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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>63781</law_id><section_number>20-146.16</section_number><catch_line>Notice; opportunity to be heard; joinder</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><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> Before a child&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">custody</span> determination is made under this act, notice and an opportunity to be heard in accordance with the standards of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Notice to persons outside state" href="/20-146.7/">20-146.7</a> must be given to all persons entitled to notice under the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of this Commonwealth as in child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> proceedings between residents of this Commonwealth, any parent whose parental rights have not been previously terminated, and any person having physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the child. <a id="paragraph-232372" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.16/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the Commonwealth shall govern the enforceability of a child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> determination made without actual notice or an opportunity to be heard. <a id="paragraph-232373" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.16/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The obligation to join a <span class="dictionary">party</span> and the right to intervene as a <span class="dictionary">party</span> in a child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> proceeding under this act are governed by the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of this Commonwealth as in child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> proceedings between residents of this Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-232374" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.16/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1979, c. 229, &#xA7;&#xA7; 20-127, 20-133; 2001, c. 305.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
