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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>77444</law_id><section_number>20-146.32</section_number><catch_line>Ex parte order to take physical custody of child</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>20-146.30</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="3">Enforcement</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Upon the filing of a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> seeking enforcement of a child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> determination, the <span class="dictionary">petitioner</span> may request in the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> that the <span class="dictionary">court</span> <span class="dictionary">issue</span> an <span class="dictionary">ex parte</span> <span class="dictionary">order</span> that the child be taken into immediate physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> if the child is imminently likely to suffer serious physical harm or be removed from this Commonwealth. Any <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for an <span class="dictionary">ex parte</span> <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall include the statements required by subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Expedited enforcement of child custody; determination" href="/20-146.29/">20-146.29</a>. <a id="paragraph-277795" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.32/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, upon the <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> of the <span class="dictionary">petitioner</span> or other <span class="dictionary">witness</span>, finds that the child is imminently likely to suffer serious physical harm or be removed from this Commonwealth, it may <span class="dictionary">issue</span> an <span class="dictionary">ex parte</span> <span class="dictionary">order</span> to take immediate physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the child. A <span class="dictionary">petition</span> filed to enforce a child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> determination which seeks an <span class="dictionary">ex parte</span> <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall be heard on the next judicial day after the <span class="dictionary">ex parte</span> <span class="dictionary">order</span> is issued the 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. <a id="paragraph-277796" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.32/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> An <span class="dictionary">ex parte</span> <span class="dictionary">order</span> to take physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of a child shall: <a id="paragraph-277797" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.32/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Recite the <span class="dictionary">facts</span> upon which a conclusion of imminent serious physical harm or removal from the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> is based; <a id="paragraph-277798" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.32/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Direct <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officers to take physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the child immediately; and <a id="paragraph-277799" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.32/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Provide for the placement of the child with the <span class="dictionary">petitioner</span>, suitable relative, other suitable interested individual or the local department of social services pending final relief. <a id="paragraph-277800" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.32/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> must be served with the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> and <span class="dictionary">ex parte</span> <span class="dictionary">order</span> immediately after the child is taken into physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span>. <a id="paragraph-277801" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.32/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> An <span class="dictionary">ex parte</span> <span class="dictionary">order</span> to take physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of a child is enforceable throughout this Commonwealth. If the <span class="dictionary">court</span> finds on the basis of the <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> of the <span class="dictionary">petitioner</span> or other <span class="dictionary">witness</span> that a less intrusive remedy is not effective, it may authorize <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officers to enter private property to take physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the child. If required by exigent circumstances of the case, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may authorize <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officers to make a forcible entry at any hour. <a id="paragraph-277802" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.32/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may impose conditions upon placement of a child to ensure the <span class="dictionary">appearance</span> of the child and the child&#x2019;s custodian. <a id="paragraph-277803" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.32/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2001, c. 305.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
