{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/20-49.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/20-49.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/20-49.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/20-49.2.html"}],"law_id":60564,"edition_id":1,"section_id":60564,"structure_id":13943,"section_number":"20-49.2","catch_line":"Commencement of action; parties; jurisdiction","history":"1988, cc. 866, 878; 1989, c. 368; 2008, cc. 164, 201.","full_text":"Proceedings under this chapter may be instituted upon petition, verified by oath or affirmation, filed by a child, a parent, a person claiming parentage, a person standing in loco parentis to the child or having legal custody of the child or a representative of the Department of Social Services or the Department of Juvenile Justice.\n\t\tThe child may be made a party to the action, and if he is a minor and is made a party, he shall be represented by a guardian ad litem appointed by the court in accordance with the procedures specified in \u00a7 16.1-266 or \u00a7 8.01-9. The child’s mother or father may not represent the child as guardian or otherwise. The determination of the court under the provisions of this chapter shall not be binding on any person who is not a party.\n\t\tThe circuit courts shall have concurrent original jurisdiction of cases arising under this chapter with the juvenile and domestic relations district courts when the parentage of a child is at issue in any matter otherwise before the circuit court. The determination of parentage, when raised in any proceeding, shall be governed by this chapter.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":221387,"text":"Proceedings under this chapter may be instituted upon petition, verified by oath or affirmation, filed by a child, a parent, a person claiming parentage, a person standing in loco parentis to the child or having legal custody of the child or a representative of the Department of Social Services or the Department of Juvenile Justice.\n\t\tThe child may be made a party to the action, and if he is a minor and is made a party, he shall be represented by a guardian ad litem appointed by the court in accordance with the procedures specified in \u00a7 16.1-266 or \u00a7 8.01-9. The child’s mother or father may not represent the child as guardian or otherwise. The determination of the court under the provisions of this chapter shall not be binding on any person who is not a party.\n\t\tThe circuit courts shall have concurrent original jurisdiction of cases arising under this chapter with the juvenile and domestic relations district courts when the parentage of a child is at issue in any matter otherwise before the circuit court. The determination of parentage, when raised in any proceeding, shall be governed by this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13943,"edition_id":1,"name":"Proceedings to Determine Parentage","identifier":"3.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12711,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:22","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:22","permalink":{"id":178347,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13943,"identifier":"3.1","token":"20\/3.1","url":"\/20\/3.1\/","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":79167,"structure_id":13943,"section_number":"20-49.1","catch_line":"How parent and child relationship established","url":"\/20-49.1\/","token":"20\/3.1\/20-49.1","metadata":false},{"id":60411,"structure_id":13943,"section_number":"20-49.10","catch_line":"Relief from legal determination of paternity","url":"\/20-49.10\/","token":"20\/3.1\/20-49.10","metadata":false},{"id":60564,"structure_id":13943,"section_number":"20-49.2","catch_line":"Commencement of action; parties; jurisdiction","url":"\/20-49.2\/","token":"20\/3.1\/20-49.2","metadata":false},{"id":70927,"structure_id":13943,"section_number":"20-49.3","catch_line":"Admission of genetic tests","url":"\/20-49.3\/","token":"20\/3.1\/20-49.3","metadata":false},{"id":59276,"structure_id":13943,"section_number":"20-49.4","catch_line":"Evidence relating to parentage","url":"\/20-49.4\/","token":"20\/3.1\/20-49.4","metadata":false},{"id":66230,"structure_id":13943,"section_number":"20-49.5","catch_line":"Support of children of unwed parents by the father; testimony under oath","url":"\/20-49.5\/","token":"20\/3.1\/20-49.5","metadata":false},{"id":83066,"structure_id":13943,"section_number":"20-49.6","catch_line":"Proceedings to establish paternity or enforce support obligations of males between the ages of fourteen and eighteen","url":"\/20-49.6\/","token":"20\/3.1\/20-49.6","metadata":false},{"id":73619,"structure_id":13943,"section_number":"20-49.7","catch_line":"Civil actions","url":"\/20-49.7\/","token":"20\/3.1\/20-49.7","metadata":false},{"id":75922,"structure_id":13943,"section_number":"20-49.8","catch_line":"Judgment or order; costs; birth record","url":"\/20-49.8\/","token":"20\/3.1\/20-49.8","metadata":false},{"id":54998,"structure_id":13943,"section_number":"20-49.9","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-49.9\/","token":"20\/3.1\/20-49.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":60411,"structure_id":13943,"section_number":"20-49.10","catch_line":"Relief from legal determination of paternity","url":"\/20-49.10\/","token":"20\/3.1\/20-49.10","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":70927,"structure_id":13943,"section_number":"20-49.3","catch_line":"Admission of genetic tests","url":"\/20-49.3\/","token":"20\/3.1\/20-49.3","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/20-49.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1988. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 866 and 878 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 1988 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 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 1989, chapter 368; in 2008, chapters 164<\/a> and 201<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":78366,"section_number":"16.1-266","catch_line":"Appointment of counsel and guardian ad litem","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-266\/"},{"id":60741,"section_number":"8.01-9","catch_line":"Guardian ad litem for persons under disability; when guardian ad litem need not be appointed for person under disability","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-9\/"}],"permalink":{"id":178357,"object_type":"law","relational_id":60564,"identifier":"20-49.2","token":"20\/3.1\/20-49.2","url":"\/20-49.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/20-49.2\/","token":"20\/3.1\/20-49.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Commencement of action; parties; jurisdiction","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 20-49.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Proceedings under this chapter may be instituted upon petition<\/span>, verified by oath<\/span> or affirmation, filed by a child, a parent, a person claiming parentage, a person standing in loco parentis to the child or having legal custody<\/span> of the child or a representative of the Department of Social Services or the Department of Juvenile Justice.\n\t\tThe child may be made a party<\/span> to the action, and if he is a minor<\/span> and is made a party<\/span>, he shall be represented by a guardian ad litem<\/span> appointed by the court<\/span> in accordance with the procedures specified in \u00a7 16.1-266<\/a> or \u00a7 8.01-9<\/a>. The child’s mother or father may not represent the child as guardian or otherwise. The determination of the court<\/span> under the provisions of this chapter shall not be binding on any person who is not a party<\/span>.\n\t\tThe circuit<\/span> courts<\/span> shall have concurrent original jurisdiction<\/span> of cases arising under this chapter with the juvenile and domestic relations district courts<\/span> when the parentage of a child is at issue<\/span> in any matter otherwise before the circuit<\/span> court<\/span>. The determination of parentage, when raised in any proceeding, shall be governed by this chapter.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCOMMENCEMENT OF ACTION; PARTIES; JURISDICTION (\u00a7 20-49.2)\n\nProceedings under this chapter may be instituted upon petition, verified by oath\nor affirmation, filed by a child, a parent, a person claiming parentage, a\nperson standing in loco parentis to the child or having legal custody of the\nchild or a representative of the Department of Social Services or the Department\nof Juvenile Justice.\n\t\tThe child may be made a party to the action, and if he is a minor and is made\na party, he shall be represented by a guardian ad litem appointed by the court\nin accordance with the procedures specified in \u00a7 16.1-266 or \u00a7 8.01-9. The\nchild’s mother or father may not represent the child as guardian or\notherwise. The determination of the court under the provisions of this chapter\nshall not be binding on any person who is not a party.\n\t\tThe circuit courts shall have concurrent original jurisdiction of cases\narising under this chapter with the juvenile and domestic relations district\ncourts when the parentage of a child is at issue in any matter otherwise before\nthe circuit court. The determination of parentage, when raised in any\nproceeding, shall be governed by this chapter.\n\nHISTORY: 1988, cc. 866, 878; 1989, c. 368; 2008, cc. 164, 201.","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}}