{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/20-88.48.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/20-88.48.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/20-88.48.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/20-88.48.html"}],"law_id":79696,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79696,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.48","catch_line":"Duties and powers of responding tribunal","history":"1994, c. 673; 1996, cc. 882, 925; 1997, cc. 797, 897; 2005, c. 754; 2015, c. 727.","full_text":"A\n\nWhen a responding tribunal of the Commonwealth receives a petition or comparable pleading from an initiating tribunal or directly pursuant to subsection B of § 20-88.44, it shall cause the petition or pleading to be filed and notify the petitioner where and when it was filed. An order for spousal support only shall be forwarded to the appropriate juvenile and domestic relations court.B\n\nA responding tribunal of the Commonwealth, to the extent not prohibited by other law, may do one or more of the following:1\n\nEstablish or enforce a support order, modify a child support order, determine the controlling child support order, or determine parentage of a child;2\n\nOrder an obligor to comply with a support order, specifying the amount and the manner of compliance;3\n\nOrder income withholding;4\n\nDetermine the amount of any arrearages, and specify a method of payment;5\n\nEnforce orders by civil or criminal contempt, or both;6\n\nSet aside property for satisfaction of the support order;7\n\nPlace liens and order execution on the obligor’s property;8\n\nOrder an obligor to keep the tribunal informed of the obligor’s current residential address, electronic mail address, telephone number, employer, address of employment, and telephone number at the place of employment;9\n\nIssue a capias for an obligor who has failed after proper notice to appear at a hearing ordered by the tribunal and enter the capias in any local and state computer systems for criminal warrants;10\n\nOrder the obligor to seek appropriate employment by specified methods;11\n\nAward reasonable attorney’s fees and other fees and costs; and12\n\nGrant any other available remedy.C\n\nA responding tribunal of the Commonwealth shall include in a support order issued under this chapter, or in the documents accompanying the order, the calculations on which the support order is based.D\n\nA responding tribunal of the Commonwealth may not condition the payment of a support order issued under this chapter upon compliance by a party with provisions for visitation.E\n\nIf a responding tribunal of the Commonwealth issues an order under this chapter, the tribunal shall promptly send a copy of the order to the petitioner and the respondent and to the initiating tribunal, if any.F\n\nIf requested to enforce a support order, arrears, or judgment or modify a support order stated in a foreign currency, a responding tribunal of the Commonwealth shall convert the amount stated in the foreign currency to the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars under the applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":285590,"text":"When a responding tribunal of the Commonwealth receives a petition or comparable pleading from an initiating tribunal or directly pursuant to subsection B of § 20-88.44, it shall cause the petition or pleading to be filed and notify the petitioner where and when it was filed. An order for spousal support only shall be forwarded to the appropriate juvenile and domestic relations court.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":285591,"text":"A responding tribunal of the Commonwealth, to the extent not prohibited by other law, may do one or more of the following:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":285592,"text":"Establish or enforce a support order, modify a child support order, determine the controlling child support order, or determine parentage of a child;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":285593,"text":"Order an obligor to comply with a support order, specifying the amount and the manner of compliance;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":285594,"text":"Order income withholding;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"5":{"id":285595,"text":"Determine the amount of any arrearages, and specify a method of payment;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"B5"},"6":{"id":285596,"text":"Enforce orders by civil or criminal contempt, or both;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"B5","prefix_anchor":"B5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"B6"},"7":{"id":285597,"text":"Set aside property for satisfaction of the support order;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"B6","prefix_anchor":"B6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B5","next_prefix":"B7"},"8":{"id":285598,"text":"Place liens and order execution on the obligor’s property;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"B7","prefix_anchor":"B7","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B6","next_prefix":"B8"},"9":{"id":285599,"text":"Order an obligor to keep the tribunal informed of the obligor’s current residential address, electronic mail address, telephone number, employer, address of employment, and telephone number at the place of employment;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"B8","prefix_anchor":"B8","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B7","next_prefix":"B9"},"10":{"id":285600,"text":"Issue a capias for an obligor who has failed after proper notice to appear at a hearing ordered by the tribunal and enter the capias in any local and state computer systems for criminal warrants;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"B9","prefix_anchor":"B9","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B8","next_prefix":"B10"},"11":{"id":285601,"text":"Order the obligor to seek appropriate employment by specified methods;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","10"],"prefix":"10","entire_prefix":"B10","prefix_anchor":"B10","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B9","next_prefix":"B11"},"12":{"id":285602,"text":"Award reasonable attorney’s fees and other fees and costs; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","11"],"prefix":"11","entire_prefix":"B11","prefix_anchor":"B11","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B10","next_prefix":"B12"},"13":{"id":285603,"text":"Grant any other available remedy.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","12"],"prefix":"12","entire_prefix":"B12","prefix_anchor":"B12","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B11","next_prefix":"C"},"14":{"id":285604,"text":"A responding tribunal of the Commonwealth shall include in a support order issued under this chapter, or in the documents accompanying the order, the calculations on which the support order is based.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B12","next_prefix":"D"},"15":{"id":285605,"text":"A responding tribunal of the Commonwealth may not condition the payment of a support order issued under this chapter upon compliance by a party with provisions for visitation.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"16":{"id":285606,"text":"If a responding tribunal of the Commonwealth issues an order under this chapter, the tribunal shall promptly send a copy of the order to the petitioner and the respondent and to the initiating tribunal, if any.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"17":{"id":285607,"text":"If requested to enforce a support order, arrears, or judgment or modify a support order stated in a foreign currency, a responding tribunal of the Commonwealth shall convert the amount stated in the foreign currency to the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars under the applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14205,"edition_id":1,"name":"Civil Provisions of General Application","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14136,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:16","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:16","permalink":{"id":178745,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14205,"identifier":"5","token":"20\/5.3\/5","url":"\/20\/5.3\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14136,"edition_id":1,"name":"Uniform Interstate Family Support Act","identifier":"5.3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12711,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:59","permalink":{"id":178595,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14136,"identifier":"5.3","token":"20\/5.3","url":"\/20\/5.3\/","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":64441,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.44","catch_line":"Proceedings under this chapter","url":"\/20-88.44\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.44","metadata":false},{"id":75001,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.45","catch_line":"Action by minor parent","url":"\/20-88.45\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.45","metadata":false},{"id":61905,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.46","catch_line":"Application of law of the Commonwealth","url":"\/20-88.46\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.46","metadata":false},{"id":78091,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.47","catch_line":"Duties of initiating tribunal","url":"\/20-88.47\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.47","metadata":false},{"id":79696,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.48","catch_line":"Duties and powers of responding tribunal","url":"\/20-88.48\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.48","metadata":false},{"id":75217,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.49","catch_line":"Inappropriate tribunal","url":"\/20-88.49\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.49","metadata":false},{"id":77249,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.50","catch_line":"Duties of support enforcement agency","url":"\/20-88.50\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.50","metadata":false},{"id":59933,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.51","catch_line":"Duty of Secretary of Health and Human Resources","url":"\/20-88.51\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.51","metadata":false},{"id":55394,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.52","catch_line":"Private counsel","url":"\/20-88.52\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.52","metadata":false},{"id":79529,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.53","catch_line":"Duties of state information agency","url":"\/20-88.53\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.53","metadata":false},{"id":60367,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.54","catch_line":"Pleadings and accompanying documents","url":"\/20-88.54\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.54","metadata":false},{"id":60565,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.55","catch_line":"Nondisclosure of information in exceptional circumstances","url":"\/20-88.55\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.55","metadata":false},{"id":60021,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.56","catch_line":"Costs and fees","url":"\/20-88.56\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.56","metadata":false},{"id":82163,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.57","catch_line":"Limited immunity of petitioner","url":"\/20-88.57\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.57","metadata":false},{"id":60335,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.58","catch_line":"Nonparentage as defense","url":"\/20-88.58\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.58","metadata":false},{"id":64575,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.59","catch_line":"Special rules of evidence and procedure","url":"\/20-88.59\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.59","metadata":false},{"id":55870,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.60","catch_line":"Communications between tribunals","url":"\/20-88.60\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.60","metadata":false},{"id":68397,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.61","catch_line":"Assistance with discovery","url":"\/20-88.61\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.61","metadata":false},{"id":81145,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.62","catch_line":"Receipt and disbursement of payments","url":"\/20-88.62\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.62","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":78091,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.47","catch_line":"Duties of initiating tribunal","url":"\/20-88.47\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.47","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":75217,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.49","catch_line":"Inappropriate tribunal","url":"\/20-88.49\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.49","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/20-88.48\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1994. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 673<\/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 4 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 1996, chapters 882<\/a> and 925<\/a>; in 1997, chapters 797<\/a> and 897<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 754<\/a>; in 2015, chapter 727<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":75756,"section_number":"20-88.63","catch_line":"Establishment of support order","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-88.63\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":64441,"section_number":"20-88.44","catch_line":"Proceedings under this chapter","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-88.44\/"}],"permalink":{"id":178763,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79696,"identifier":"20-88.48","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.48","url":"\/20-88.48\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/20-88.48\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.48","dublin_core":{"Title":"Duties and powers of responding tribunal","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 20-88.48","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> When a responding tribunal<\/span> of the Commonwealth receives a petition<\/span> or comparable pleading from an initiating tribunal<\/span> or directly pursuant to subsection B of § 20-88.44<\/a>, it shall cause the petition<\/span> or pleading to be filed and notify the petitioner where and when it was filed. An order<\/span> for spousal support only shall be forwarded to the appropriate juvenile and domestic relations court<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> A responding tribunal<\/span> of the Commonwealth, to the extent not prohibited by other law<\/span>, may do one or more of the following: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Establish or enforce a support order, modify a child support order<\/span>, determine the controlling child support order<\/span>, or determine parentage of a child; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Order an obligor<\/span> to comply with a support order, specifying the amount and the manner of compliance; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Order income<\/span> withholding; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Determine the amount of any arrearages, and specify a method of payment; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Enforce orders<\/span> by civil or criminal contempt<\/span>, or both; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Set aside property for satisfaction of the support order; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Place liens<\/span> and order execution on the obligor<\/span>’s property; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> Order an obligor<\/span> to keep the tribunal informed of the obligor<\/span>’s current residential address, electronic mail address, telephone number, employer<\/span>, address of employment, and telephone number at the place of employment; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> Issue<\/span> a capias<\/span> for an obligor<\/span> who has failed after proper notice to appear at a hearing<\/span> ordered by the tribunal and enter the capias<\/span> in any local and state<\/span> computer systems for criminal warrants; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

10.<\/span> Order the obligor<\/span> to seek appropriate employment by specified methods; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

11.<\/span> Award reasonable attorney’s fees and other fees and costs; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

12.<\/span> Grant any other available remedy. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> A responding tribunal<\/span> of the Commonwealth shall include in a support order issued under this chapter, or in the documents accompanying the order, the calculations on which the support order is based. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> A responding tribunal<\/span> of the Commonwealth may not condition the payment of a support order issued under this chapter upon compliance by a party<\/span> with provisions for visitation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> If a responding tribunal<\/span> of the Commonwealth issues<\/span> an order under this chapter, the tribunal shall promptly send a copy of the order to the petitioner and the respondent and to the initiating tribunal<\/span>, if any. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> If requested to enforce a support order, arrears<\/span>, or judgment<\/span> or modify a support order stated in a foreign currency, a responding tribunal<\/span> of the Commonwealth shall convert the amount stated in the foreign currency to the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars under the applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDUTIES AND POWERS OF RESPONDING TRIBUNAL (\u00a7 20-88.48)\n\nA. When a responding tribunal of the Commonwealth receives a petition or\ncomparable pleading from an initiating tribunal or directly pursuant to\nsubsection B of § 20-88.44, it shall cause the petition or pleading to be\nfiled and notify the petitioner where and when it was filed. An order for\nspousal support only shall be forwarded to the appropriate juvenile and domestic\nrelations court.\n\nB. A responding tribunal of the Commonwealth, to the extent not prohibited by\nother law, may do one or more of the following:\n\n 1. Establish or enforce a support order, modify a child support order,\n determine the controlling child support order, or determine parentage of a\n child;\n\n 2. Order an obligor to comply with a support order, specifying the amount and\n the manner of compliance;\n\n 3. Order income withholding;\n\n 4. Determine the amount of any arrearages, and specify a method of payment;\n\n 5. Enforce orders by civil or criminal contempt, or both;\n\n 6. Set aside property for satisfaction of the support order;\n\n 7. Place liens and order execution on the obligor’s property;\n\n 8. Order an obligor to keep the tribunal informed of the obligor’s\n current residential address, electronic mail address, telephone number,\n employer, address of employment, and telephone number at the place of\n employment;\n\n 9. Issue a capias for an obligor who has failed after proper notice to appear\n at a hearing ordered by the tribunal and enter the capias in any local and\n state computer systems for criminal warrants;\n\n 10. Order the obligor to seek appropriate employment by specified methods;\n\n 11. Award reasonable attorney’s fees and other fees and costs; and\n\n 12. Grant any other available remedy.\n\nC. A responding tribunal of the Commonwealth shall include in a support order\nissued under this chapter, or in the documents accompanying the order, the\ncalculations on which the support order is based.\n\nD. A responding tribunal of the Commonwealth may not condition the payment of a\nsupport order issued under this chapter upon compliance by a party with\nprovisions for visitation.\n\nE. If a responding tribunal of the Commonwealth issues an order under this\nchapter, the tribunal shall promptly send a copy of the order to the petitioner\nand the respondent and to the initiating tribunal, if any.\n\nF. If requested to enforce a support order, arrears, or judgment or modify a\nsupport order stated in a foreign currency, a responding tribunal of the\nCommonwealth shall convert the amount stated in the foreign currency to the\nequivalent amount in U.S. dollars under the applicable official or market\nexchange rate as publicly reported.\n\nHISTORY: 1994, c. 673; 1996, cc. 882, 925; 1997, cc. 797, 897; 2005, c. 754;\n2015, c. 727.","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}}