<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>61778</law_id><section_number>16.1-278.16</section_number><catch_line>Failure to comply with support obligation; payroll deduction; commitment</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-123</reference><reference>63.2-1902</reference><reference>63.2-1940.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="16.1">Courts Not of Record</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="11">Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="9">Disposition</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In cases involving (i) the <span class="dictionary">custody</span>, visitation, or support of a child arising under subdivision A 3 of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Jurisdiction; consent for abortion" href="/16.1-241/">16.1-241</a>, (ii) spousal support arising under subsection L of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Jurisdiction; consent for abortion" href="/16.1-241/">16.1-241</a>, (iii) support, maintenance, care, and <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of a child or support and maintenance of a spouse transferred to the juvenile and domestic relations district court pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Effect of divorce proceedings" href="/20-79/">20-79</a>, or (iv) <span class="dictionary">motions</span> to enforce administrative support <span class="dictionary">orders</span> entered pursuant to Chapter 19 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/63.2-1900/">63.2-1900</a> et seq.) of Title 63.2, when <span class="dictionary">the court</span> finds that the respondent (a) has failed to perform or comply with a <span class="dictionary">court order</span> concerning the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> and visitation of a child or a court or administrative order concerning the support and maintenance of a child or a <span class="dictionary">court order</span> concerning the support and maintenance of a spouse or (b) under existing circumstances, is under a duty to render support or additional support to a child or pay the support and maintenance of a spouse, <span class="dictionary">the court</span> may order a payroll deduction as provided in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Enforcement of support orders; income deduction; penalty for wrongful discharge" href="/20-79.1/">20-79.1</a>, or the giving of a <span class="dictionary">recognizance</span> as provided in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Recognizance for compliance with order or decree" href="/20-114/">20-114</a>. If <span class="dictionary">the court</span> finds that the respondent has failed to perform or comply with such order, and personal or substitute service has been obtained, <span class="dictionary">the court</span> may <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a civil show cause <span class="dictionary">summons</span> or a <span class="dictionary">capias</span> pursuant to this section. <span class="dictionary">The court</span> also may order the commitment of the person as provided in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Commitment and sentence for failure to comply with order or decree" href="/20-115/">20-115</a> or <span class="dictionary">the court</span> may, in its discretion, impose a sentence of up to 12 months in <span class="dictionary">jail</span>, notwithstanding the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Contempt of court" href="/16.1-69.24/">16.1-69.24</a> and <a class="law" title="Power of judge of district court to punish for contempt" href="/18.2-458/">18.2-458</a>, relating to punishment for <span class="dictionary">contempt</span>. If <span class="dictionary">the court</span> finds that an employer, who is under a payroll deduction order pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Enforcement of support orders; income deduction; penalty for wrongful discharge" href="/20-79.1/">20-79.1</a>, has failed to comply with such order after being given a reasonable opportunity to show cause why he failed to comply with such order, then <span class="dictionary">the court</span> may proceed to impose <span class="dictionary">sanctions</span> on the employer pursuant to subdivision B 9 of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Information required in income deduction order" href="/20-79.3/">20-79.3</a>.</p></section></text><history>1991, c. 534; 2003, cc. 929, 942; 2004, c. 219; 2020, c. 722.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
