core":{"Title":"Simultaneous proceedings","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 20-146.17","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Except as otherwise provided in § 20-146.15<\/a>, a court<\/span> of this Commonwealth may not exercise its jurisdiction<\/span> under this article if, at the time of the commencement of the proceeding, a proceeding concerning the custody<\/span> of the child has been previously commenced in a court<\/span> of another state having jurisdiction<\/span> substantially in conformity with this act, unless the proceeding has been terminated or is stayed by the court<\/span> of the other state because a court<\/span> of this Commonwealth is a more convenient forum under § 20-146.18<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Except as otherwise provided in § 20-146.15<\/a>, a court<\/span> of this Commonwealth, before hearing<\/span> a child custody<\/span> proceeding, shall examine the court<\/span> documents and other information supplied by the parties pursuant to § 20-146.20<\/a>. If the court<\/span> determines that a child custody<\/span> proceeding has been commenced in a court<\/span> in another state having jurisdiction<\/span> substantially in accordance with this act, the court<\/span> of this Commonwealth shall stay<\/span> its proceeding and communicate with the court<\/span> of the other state. If the court<\/span> of the state having jurisdiction<\/span> substantially in accordance with this act does not determine that the court<\/span> of this Commonwealth is a more appropriate forum, the court<\/span> of this Commonwealth shall dismiss the proceeding. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> In a proceeding to modify a child custody<\/span> determination, a court<\/span> of this Commonwealth shall determine whether a proceeding to enforce the determination has been commenced in another state. If a proceeding to enforce a child custody<\/span> determination has been commenced in another state, the court<\/span> may: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Stay<\/span> the proceeding for modification pending the entry of an order<\/span> of a court<\/span> of the other state enforcing, staying, denying, or dismissing the proceeding for enforcement; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Enjoin the parties from continuing with the proceeding for enforcement; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Proceed with the modification under conditions it considers appropriate. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSIMULTANEOUS PROCEEDINGS (\u00a7 20-146.17)\n\nA. Except as otherwise provided in § 20-146.15, a court of this\nCommonwealth may not exercise its jurisdiction under this article if, at the\ntime of the commencement of the proceeding, a proceeding concerning the custody\nof the child has been previously commenced in a court of another state having\njurisdiction substantially in conformity with this act, unless the proceeding\nhas been terminated or is stayed by the court of the other state because a court\nof this Commonwealth is a more convenient forum under § 20-146.18.\n\nB. Except as otherwise provided in § 20-146.15, a court of this\nCommonwealth, before hearing a child custody proceeding, shall examine the court\ndocuments and other information supplied by the parties pursuant to §\n20-146.20. If the court determines that a child custody proceeding has been\ncommenced in a court in another state having jurisdiction substantially in\naccordance with this act, the court of this Commonwealth shall stay its\nproceeding and communicate with the court of the other state. If the court of\nthe state having jurisdiction substantially in accordance with this act does not\ndetermine that the court of this Commonwealth is a more appropriate forum, the\ncourt of this Commonwealth shall dismiss the proceeding.\n\nC. In a proceeding to modify a child custody determination, a court of this\nCommonwealth shall determine whether a proceeding to enforce the determination\nhas been commenced in another state. If a proceeding to enforce a child custody\ndetermination has been commenced in another state, the court may:\n\n 1. Stay the proceeding for modification pending the entry of an order of a\n court of the other state enforcing, staying, denying, or dismissing the\n proceeding for enforcement;\n\n 2. Enjoin the parties from continuing with the proceeding for enforcement; or\n\n 3. Proceed with the modification under conditions it considers appropriate.\n\nHISTORY: 1979, c. 229, \u00a7 20-129; 2001, c. 305.","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}}