{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/20-88.50.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/20-88.50.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/20-88.50.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/20-88.50.html"}],"law_id":77249,"edition_id":1,"section_id":77249,"structure_id":14205,"section_number":"20-88.50","catch_line":"Duties of support enforcement agency","history":"1994, c. 673; 1997, cc. 797, 897; 2005, c. 754; 2015, c. 727.","full_text":"A\n\nA support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth, upon request, shall provide services to a petitioner in a proceeding under this chapter.B\n\nIn a proceeding under this chapter, a support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth that is providing services to the petitioner shall:1\n\nTake all steps necessary to enable an appropriate tribunal of the Commonwealth, another state, or a foreign country to obtain jurisdiction over the respondent;2\n\nRequest an appropriate tribunal to set a date, time, and place for a hearing;3\n\nMake a reasonable effort to obtain all relevant information, including information as to income and property of the parties;4\n\nWithin two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of a written notice in a record from an initiating, responding, or registering tribunal, send a copy of the notice to the petitioner;5\n\nWithin two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of a written communication in a record from the respondent or the respondent’s attorney, send a copy of the communication to the petitioner; and6\n\nNotify the petitioner if jurisdiction over the respondent cannot be obtained.C\n\nA support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth that requests registration of a child support order in the Commonwealth for enforcement or for modification shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that:1\n\nThe order to be registered is the controlling order; or2\n\nIf two or more child support orders exist and the identity of the controlling order has not been determined, a request for such a determination is made in a tribunal having jurisdiction to do so.D\n\nA support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth that requests registration and enforcement of a support order, arrears, or judgment stated in a foreign currency shall convert the amounts stated in the foreign currency into the equivalent amounts in U.S. dollars under the applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported.E\n\nA support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth shall issue or request a tribunal of the Commonwealth to issue a child support order and an income-withholding order that redirects payment of current support, arrears, and interest to a support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth if requested to do so by a support enforcement agency of another state pursuant to § 20-88.62.F\n\nThis chapter does not create a relationship of attorney and client or other fiduciary relationship between a support enforcement agency or the attorney for the agency and the individual being assisted by the agency.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":277097,"text":"A support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth, upon request, shall provide services to a petitioner in a proceeding under this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":277098,"text":"In a proceeding under this chapter, a support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth that is providing services to the petitioner shall:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":277099,"text":"Take all steps necessary to enable an appropriate tribunal of the Commonwealth, another state, or a foreign country to obtain jurisdiction over the respondent;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":277100,"text":"Request an appropriate tribunal to set a date, time, and place for a hearing;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":277101,"text":"Make a reasonable effort to obtain all relevant information, including information as to income and property of the parties;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"5":{"id":277102,"text":"Within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of a written notice in a record from an initiating, responding, or registering tribunal, send a copy of the notice to the petitioner;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"B5"},"6":{"id":277103,"text":"Within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of a written communication in a record from the respondent or the respondent’s attorney, send a copy of the communication to the petitioner; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"B5","prefix_anchor":"B5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"B6"},"7":{"id":277104,"text":"Notify the petitioner if jurisdiction over the respondent cannot be obtained.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"B6","prefix_anchor":"B6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B5","next_prefix":"C"},"8":{"id":277105,"text":"A support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth that requests registration of a child support order in the Commonwealth for enforcement or for modification shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that:","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B6","next_prefix":"C1"},"9":{"id":277106,"text":"The order to be registered is the controlling order; or","type":"section","prefixes":["C","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"C1","prefix_anchor":"C1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"C2"},"10":{"id":277107,"text":"If two or more child support orders exist and the identity of the controlling order has not been determined, a request for such a determination is made in a tribunal having jurisdiction to do so.","type":"section","prefixes":["C","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"C2","prefix_anchor":"C2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C1","next_prefix":"D"},"11":{"id":277108,"text":"A support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth that requests registration and enforcement of a support order, arrears, or judgment stated in a foreign currency shall convert the amounts stated in the foreign currency into the equivalent amounts in U.S. dollars under the applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C2","next_prefix":"E"},"12":{"id":277109,"text":"A support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth shall issue or request a tribunal of the Commonwealth to issue a child support order and an income-withholding order that redirects payment of current support, arrears, and interest to a support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth if requested to do so by a support enforcement agency of another state pursuant to § 20-88.62.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"13":{"id":277110,"text":"This chapter does not create a relationship of attorney and client or other fiduciary relationship between a support enforcement agency or the attorney for the agency and the individual being assisted by the agency.","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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/20-88.50\/","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 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 1997, chapters 797<\/a> and 897<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 754<\/a>; in 2015, chapter 727<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":85713,"section_number":"20-88.32","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-88.32\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":178771,"object_type":"law","relational_id":77249,"identifier":"20-88.50","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.50","url":"\/20-88.50\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/20-88.50\/","token":"20\/5.3\/5\/20-88.50","dublin_core":{"Title":"Duties of support enforcement agency","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 20-88.50","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A support enforcement agency<\/span> of the Commonwealth, upon request, shall provide services to a petitioner in a proceeding under this chapter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> In a proceeding under this chapter, a support enforcement agency<\/span> of the Commonwealth that is providing services to the petitioner shall: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Take all steps necessary to enable an appropriate tribunal<\/span> of the Commonwealth, another state<\/span>, or a foreign country<\/span> to obtain jurisdiction<\/span> over the respondent; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Request an appropriate tribunal<\/span> to set a date, time, and place for a hearing<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Make a reasonable effort to obtain all relevant information, including information as to income<\/span> and property of the parties; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of a written notice in a record<\/span> from an initiating, responding, or registering tribunal<\/span>, send a copy of the notice to the petitioner; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of a written communication in a record<\/span> from the respondent or the respondent’s attorney, send a copy of the communication to the petitioner; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Notify the petitioner if jurisdiction<\/span> over the respondent cannot be obtained. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> A support enforcement agency<\/span> of the Commonwealth that requests registration of a child support order<\/span> in the Commonwealth for enforcement or for modification shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The order to be registered is the controlling order; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> If two or more child support orders<\/span> exist and the identity of the controlling order has not been determined, a request for such a determination is made in a tribunal having jurisdiction<\/span> to do so. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> A support enforcement agency<\/span> of the Commonwealth that requests registration and enforcement of a support order, arrears<\/span>, or judgment<\/span> stated in a foreign currency shall convert the amounts stated in the foreign currency into the equivalent amounts in U.S. dollars under the applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> A support enforcement agency<\/span> of the Commonwealth shall issue<\/span> or request a tribunal of the Commonwealth to issue<\/span> a child support order<\/span> and an income<\/span>-withholding order<\/span> that redirects payment of current support, arrears<\/span>, and interest to a support enforcement agency<\/span> of the Commonwealth if requested to do so by a support enforcement agency<\/span> of another state<\/span> pursuant to § 20-88.62<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> This chapter does not create a relationship of attorney and client or other fiduciary relationship between a support enforcement agency<\/span> or the attorney for the agency and the individual being assisted by the agency. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDUTIES OF SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (\u00a7 20-88.50)\n\nA. A support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth, upon request, shall provide\nservices to a petitioner in a proceeding under this chapter.\n\nB. In a proceeding under this chapter, a support enforcement agency of the\nCommonwealth that is providing services to the petitioner shall:\n\n 1. Take all steps necessary to enable an appropriate tribunal of the\n Commonwealth, another state, or a foreign country to obtain jurisdiction over\n the respondent;\n\n 2. Request an appropriate tribunal to set a date, time, and place for a\n hearing;\n\n 3. Make a reasonable effort to obtain all relevant information, including\n information as to income and property of the parties;\n\n 4. Within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after\n receipt of a written notice in a record from an initiating, responding, or\n registering tribunal, send a copy of the notice to the petitioner;\n\n 5. Within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after\n receipt of a written communication in a record from the respondent or the\n respondent’s attorney, send a copy of the communication to the\n petitioner; and\n\n 6. Notify the petitioner if jurisdiction over the respondent cannot be\n obtained.\n\nC. A support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth that requests registration\nof a child support order in the Commonwealth for enforcement or for modification\nshall make reasonable efforts to ensure that:\n\n 1. The order to be registered is the controlling order; or\n\n 2. If two or more child support orders exist and the identity of the\n controlling order has not been determined, a request for such a determination\n is made in a tribunal having jurisdiction to do so.\n\nD. A support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth that requests registration\nand enforcement of a support order, arrears, or judgment stated in a foreign\ncurrency shall convert the amounts stated in the foreign currency into the\nequivalent amounts in U.S. dollars under the applicable official or market\nexchange rate as publicly reported.\n\nE. A support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth shall issue or request a\ntribunal of the Commonwealth to issue a child support order and an\nincome-withholding order that redirects payment of current support, arrears, and\ninterest to a support enforcement agency of the Commonwealth if requested to do\nso by a support enforcement agency of another state pursuant to § 20-88.62.\n\nF. This chapter does not create a relationship of attorney and client or other\nfiduciary relationship between a support enforcement agency or the attorney for\nthe agency and the individual being assisted by the agency.\n\nHISTORY: 1994, c. 673; 1997, cc. 797, 897; 2005, c. 754; 2015, 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}}