{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/20-146.20.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/20-146.20.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/20-146.20.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/20-146.20.html"}],"law_id":86444,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86444,"structure_id":14515,"section_number":"20-146.20","catch_line":"Information to be submitted to court","history":"1979, c. 229; 1982, c. 519, \u00a7 20-132; 2001, c. 305; 2020, c. 42.","full_text":"A\n\nIn a child custody proceeding, each party, in its first pleading or in an attached affidavit, shall give information, if reasonably ascertainable, under oath as to the child’s present address or whereabouts, the places where the child has lived during the past five years, and the names and present addresses of the persons with whom the child has lived during that period. The pleading or affidavit must state whether the party:1\n\nHas participated, as a party or witness or in any other capacity, in any other proceeding concerning the custody of or visitation with the child and, if so, identify the court, the case number, and the date of the child custody determination, if any;2\n\nKnows of any proceeding that could affect the current proceeding, including proceedings for enforcement and proceedings relating to domestic violence, protective orders, termination of parental rights, and adoptions, and, if so, identify the court, the case number, and the nature of the proceeding; and3\n\nKnows the names and addresses of any persons not a party to the proceeding who has physical custody of the child or claims rights of legal custody or physical custody of, or visitation with, the child and, if so, the names and addresses of those persons.B\n\nIf the information required by subsection A is not furnished, the court, upon motion of a party or its own motion, may stay the proceeding until the information is furnished.C\n\nIf the declaration as to any of the items described in subdivisions A 1, A 2, and A 3 is in the affirmative, the declarant shall give additional information under oath as required by the court. The court may examine the parties under oath as to details of the information furnished and other matters pertinent to the court’s jurisdiction and the disposition of the case.D\n\nEach party has a continuing duty to inform the court of any proceeding in this or any other state that could affect the current proceeding.E\n\nIf a party alleges in an affidavit or a pleading under oath that the health, safety, or liberty of a party or child would be jeopardized by disclosure of identifying information, the information shall be sealed and may not be disclosed to the other party or the public unless the court orders the disclosure to be made after a hearing in which the court takes into consideration the health, safety, or liberty of the party or child. In such a hearing the court shall make a written finding that the disclosure is or is not in the interest of justice. Such hearing and written finding of the issue of disclosure shall be held and made by the court within 15 days of the filing of a pleading or affidavit.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":309631,"text":"In a child custody proceeding, each party, in its first pleading or in an attached affidavit, shall give information, if reasonably ascertainable, under oath as to the child’s present address or whereabouts, the places where the child has lived during the past five years, and the names and present addresses of the persons with whom the child has lived during that period. The pleading or affidavit must state whether the party:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":309632,"text":"Has participated, as a party or witness or in any other capacity, in any other proceeding concerning the custody of or visitation with the child and, if so, identify the court, the case number, and the date of the child custody determination, if any;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":309633,"text":"Knows of any proceeding that could affect the current proceeding, including proceedings for enforcement and proceedings relating to domestic violence, protective orders, termination of parental rights, and adoptions, and, if so, identify the court, the case number, and the nature of the proceeding; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":309634,"text":"Knows the names and addresses of any persons not a party to the proceeding who has physical custody of the child or claims rights of legal custody or physical custody of, or visitation with, the child and, if so, the names and addresses of those persons.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"B"},"4":{"id":309635,"text":"If the information required by subsection A is not furnished, the court, upon motion of a party or its own motion, may stay the proceeding until the information is furnished.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"C"},"5":{"id":309636,"text":"If the declaration as to any of the items described in subdivisions A 1, A 2, and A 3 is in the affirmative, the declarant shall give additional information under oath as required by the court. The court may examine the parties under oath as to details of the information furnished and other matters pertinent to the court’s jurisdiction and the disposition of the case.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"6":{"id":309637,"text":"Each party has a continuing duty to inform the court of any proceeding in this or any other state that could affect the current proceeding.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"7":{"id":309638,"text":"If a party alleges in an affidavit or a pleading under oath that the health, safety, or liberty of a party or child would be jeopardized by disclosure of identifying information, the information shall be sealed and may not be disclosed to the other party or the public unless the court orders the disclosure to be made after a hearing in which the court takes into consideration the health, safety, or liberty of the party or child. In such a hearing the court shall make a written finding that the disclosure is or is not in the interest of justice. Such hearing and written finding of the issue of disclosure shall be held and made by the court within 15 days of the filing of a pleading or affidavit.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/20-146.20\/","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 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 1982, chapter 519; in 2001, chapter 305<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 42<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":85749,"section_number":"20-146.17","catch_line":"Simultaneous proceedings","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-146.17\/"},{"id":56762,"section_number":"20-146.26","catch_line":"Registration of child custody determination","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-146.26\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":179305,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86444,"identifier":"20-146.20","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.20","url":"\/20-146.20\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/20-146.20\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.20","dublin_core":{"Title":"Information to be submitted to court","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 20-146.20","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> In a child custody<\/span> proceeding, each party<\/span>, in its first pleading or in an attached affidavit<\/span>, shall give information, if reasonably ascertainable, under oath<\/span> as to the child’s present address or whereabouts, the places where the child has lived during the past five years, and the names and present addresses of the persons with whom the child has lived during that period. The pleading or affidavit<\/span> must state whether the party<\/span>: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Has participated, as a party<\/span> or witness<\/span> or in any other capacity, in any other proceeding concerning the custody<\/span> of or visitation with the child and, if so, identify the court<\/span>, the case number, and the date of the child custody<\/span> determination, if any; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Knows of any proceeding that could affect the current proceeding, including proceedings for enforcement and proceedings relating to domestic violence, protective orders<\/span>, termination of parental rights, and adoptions, and, if so, identify the court<\/span>, the case number, and the nature of the proceeding; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Knows the names and addresses of any persons not a party<\/span> to the proceeding who has physical custody<\/span> of the child or claims rights of legal custody<\/span> or physical custody<\/span> of, or visitation with, the child and, if so, the names and addresses of those persons. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> If the information required by subsection A is not furnished, the court<\/span>, upon motion<\/span> of a party<\/span> or its own motion<\/span>, may stay<\/span> the proceeding until the information is furnished. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> If the declaration as to any of the items described in subdivisions A 1, A 2, and A 3 is in the affirmative, the declarant shall give additional information under oath<\/span> as required by the court<\/span>. The court<\/span> may examine the parties under oath<\/span> as to details of the information furnished and other matters pertinent to the court<\/span>’s jurisdiction<\/span> and the disposition<\/span> of the case. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Each party<\/span> has a continuing duty to inform the court<\/span> of any proceeding in this or any other state that could affect the current proceeding. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> If a party<\/span> alleges in an affidavit<\/span> or a pleading under oath<\/span> that the health, safety, or liberty of a party<\/span> or child would be jeopardized by disclosure of identifying information, the information shall be sealed<\/span> and may not be disclosed to the other party<\/span> or the public unless the court orders<\/span> the disclosure to be made after a hearing<\/span> in which the court takes into consideration the health, safety, or liberty of the party<\/span> or child. In such a hearing<\/span> the court shall make a written finding<\/span> that the disclosure is or is not in the interest of justice. Such hearing<\/span> and written finding<\/span> of the issue<\/span> of disclosure shall be held and made by the court within 15 days of the filing of a pleading or affidavit<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nINFORMATION TO BE SUBMITTED TO COURT (\u00a7 20-146.20)\n\nA. In a child custody proceeding, each party, in its first pleading or in an\nattached affidavit, shall give information, if reasonably ascertainable, under\noath as to the child’s present address or whereabouts, the places where\nthe child has lived during the past five years, and the names and present\naddresses of the persons with whom the child has lived during that period. The\npleading or affidavit must state whether the party:\n\n 1. Has participated, as a party or witness or in any other capacity, in any\n other proceeding concerning the custody of or visitation with the child and,\n if so, identify the court, the case number, and the date of the child custody\n determination, if any;\n\n 2. Knows of any proceeding that could affect the current proceeding, including\n proceedings for enforcement and proceedings relating to domestic violence,\n protective orders, termination of parental rights, and adoptions, and, if so,\n identify the court, the case number, and the nature of the proceeding; and\n\n 3. Knows the names and addresses of any persons not a party to the proceeding\n who has physical custody of the child or claims rights of legal custody or\n physical custody of, or visitation with, the child and, if so, the names and\n addresses of those persons.\n\nB. If the information required by subsection A is not furnished, the court, upon\nmotion of a party or its own motion, may stay the proceeding until the\ninformation is furnished.\n\nC. If the declaration as to any of the items described in subdivisions A 1, A 2,\nand A 3 is in the affirmative, the declarant shall give additional information\nunder oath as required by the court. The court may examine the parties under\noath as to details of the information furnished and other matters pertinent to\nthe court’s jurisdiction and the disposition of the case.\n\nD. Each party has a continuing duty to inform the court of any proceeding in\nthis or any other state that could affect the current proceeding.\n\nE. If a party alleges in an affidavit or a pleading under oath that the health,\nsafety, or liberty of a party or child would be jeopardized by disclosure of\nidentifying information, the information shall be sealed and may not be\ndisclosed to the other party or the public unless the court orders the\ndisclosure to be made after a hearing in which the court takes into\nconsideration the health, safety, or liberty of the party or child. In such a\nhearing the court shall make a written finding that the disclosure is or is not\nin the interest of justice. Such hearing and written finding of the issue of\ndisclosure shall be held and made by the court within 15 days of the filing of a\npleading or affidavit.\n\nHISTORY: 1979, c. 229; 1982, c. 519, \u00a7 20-132; 2001, c. 305; 2020, c. 42.","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}}