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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>86444</law_id><section_number>20-146.20</section_number><catch_line>Information to be submitted to court</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>20-146.17</reference><reference>20-146.26</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> In a child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> proceeding, each <span class="dictionary">party</span>, in its first pleading or in an attached <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span>, shall give information, if reasonably ascertainable, under <span class="dictionary">oath</span> as to the child&#x2019;s present address or whereabouts, the places where the child has lived during the past five years, and the names and present addresses of the persons with whom the child has lived during that period. The pleading or <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span> must state whether the <span class="dictionary">party</span>: <a id="paragraph-309631" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.20/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Has participated, as a <span class="dictionary">party</span> or <span class="dictionary">witness</span> or in any other capacity, in any other proceeding concerning the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of or visitation with the child and, if so, identify the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, the case number, and the date of the child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> determination, if any; <a id="paragraph-309632" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.20/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Knows of any proceeding that could affect the current proceeding, including proceedings for enforcement and proceedings relating to domestic violence, protective <span class="dictionary">orders</span>, termination of parental rights, and adoptions, and, if so, identify the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, the case number, and the nature of the proceeding; and <a id="paragraph-309633" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.20/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Knows the names and addresses of any persons not a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the proceeding who has physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the child or claims rights of legal <span class="dictionary">custody</span> or physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of, or visitation with, the child and, if so, the names and addresses of those persons. <a id="paragraph-309634" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.20/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If the information required by subsection A is not furnished, the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, upon <span class="dictionary">motion</span> of a <span class="dictionary">party</span> or its own <span class="dictionary">motion</span>, may <span class="dictionary">stay</span> the proceeding until the information is furnished. <a id="paragraph-309635" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.20/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If the declaration as to any of the items described in subdivisions A 1, A 2, and A 3 is in the affirmative, the declarant shall give additional information under <span class="dictionary">oath</span> as required by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may examine the parties under <span class="dictionary">oath</span> as to details of the information furnished and other matters pertinent to the <span class="dictionary">court</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> and the <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of the case. <a id="paragraph-309636" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.20/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Each <span class="dictionary">party</span> has a continuing duty to inform the <span class="dictionary">court</span> of any proceeding in this or any other state that could affect the current proceeding. <a id="paragraph-309637" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.20/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> If a <span class="dictionary">party</span> alleges in an <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span> or a pleading under <span class="dictionary">oath</span> that the health, safety, or liberty of a <span class="dictionary">party</span> or child would be jeopardized by disclosure of identifying information, the information shall be <span class="dictionary">sealed</span> and may not be disclosed to the other <span class="dictionary">party</span> or the public unless the <span class="dictionary">court orders</span> the disclosure to be made after a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> in which the court takes into consideration the health, safety, or liberty of the <span class="dictionary">party</span> or child. In such a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> the court shall make a written <span class="dictionary">finding</span> that the disclosure is or is not in the interest of justice. Such <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> and written <span class="dictionary">finding</span> of the <span class="dictionary">issue</span> of disclosure shall be held and made by the court within 15 days of the filing of a pleading or <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span>. <a id="paragraph-309638" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.20/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1979, c. 229; 1982, c. 519, &#xA7; 20-132; 2001, c. 305; 2020, c. 42.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
