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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>86219</law_id><section_number>20-146.29</section_number><catch_line>Expedited enforcement of child custody; determination</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="3">Enforcement</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">petition</span> under this article must be verified. Certified copies of all <span class="dictionary">orders</span> sought to be enforced and of any <span class="dictionary">order</span> confirming registration must be attached to the <span class="dictionary">petition</span>. A copy of a certified copy of an <span class="dictionary">order</span> may be attached instead of the original. <a id="paragraph-308831" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.29/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for enforcement of a child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> determination must state: <a id="paragraph-308832" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.29/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Whether the <span class="dictionary">court</span> that issued the determination identified the jurisdictional basis it relied upon in exercising <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> and, if so, what the basis was; <a id="paragraph-308833" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.29/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Whether the determination for which enforcement is sought has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a <span class="dictionary">court</span> whose decision must be enforced under this act and, if so, identify the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, the case number, and the nature of the proceeding; <a id="paragraph-308834" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.29/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Whether any proceeding has been commenced that could affect the current proceeding, including 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; <a id="paragraph-308835" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.29/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The present physical address of the child and the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>, if known; <a id="paragraph-308836" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.29/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Whether relief in addition to the immediate physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the child and attorneys&#x2019; fees is sought, including a request for assistance from <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officials and, if so, the relief sought; and <a id="paragraph-308837" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.29/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> If the child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> determination has been registered under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Registration of child custody determination" href="/20-146.26/">20-146.26</a>, the date and place of registration. <a id="paragraph-308838" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.29/#B6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Upon the filing of a <span class="dictionary">petition</span>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> an <span class="dictionary">order</span> directing the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> to appear in person with or without the child at a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> and may enter any <span class="dictionary">order</span> necessary to ensure the safety of the parties and the child. The <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> must be held on the next judicial day after service of the <span class="dictionary">order</span> unless that date is impossible. In that event, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall hold the <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> on the first judicial day possible. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may extend the date of <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> at the request of the <span class="dictionary">petitioner</span>. <a id="paragraph-308839" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.29/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> An <span class="dictionary">order</span> issued under subsection C must state the time and place of the <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> and advise the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> that at the <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> the <span class="dictionary">court</span> will <span class="dictionary">order</span> that the <span class="dictionary">petitioner</span> may take immediate physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the child and the payment of fees, costs, and expenses under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Costs, fees, and expenses" href="/20-146.33/">20-146.33</a>, and may schedule a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> to determine whether further relief is appropriate, unless the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> appears and establishes that: <a id="paragraph-308840" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.29/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> determination has not been registered under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Registration of child custody determination" href="/20-146.26/">20-146.26</a>, and that:
				a. The issuing <span class="dictionary">court</span> did not have <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> under Article 2 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Initial child custody jurisdiction" href="/20-146.12/">20-146.12</a> et seq.) of this chapter;
				b. The child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> determination for which enforcement is sought has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a <span class="dictionary">court</span> having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> to do so under Article 2 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Initial child custody jurisdiction" href="/20-146.12/">20-146.12</a> et seq.) of this chapter;
				c. The <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> was entitled to notice, but notice was not given in accordance with the standards of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Notice to persons outside state" href="/20-146.7/">20-146.7</a>, in the proceedings before the <span class="dictionary">court</span> that issued the <span class="dictionary">order</span> for which enforcement is sought; or <a id="paragraph-308841" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.29/#D1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> determination for which enforcement is sought was registered under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Registration of child custody determination" href="/20-146.26/">20-146.26</a>, but has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of a state having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> to do so under Article 2 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Initial child custody jurisdiction" href="/20-146.12/">20-146.12</a> et seq.) of this chapter. <a id="paragraph-308842" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.29/#D2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2001, c. 305.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
