{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/63.2-1900.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/63.2-1900.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/63.2-1900.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/63.2-1900.html"}],"law_id":54048,"edition_id":1,"section_id":54048,"structure_id":12953,"section_number":"63.2-1900","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1974, c. 413, \u00a7 63.1-250; 1975, cc. 311, 596; 1976, c. 357; 1983, c. 66; 1985, c. 488; 1986, c. 594; 1988, c. 906; 1991, cc. 651, 694; 1997, cc. 796, 895; 1998, c. 727; 2002, cc. 747, 844; 2007, c. 600; 2009, c. 713; 2010, c. 243; 2016, c. 29; 2020, cc. 213, 722.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Administrative order” or “administrative support order” means a noncourt-ordered legally enforceable support obligation having the force and effect of a support order established by the court.\n\t\t“Assignment of rights” means the legal procedure whereby an individual assigns support rights to the Commonwealth on behalf of a dependent child or spouse and dependent child.\n\t\t“Authorization to seek or enforce a support obligation” means a signed authorization to the Commonwealth to seek or enforce support on behalf of a dependent child or a spouse and dependent child or on behalf of a person deemed to have submitted an application by operation of law.\n\t\t“Cash medical support” means the proportional amount the court or the Department shall order both parents to pay toward reasonable and necessary unreimbursed medical or dental expenses pursuant to subsection D of \u00a7 20-108.2.\n\t\t“Court order” means any judgment or order of any court having jurisdiction to order payment of support or an order of a court of comparable jurisdiction of another state ordering payment of a set or determinable amount of support moneys.\n\t\t“Custodial parent” means the natural or adoptive parent with whom the child resides; a stepparent or other person who has physical custody of the child and with whom the child resides; or a local board that has legal custody of a child in foster care.\n\t\t“Debt” means the total unpaid support obligation established by court order, administrative process or by the payment of public assistance and owed by a noncustodial parent to either the Commonwealth or to his dependent(s).\n\t\t“Department-sponsored health care coverage” means any health care coverage that the Department may make available through a private contractor for children receiving child support services from the Department.\n\t\t“Dependent child” means any person who meets the eligibility criteria set forth in \u00a7 63.2-602, whose support rights have been assigned or whose authorization to seek or enforce a support obligation has been given to the Commonwealth and whose support is required by Titles 16.1 and 20.\n\t\t“Electronic means” means service of a required notice by the Department through its secure online child support portal to any person who has agreed to accept service through the portal and has created a user account. The portal shall record and maintain the date and time service is accepted by the user.\n\t\t“Employee” means any individual receiving income.\n\t\t“Employer” means the source of any income.\n\t\t“Financial institution” means a depository institution, an institution-affiliated party, any federal credit union or state credit union including an institution-affiliated party of such a credit union, and any benefit association, insurance company, safe deposit company, money market mutual fund, or similar entity authorized to do business in the Commonwealth.\n\t\t“Financial records” includes, but is not limited to, records held by employers showing income, profit sharing contributions and benefits paid or payable and records held by financial institutions, broker-dealers and other institutions and entities showing bank accounts, IRA and separate contributions, gross winnings, dividends, interest, distributive share, stocks, bonds, agricultural subsidies, royalties, prizes and awards held for or due and payable to a responsible person.\n\t\t“Foreign support order” means any order issued outside of the Commonwealth by a court or tribunal as defined in \u00a7 20-88.32.\n\t\t“Health care coverage” means any plan providing hospital, medical or surgical care coverage for dependent children provided such coverage is available and can be obtained by a parent, parents, or a parent’s spouse at a reasonable cost.\n\t\t“Income” means any periodic or other form of payment due an individual from any source and shall include, but not be limited to, income from salaries, wages, commissions, royalties, bonuses, dividends, severance pay, payments pursuant to a pension or retirement program, interest, trust income, annuities, capital gains, social security benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, disability insurance benefits, veterans’ benefits, spousal support, net rental income, gifts, prizes or awards.\n\t\t“Independent contractor” means an individual who (i) provides any service performed for remuneration or under any contract of hire, written or oral, express or implied, and (ii) is not an employee pursuant to the definition of “employment” in \u00a7 60.2-212.\n\t\t“Mistake of fact” means an error in the identity of the payor or the amount of current support or arrearage.\n\t\t“Net income” means that income remaining after the following deductions have been taken from gross income: federal income tax, state income tax, federal income compensation act benefits, any union dues where collection thereof is required under federal law, and any other amounts required by law.\n\t\t“Noncustodial parent” means a responsible person who is or may be obligated under Virginia law for support of a dependent child or child’s caretaker.\n\t\t“Obligee” means (i) an individual to whom a duty of support is or is alleged to be owed or in whose favor a support order has been issued or a judgment determining parentage has been rendered, (ii) a state or political subdivision to which the rights under a duty of support or support order have been assigned or that has independent claims based on financial assistance provided to an individual obligee, or (iii) an individual seeking a judgment determining parentage of the individual’s child.\n\t\t“Obligor” means an individual, or the estate of a decedent, who (i) owes or is alleged to owe a duty of support, (ii) is alleged but has not been adjudicated to be a parent of a child, or (iii) is liable under a support order.\n\t\t“Payee” means any person to whom spousal or child support is to be paid.\n\t\t“Reasonable cost” pertaining to health care coverage for dependent children means available, in an amount not to exceed five percent of the gross income of the parent responsible for providing health care coverage, and accessible through employers, unions or other groups, or Department-sponsored health care coverage, without regard to service delivery mechanism; unless the court deems otherwise in the best interests of the child, including where the only health care coverage available exceeds five percent, or by agreement of the parties.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":198408,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Administrative order” or “administrative support order” means a noncourt-ordered legally enforceable support obligation having the force and effect of a support order established by the court.\n\t\t“Assignment of rights” means the legal procedure whereby an individual assigns support rights to the Commonwealth on behalf of a dependent child or spouse and dependent child.\n\t\t“Authorization to seek or enforce a support obligation” means a signed authorization to the Commonwealth to seek or enforce support on behalf of a dependent child or a spouse and dependent child or on behalf of a person deemed to have submitted an application by operation of law.\n\t\t“Cash medical support” means the proportional amount the court or the Department shall order both parents to pay toward reasonable and necessary unreimbursed medical or dental expenses pursuant to subsection D of \u00a7 20-108.2.\n\t\t“Court order” means any judgment or order of any court having jurisdiction to order payment of support or an order of a court of comparable jurisdiction of another state ordering payment of a set or determinable amount of support moneys.\n\t\t“Custodial parent” means the natural or adoptive parent with whom the child resides; a stepparent or other person who has physical custody of the child and with whom the child resides; or a local board that has legal custody of a child in foster care.\n\t\t“Debt” means the total unpaid support obligation established by court order, administrative process or by the payment of public assistance and owed by a noncustodial parent to either the Commonwealth or to his dependent(s).\n\t\t“Department-sponsored health care coverage” means any health care coverage that the Department may make available through a private contractor for children receiving child support services from the Department.\n\t\t“Dependent child” means any person who meets the eligibility criteria set forth in \u00a7 63.2-602, whose support rights have been assigned or whose authorization to seek or enforce a support obligation has been given to the Commonwealth and whose support is required by Titles 16.1 and 20.\n\t\t“Electronic means” means service of a required notice by the Department through its secure online child support portal to any person who has agreed to accept service through the portal and has created a user account. The portal shall record and maintain the date and time service is accepted by the user.\n\t\t“Employee” means any individual receiving income.\n\t\t“Employer” means the source of any income.\n\t\t“Financial institution” means a depository institution, an institution-affiliated party, any federal credit union or state credit union including an institution-affiliated party of such a credit union, and any benefit association, insurance company, safe deposit company, money market mutual fund, or similar entity authorized to do business in the Commonwealth.\n\t\t“Financial records” includes, but is not limited to, records held by employers showing income, profit sharing contributions and benefits paid or payable and records held by financial institutions, broker-dealers and other institutions and entities showing bank accounts, IRA and separate contributions, gross winnings, dividends, interest, distributive share, stocks, bonds, agricultural subsidies, royalties, prizes and awards held for or due and payable to a responsible person.\n\t\t“Foreign support order” means any order issued outside of the Commonwealth by a court or tribunal as defined in \u00a7 20-88.32.\n\t\t“Health care coverage” means any plan providing hospital, medical or surgical care coverage for dependent children provided such coverage is available and can be obtained by a parent, parents, or a parent’s spouse at a reasonable cost.\n\t\t“Income” means any periodic or other form of payment due an individual from any source and shall include, but not be limited to, income from salaries, wages, commissions, royalties, bonuses, dividends, severance pay, payments pursuant to a pension or retirement program, interest, trust income, annuities, capital gains, social security benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, disability insurance benefits, veterans’ benefits, spousal support, net rental income, gifts, prizes or awards.\n\t\t“Independent contractor” means an individual who (i) provides any service performed for remuneration or under any contract of hire, written or oral, express or implied, and (ii) is not an employee pursuant to the definition of “employment” in \u00a7 60.2-212.\n\t\t“Mistake of fact” means an error in the identity of the payor or the amount of current support or arrearage.\n\t\t“Net income” means that income remaining after the following deductions have been taken from gross income: federal income tax, state income tax, federal income compensation act benefits, any union dues where collection thereof is required under federal law, and any other amounts required by law.\n\t\t“Noncustodial parent” means a responsible person who is or may be obligated under Virginia law for support of a dependent child or child’s caretaker.\n\t\t“Obligee” means (i) an individual to whom a duty of support is or is alleged to be owed or in whose favor a support order has been issued or a judgment determining parentage has been rendered, (ii) a state or political subdivision to which the rights under a duty of support or support order have been assigned or that has independent claims based on financial assistance provided to an individual obligee, or (iii) an individual seeking a judgment determining parentage of the individual’s child.\n\t\t“Obligor” means an individual, or the estate of a decedent, who (i) owes or is alleged to owe a duty of support, (ii) is alleged but has not been adjudicated to be a parent of a child, or (iii) is liable under a support order.\n\t\t“Payee” means any person to whom spousal or child support is to be paid.\n\t\t“Reasonable cost” pertaining to health care coverage for dependent children means available, in an amount not to exceed five percent of the gross income of the parent responsible for providing health care coverage, and accessible through employers, unions or other groups, or Department-sponsored health care coverage, without regard to service delivery mechanism; unless the court deems otherwise in the best interests of the child, including where the only health care coverage available exceeds five percent, or by agreement of the parties.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":12953,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12835,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","permalink":{"id":272435,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12953,"identifier":"1","token":"63.2\/V\/19\/1","url":"\/63.2\/V\/19\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12835,"edition_id":1,"name":"Child Support Enforcement","identifier":"19","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12834,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":272433,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12835,"identifier":"19","token":"63.2\/V\/19","url":"\/63.2\/V\/19\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12834,"edition_id":1,"name":"Administrative Child Support","identifier":"V","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12789,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":272431,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12834,"identifier":"V","token":"63.2\/V","url":"\/63.2\/V\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12789,"edition_id":1,"name":"Welfare (Social Services)","identifier":"63.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":270661,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12789,"identifier":"63.2","token":"63.2","url":"\/63.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":54048,"structure_id":12953,"section_number":"63.2-1900","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/63.2-1900\/","token":"63.2\/V\/19\/1\/63.2-1900","metadata":false},{"id":75830,"structure_id":12953,"section_number":"63.2-1901","catch_line":"Purpose of chapter; powers and duties of the Department","url":"\/63.2-1901\/","token":"63.2\/V\/19\/1\/63.2-1901","metadata":false},{"id":60563,"structure_id":12953,"section_number":"63.2-1902","catch_line":"Central unit for information and administration; request and receipt of information from other entities and agencies; disclosure of such information","url":"\/63.2-1902\/","token":"63.2\/V\/19\/1\/63.2-1902","metadata":false},{"id":59512,"structure_id":12953,"section_number":"63.2-1903","catch_line":"Authority to issue certain orders; civil penalty","url":"\/63.2-1903\/","token":"63.2\/V\/19\/1\/63.2-1903","metadata":false},{"id":55360,"structure_id":12953,"section_number":"63.2-1904","catch_line":"Administrative support remedies available for individuals not receiving public assistance; fees","url":"\/63.2-1904\/","token":"63.2\/V\/19\/1\/63.2-1904","metadata":false},{"id":66816,"structure_id":12953,"section_number":"63.2-1905","catch_line":"Establishment of State Case Registry","url":"\/63.2-1905\/","token":"63.2\/V\/19\/1\/63.2-1905","metadata":false},{"id":87428,"structure_id":12953,"section_number":"63.2-1906","catch_line":"Department may disclose information to Internal Revenue Services","url":"\/63.2-1906\/","token":"63.2\/V\/19\/1\/63.2-1906","metadata":false},{"id":71535,"structure_id":12953,"section_number":"63.2-1907","catch_line":"Child support enforcement; private contracts","url":"\/63.2-1907\/","token":"63.2\/V\/19\/1\/63.2-1907","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":75830,"structure_id":12953,"section_number":"63.2-1901","catch_line":"Purpose of chapter; powers and duties of the Department","url":"\/63.2-1901\/","token":"63.2\/V\/19\/1\/63.2-1901","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/63.2-1900\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1974. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 413 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 1974 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 15 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 1975, chapters 311 and 596; in 1976, chapter 357; in 1983, chapter 66; in 1985, chapter 488; in 1986, chapter 594; in 1988, chapter 906; in 1991, chapters 651 and 694; in 1997, chapters 796<\/a> and 895<\/a>; in 1998, chapter 727<\/a>; in 2002, chapters 747<\/a> and 844<\/a>; in 2007, chapter 600<\/a>; in 2009, chapter 713<\/a>; in 2010, chapter 243<\/a>; in 2016, chapter 29<\/a>; in 2020, chapters 213<\/a> and 722<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":71312,"section_number":"16.1-241","catch_line":"Jurisdiction; consent for abortion","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-241\/"},{"id":61778,"section_number":"16.1-278.16","catch_line":"Failure to comply with support obligation; payroll deduction; commitment","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-278.16\/"},{"id":65314,"section_number":"16.1-290","catch_line":"Support of committed juvenile; support from estate of juvenile","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-290\/"},{"id":86162,"section_number":"20-108.1","catch_line":"Determination of child or spousal support","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-108.1\/"},{"id":78437,"section_number":"20-108.2","catch_line":"Guideline for determination of child support; quadrennial review by Child Support Guidelines Review Panel; executive summary","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-108.2\/"},{"id":54223,"section_number":"20-60.3","catch_line":"Contents of support orders","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-60.3\/"},{"id":64307,"section_number":"20-79.1","catch_line":"Enforcement of support orders; income deduction; penalty for wrongful discharge","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-79.1\/"},{"id":77212,"section_number":"20-79.3","catch_line":"Information required in income deduction order","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-79.3\/"},{"id":85713,"section_number":"20-88.32","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-88.32\/"},{"id":75653,"section_number":"20-88.64","catch_line":"Employer's receipt of income-withholding order of another state","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-88.64\/"},{"id":76383,"section_number":"34-28.1","catch_line":"Personal injury and wrongful death actions exempt; exceptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/34-28.1\/"},{"id":71731,"section_number":"34-34","catch_line":"Certain retirement benefits exempt","order_by":null,"url":"\/34-34\/"},{"id":62870,"section_number":"51.1-124.4","catch_line":"Exemption of assets from taxation; exemption of benefits and assets from execution and assignment; trust funds; unclaimed property; eligible rollover distribution","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-124.4\/"},{"id":81121,"section_number":"51.1-510","catch_line":"Insurance exempt from process","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-510\/"},{"id":56314,"section_number":"51.1-802","catch_line":"Assets of retirement systems; exemption from taxation; execution and assignment","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-802\/"},{"id":57817,"section_number":"58.1-3","catch_line":"Secrecy of information; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-3\/"},{"id":83088,"section_number":"58.1-4013","catch_line":"Right to prize not assignable; exceptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-4013\/"},{"id":60303,"section_number":"58.1-4019","catch_line":"Certain persons ineligible to purchase tickets or shares or receive prizes","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-4019\/"},{"id":68267,"section_number":"63.2-103","catch_line":"Confidential records and information concerning child support enforcement","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-103\/"},{"id":80712,"section_number":"63.2-1101","catch_line":"Discharging financial responsibilities imposed by compact or agreement","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1101\/"},{"id":69022,"section_number":"63.2-1503","catch_line":"Local departments to establish child-protective services; duties","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1503\/"},{"id":59512,"section_number":"63.2-1903","catch_line":"Authority to issue certain orders; civil penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1903\/"},{"id":58910,"section_number":"63.2-1916","catch_line":"Notice of administrative support order; contents; hearing; modification","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1916\/"},{"id":79718,"section_number":"63.2-1917","catch_line":"When delivery of notice to party at last known address may be deemed sufficient","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1917\/"},{"id":69701,"section_number":"63.2-1923","catch_line":"Immediate withholding from income; exception; notices required","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1923\/"},{"id":79512,"section_number":"63.2-1924.1","catch_line":"Health care coverage; National Medical Support Notice","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1924.1\/"},{"id":71727,"section_number":"63.2-1936","catch_line":"Procedures for posting security, bond or guarantee to secure payment of overdue support","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1936\/"},{"id":55490,"section_number":"63.2-1951","catch_line":"Interest on support payments collected","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1951\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":78437,"section_number":"20-108.2","catch_line":"Guideline for determination of child support; quadrennial review by Child Support Guidelines Review Panel; executive summary","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-108.2\/"},{"id":85713,"section_number":"20-88.32","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-88.32\/"},{"id":54032,"section_number":"60.2-212","catch_line":"Employment","order_by":null,"url":"\/60.2-212\/"},{"id":74488,"section_number":"63.2-602","catch_line":"Eligibility for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-602\/"}],"permalink":{"id":272437,"object_type":"law","relational_id":54048,"identifier":"63.2-1900","token":"63.2\/V\/19\/1\/63.2-1900","url":"\/63.2-1900\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/63.2-1900\/","token":"63.2\/V\/19\/1\/63.2-1900","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 63.2-1900","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Administrative order<\/span>” or “administrative support order<\/span>” means a noncourt-ordered legally enforceable support obligation having the force and effect of a support order established by the court.\n\t\t“Assignment of rights<\/span>” means the legal procedure whereby an individual assigns support rights to the Commonwealth on behalf of a dependent child<\/span> or spouse and dependent child<\/span>.\n\t\t“Authorization to seek or enforce a support obligation<\/span>” means a signed authorization to the Commonwealth to seek or enforce support on behalf of a dependent child<\/span> or a spouse and dependent child<\/span> or on behalf of a person deemed to have submitted an application by operation of law<\/span>.\n\t\t“Cash medical support<\/span>” means the proportional amount the court or the Department<\/span> shall order both parents to pay toward reasonable and necessary unreimbursed medical or dental expenses pursuant to subsection D of \u00a7 20-108.2<\/a>.\n\t\t“Court order<\/span>” means any judgment<\/span> or order of any court having jurisdiction<\/span> to order payment of support or an order of a court of comparable jurisdiction<\/span> of another state ordering payment of a set or determinable amount of support moneys.\n\t\t“Custodial parent<\/span>” means the natural or adoptive parent with whom the child resides; a stepparent or other person who has physical custody<\/span> of the child and with whom the child resides; or a local board<\/span> that has legal custody<\/span> of a child in foster care.\n\t\t“Debt<\/span>” means the total unpaid support obligation established by court order<\/span>, administrative process or by the payment of public assistance<\/span> and owed by a noncustodial parent<\/span> to either the Commonwealth or to his dependent(s).\n\t\t“Department<\/span>-sponsored health care coverage<\/span><\/span>” means any health care coverage<\/span> that the Department<\/span> may make available through a private contractor for children receiving child support services<\/span> from the Department<\/span>.\n\t\t“Dependent child<\/span>” means any person who meets the eligibility criteria set forth in \u00a7 63.2-602<\/a>, whose support rights have been assigned or whose authorization to seek or enforce a support obligation<\/span> has been given to the Commonwealth and whose support is required by Titles 16.1 and 20.\n\t\t“Electronic means<\/span>” means service of a required notice by the Department<\/span> through its secure online child support portal to any person who has agreed to accept service through the portal and has created a user account. The portal shall record and maintain the date and time service is accepted by the user.\n\t\t“Employee<\/span>” means any individual receiving income.\n\t\t“Employer<\/span>” means the source of any income.\n\t\t“Financial institution<\/span>” means a depository institution, an institution-affiliated party<\/span>, any federal credit union or state credit union including an institution-affiliated party<\/span> of such a credit union, and any benefit association, insurance company, safe deposit company, money market mutual fund, or similar entity authorized to do business in the Commonwealth.\n\t\t“Financial records” includes, but is not limited to, records held by employers<\/span> showing income, profit sharing contributions and benefits paid or payable and records held by financial institutions<\/span>, broker-dealers and other institutions and entities showing bank accounts, IRA and separate contributions, gross winnings, dividends, interest, distributive share, stocks, bonds<\/span>, agricultural subsidies, royalties, prizes and awards held for or due and payable to a responsible person.\n\t\t“Foreign support order<\/span>” means any order issued outside of the Commonwealth by a court or tribunal as defined in \u00a7 20-88.32<\/a>.\n\t\t“Health care coverage<\/span>” means any plan providing hospital, medical or surgical care coverage for dependent children provided such coverage is available and can be obtained by a parent, parents, or a parent’s spouse at a reasonable cost<\/span>.\n\t\t“Income” means any periodic or other form of payment due an individual from any source and shall include, but not be limited to, income from salaries, wages, commissions, royalties, bonuses, dividends, severance pay, payments pursuant to a pension or retirement program, interest, trust income, annuities, capital gains, social security benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, disability insurance benefits, veterans’ benefits, spousal support, net rental income, gifts, prizes or awards.\n\t\t“Independent contractor<\/span>” means an individual who (i) provides any service performed for remuneration or under any contract<\/span> of hire, written or oral, express or implied, and (ii) is not an employee<\/span> pursuant to the definition of “employment<\/span>” in \u00a7 60.2-212<\/a>.\n\t\t“Mistake of fact<\/span>” means an error in the identity of the payor or the amount of current support or arrearage.\n\t\t“Net income<\/span>” means that income remaining after the following deductions have been taken from gross income: federal income tax, state income tax, federal income compensation act benefits, any union dues where collection thereof is required under federal law<\/span>, and any other amounts required by law<\/span>.\n\t\t“Noncustodial parent<\/span>” means a responsible person who is or may be obligated under Virginia law<\/span> for support of a dependent child<\/span> or child’s caretaker.\n\t\t“Obligee<\/span>” means (i) an individual to whom a duty of support is or is alleged to be owed or in whose favor a support order has been issued or a judgment<\/span> determining parentage has been rendered, (ii) a state or political subdivision to which the rights under a duty of support or support order have been assigned or that has independent claims based on financial assistance provided to an individual obligee<\/span>, or (iii) an individual seeking a judgment<\/span> determining parentage of the individual’s child.\n\t\t“Obligor<\/span>” means an individual, or the estate of a decedent, who (i) owes or is alleged to owe a duty of support, (ii) is alleged but has not been adjudicated to be a parent of a child, or (iii) is liable under a support order.\n\t\t“Payee<\/span>” means any person to whom spousal or child support is to be paid.\n\t\t“Reasonable cost<\/span>” pertaining to health care coverage<\/span> for dependent children means available, in an amount not to exceed five percent of the gross income of the parent responsible for providing health care coverage<\/span>, and accessible through employers<\/span>, unions or other groups, or Department<\/span>-sponsored health care coverage<\/span><\/span>, without regard to service delivery mechanism; unless the court deems otherwise in the best interests of the child, including where the only health care coverage<\/span> available exceeds five percent, or by agreement of the parties.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 63.2-1900)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Administrative order” or “administrative support\norder” means a noncourt-ordered legally enforceable support obligation\nhaving the force and effect of a support order established by the court.\n\t\t“Assignment of rights” means the legal procedure whereby an\nindividual assigns support rights to the Commonwealth on behalf of a dependent\nchild or spouse and dependent child.\n\t\t“Authorization to seek or enforce a support obligation” means a\nsigned authorization to the Commonwealth to seek or enforce support on behalf of\na dependent child or a spouse and dependent child or on behalf of a person\ndeemed to have submitted an application by operation of law.\n\t\t“Cash medical support” means the proportional amount the court or\nthe Department shall order both parents to pay toward reasonable and necessary\nunreimbursed medical or dental expenses pursuant to subsection D of \u00a7 20-108.2.\n\t\t“Court order” means any judgment or order of any court having\njurisdiction to order payment of support or an order of a court of comparable\njurisdiction of another state ordering payment of a set or determinable amount\nof support moneys.\n\t\t“Custodial parent” means the natural or adoptive parent with whom\nthe child resides; a stepparent or other person who has physical custody of the\nchild and with whom the child resides; or a local board that has legal custody\nof a child in foster care.\n\t\t“Debt” means the total unpaid support obligation established by\ncourt order, administrative process or by the payment of public assistance and\nowed by a noncustodial parent to either the Commonwealth or to his dependent(s).\n\t\t“Department-sponsored health care coverage” means any health care\ncoverage that the Department may make available through a private contractor for\nchildren receiving child support services from the Department.\n\t\t“Dependent child” means any person who meets the eligibility\ncriteria set forth in \u00a7 63.2-602, whose support rights have been assigned or\nwhose authorization to seek or enforce a support obligation has been given to\nthe Commonwealth and whose support is required by Titles 16.1 and 20.\n\t\t“Electronic means” means service of a required notice by the\nDepartment through its secure online child support portal to any person who has\nagreed to accept service through the portal and has created a user account. The\nportal shall record and maintain the date and time service is accepted by the\nuser.\n\t\t“Employee” means any individual receiving income.\n\t\t“Employer” means the source of any income.\n\t\t“Financial institution” means a depository institution, an\ninstitution-affiliated party, any federal credit union or state credit union\nincluding an institution-affiliated party of such a credit union, and any\nbenefit association, insurance company, safe deposit company, money market\nmutual fund, or similar entity authorized to do business in the Commonwealth.\n\t\t“Financial records” includes, but is not limited to, records held\nby employers showing income, profit sharing contributions and benefits paid or\npayable and records held by financial institutions, broker-dealers and other\ninstitutions and entities showing bank accounts, IRA and separate contributions,\ngross winnings, dividends, interest, distributive share, stocks, bonds,\nagricultural subsidies, royalties, prizes and awards held for or due and payable\nto a responsible person.\n\t\t“Foreign support order” means any order issued outside of the\nCommonwealth by a court or tribunal as defined in \u00a7 20-88.32.\n\t\t“Health care coverage” means any plan providing hospital, medical\nor surgical care coverage for dependent children provided such coverage is\navailable and can be obtained by a parent, parents, or a parent’s spouse\nat a reasonable cost.\n\t\t“Income” means any periodic or other form of payment due an\nindividual from any source and shall include, but not be limited to, income from\nsalaries, wages, commissions, royalties, bonuses, dividends, severance pay,\npayments pursuant to a pension or retirement program, interest, trust income,\nannuities, capital gains, social security benefits, workers’ compensation\nbenefits, unemployment insurance benefits, disability insurance benefits,\nveterans’ benefits, spousal support, net rental income, gifts, prizes or\nawards.\n\t\t“Independent contractor” means an individual who (i) provides any\nservice performed for remuneration or under any contract of hire, written or\noral, express or implied, and (ii) is not an employee pursuant to the definition\nof “employment” in \u00a7 60.2-212.\n\t\t“Mistake of fact” means an error in the identity of the payor or\nthe amount of current support or arrearage.\n\t\t“Net income” means that income remaining after the following\ndeductions have been taken from gross income: federal income tax, state income\ntax, federal income compensation act benefits, any union dues where collection\nthereof is required under federal law, and any other amounts required by law.\n\t\t“Noncustodial parent” means a responsible person who is or may be\nobligated under Virginia law for support of a dependent child or child’s\ncaretaker.\n\t\t“Obligee” means (i) an individual to whom a duty of support is or\nis alleged to be owed or in whose favor a support order has been issued or a\njudgment determining parentage has been rendered, (ii) a state or political\nsubdivision to which the rights under a duty of support or support order have\nbeen assigned or that has independent claims based on financial assistance\nprovided to an individual obligee, or (iii) an individual seeking a judgment\ndetermining parentage of the individual’s child.\n\t\t“Obligor” means an individual, or the estate of a decedent, who\n(i) owes or is alleged to owe a duty of support, (ii) is alleged but has not\nbeen adjudicated to be a parent of a child, or (iii) is liable under a support\norder.\n\t\t“Payee” means any person to whom spousal or child support is to be\npaid.\n\t\t“Reasonable cost” pertaining to health care coverage for dependent\nchildren means available, in an amount not to exceed five percent of the gross\nincome of the parent responsible for providing health care coverage, and\naccessible through employers, unions or other groups, or Department-sponsored\nhealth care coverage, without regard to service delivery mechanism; unless the\ncourt deems otherwise in the best interests of the child, including where the\nonly health care coverage available exceeds five percent, or by agreement of the\nparties.\n\nHISTORY: 1974, c. 413, \u00a7 63.1-250; 1975, cc. 311, 596; 1976, c. 357; 1983, c.\n66; 1985, c. 488; 1986, c. 594; 1988, c. 906; 1991, cc. 651, 694; 1997, cc. 796,\n895; 1998, c. 727; 2002, cc. 747, 844; 2007, c. 600; 2009, c. 713; 2010, c. 243;\n2016, c. 29; 2020, cc. 213, 722.","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}}