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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>56827</law_id><section_number>20-146.12</section_number><catch_line>Initial child custody jurisdiction</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>20-146.13</reference><reference>20-146.14</reference><reference>20-146.15</reference><reference>20-146.19</reference><reference>20-146.25</reference><reference>20-146.27</reference><reference>20-146.28</reference><reference>20-146.29</reference><reference>20-146.3</reference><reference>20-146.31</reference><reference>20-146.34</reference><reference>20-146.4</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="20">Domestic Relations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="7.1">Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Jurisdiction</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Except as otherwise provided in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Temporary emergency jurisdiction" href="/20-146.15/">20-146.15</a>, a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of this Commonwealth has <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> to make an initial child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> determination only if: <a id="paragraph-208117" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.12/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> This Commonwealth is the home state of the child on the date of the commencement of the proceeding, or was the home state of the child within six months before the commencement of the proceeding and the child is absent from this Commonwealth but a parent or person acting as a parent continues to live in this Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-208118" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.12/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> A <span class="dictionary">court</span> of another state does not have <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> under subdivision 1, or a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the home state of the child has declined to exercise <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> on the ground that this Commonwealth is the more appropriate forum under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Inconvenient forum" href="/20-146.18/">20-146.18</a> or &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct" href="/20-146.19/">20-146.19</a>, and (i) the child and the child&#x2019;s parents, or the child and at least one parent or a person acting as a parent, have a significant connection with this Commonwealth other than mere physical presence and (ii) substantial <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> is available in this Commonwealth concerning the child&#x2019;s care, protection, training, and personal relationships; <a id="paragraph-208119" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.12/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> All <span class="dictionary">courts</span> having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> under subdivision 1 or 2 have declined to exercise <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> on the ground that a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of this Commonwealth is the more appropriate forum to determine the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the child under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Inconvenient forum" href="/20-146.18/">20-146.18</a> or &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct" href="/20-146.19/">20-146.19</a>; or <a id="paragraph-208120" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.12/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> No <span class="dictionary">court</span> of any other state would have <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> under the criteria specified in subdivision 1, 2, or 3. <a id="paragraph-208121" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.12/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Subsection A is the exclusive jurisdictional basis for making a child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> determination by a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of this Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-208122" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.12/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Physical presence of, or personal <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over, a <span class="dictionary">party</span> or a child is not necessary or sufficient to make a child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> determination. <a id="paragraph-208123" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.12/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1979, c. 229, &#xA7; 20-126; 2001, c. 305.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
