{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/20-146.26.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/20-146.26.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/20-146.26.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/20-146.26.html"}],"law_id":56762,"edition_id":1,"section_id":56762,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.26","catch_line":"Registration of child custody determination","history":"1979, c. 229, \u00a7 20-139; 2001, c. 305.","full_text":"A\n\nA child custody determination issued by a court of another state may be registered in this Commonwealth, with or without a simultaneous request for enforcement, by sending to the appropriate juvenile and domestic relations district court in this Commonwealth:1\n\nA letter or other document requesting registration;2\n\nTwo copies, including one certified copy, of the determination sought to be registered, and a statement under penalty of perjury that to the best of the knowledge and belief of the person seeking registration the order has not been modified; and3\n\nExcept as otherwise provided in § 20-146.20, the name and address of the person seeking registration and any parent or person acting as a parent who has been awarded custody or visitation in the child custody determination sought to be registered.B\n\nOn receipt of the documents required by subsection A, the registering court shall:1\n\nCause the determination to be filed as a foreign judgment, together with one copy of any accompanying documents and information, regardless of their form; and2\n\nServe notice upon the persons named pursuant to subdivision A 3 and provide them with an opportunity to contest the registration in accordance with this section.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":207718,"text":"A child custody determination issued by a court of another state may be registered in this Commonwealth, with or without a simultaneous request for enforcement, by sending to the appropriate juvenile and domestic relations district court in this Commonwealth:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":207719,"text":"A letter or other document requesting registration;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":207720,"text":"Two copies, including one certified copy, of the determination sought to be registered, and a statement under penalty of perjury that to the best of the knowledge and belief of the person seeking registration the order has not been modified; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":207721,"text":"Except as otherwise provided in § 20-146.20, the name and address of the person seeking registration and any parent or person acting as a parent who has been awarded custody or visitation in the child custody determination sought to be registered.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"B"},"4":{"id":207722,"text":"On receipt of the documents required by subsection A, the registering court shall:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"B1"},"5":{"id":207723,"text":"Cause the determination to be filed as a foreign judgment, together with one copy of any accompanying documents and information, regardless of their form; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"6":{"id":207724,"text":"Serve notice upon the persons named pursuant to subdivision A 3 and provide them with an opportunity to contest the registration in accordance with this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13406,"edition_id":1,"name":"Enforcement","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13273,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:50","permalink":{"id":179313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13406,"identifier":"3","token":"20\/7.1\/3","url":"\/20\/7.1\/3\/","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":63086,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.22","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/20-146.22\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.22","metadata":false},{"id":59321,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.23","catch_line":"Enforcement under Hague Convention","url":"\/20-146.23\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.23","metadata":false},{"id":60597,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.24","catch_line":"Duty to enforce","url":"\/20-146.24\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.24","metadata":false},{"id":69527,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.25","catch_line":"Temporary visitation","url":"\/20-146.25\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.25","metadata":false},{"id":56762,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.26","catch_line":"Registration of child custody determination","url":"\/20-146.26\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.26","metadata":false},{"id":66332,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.27","catch_line":"Enforcement of registered determination","url":"\/20-146.27\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.27","metadata":false},{"id":85878,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.28","catch_line":"Simultaneous proceedings","url":"\/20-146.28\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.28","metadata":false},{"id":86219,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.29","catch_line":"Expedited enforcement of child custody; determination","url":"\/20-146.29\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.29","metadata":false},{"id":69576,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.30","catch_line":"Service of petition and order","url":"\/20-146.30\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.30","metadata":false},{"id":73118,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.31","catch_line":"Hearing and order","url":"\/20-146.31\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.31","metadata":false},{"id":77444,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.32","catch_line":"Ex parte order to take physical custody of child","url":"\/20-146.32\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.32","metadata":false},{"id":59809,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.33","catch_line":"Costs, fees, and expenses","url":"\/20-146.33\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.33","metadata":false},{"id":54375,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.34","catch_line":"Recognition and enforcement","url":"\/20-146.34\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.34","metadata":false},{"id":67591,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.35","catch_line":"Appeals","url":"\/20-146.35\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.35","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":69527,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.25","catch_line":"Temporary visitation","url":"\/20-146.25\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.25","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":66332,"structure_id":13406,"section_number":"20-146.27","catch_line":"Enforcement of registered determination","url":"\/20-146.27\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.27","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/20-146.26\/","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":[{"id":86219,"section_number":"20-146.29","catch_line":"Expedited enforcement of child custody; determination","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-146.29\/"},{"id":73118,"section_number":"20-146.31","catch_line":"Hearing and order","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-146.31\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":86444,"section_number":"20-146.20","catch_line":"Information to be submitted to court","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-146.20\/"}],"permalink":{"id":179331,"object_type":"law","relational_id":56762,"identifier":"20-146.26","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.26","url":"\/20-146.26\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/20-146.26\/","token":"20\/7.1\/3\/20-146.26","dublin_core":{"Title":"Registration of child custody determination","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 20-146.26","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A child custody<\/span> determination issued by a court<\/span> of another state may be registered in this Commonwealth, with or without a simultaneous request for enforcement, by sending to the appropriate juvenile and domestic relations district court<\/span> in this Commonwealth: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> A letter or other document requesting registration; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Two copies, including one certified copy, of the determination sought to be registered, and a statement under penalty<\/span> of perjury<\/span> that to the best of the knowledge and belief of the person seeking registration the order<\/span> has not been modified; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Except as otherwise provided in § 20-146.20<\/a>, the name and address of the person seeking registration and any parent or person acting as a parent who has been awarded custody<\/span> or visitation in the child custody<\/span> determination sought to be registered. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> On receipt of the documents required by subsection A, the registering court<\/span> shall: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Cause the determination to be filed as a foreign judgment<\/span>, together with one copy of any accompanying documents and information, regardless of their form; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Serve notice upon the persons named pursuant to subdivision A 3 and provide them with an opportunity to contest the registration in accordance with this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREGISTRATION OF CHILD CUSTODY DETERMINATION (\u00a7 20-146.26)\n\nA. A child custody determination issued by a court of another state may be\nregistered in this Commonwealth, with or without a simultaneous request for\nenforcement, by sending to the appropriate juvenile and domestic relations\ndistrict court in this Commonwealth:\n\n 1. A letter or other document requesting registration;\n\n 2. Two copies, including one certified copy, of the determination sought to be\n registered, and a statement under penalty of perjury that to the best of the\n knowledge and belief of the person seeking registration the order has not been\n modified; and\n\n 3. Except as otherwise provided in § 20-146.20, the name and address of\n the person seeking registration and any parent or person acting as a parent\n who has been awarded custody or visitation in the child custody determination\n sought to be registered.\n\nB. On receipt of the documents required by subsection A, the registering court\nshall:\n\n 1. Cause the determination to be filed as a foreign judgment, together with\n one copy of any accompanying documents and information, regardless of their\n form; and\n\n 2. Serve notice upon the persons named pursuant to subdivision A 3 and provide\n them with an opportunity to contest the registration in accordance with this\n section.\n\nHISTORY: 1979, c. 229, \u00a7 20-139; 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}}