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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>86277</law_id><section_number>18.2-49.1</section_number><catch_line>Violation of court order regarding custody and visitation; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-241</reference><reference>19.2-392.12</reference><reference>53.1-40.02</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="4">Crimes Against the Person</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Kidnapping and Related Offenses</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any person who knowingly, wrongfully and intentionally withholds a child from either of a child&#x2019;s parents or other legal guardian in a clear and significant violation of a <span class="dictionary">court order</span> respecting the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> or visitation of such child, provided such child is withheld outside of the Commonwealth, is guilty of a Class 6 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. <a id="paragraph-308998" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-49.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any person who knowingly, wrongfully and intentionally engages in conduct that constitutes a clear and significant violation of a <span class="dictionary">court order</span> respecting the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> or visitation of a child is guilty of a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> upon <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> of a first <span class="dictionary">offense</span>. Any person who commits a second violation of this section within 12 months of a first <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> is guilty of a Class 2 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>, and any person who commits a third violation occurring within 24 months of the first <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-308999" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-49.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1987, c. 704; 1989, c. 486; 1994, c. 575; 2002, cc. 576, 596; 2003, c. 261.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
