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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>73892</law_id><section_number>20-146.4</section_number><catch_line>International application</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="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">court</span> of this Commonwealth shall treat a foreign country as if it were a state of the United States for purposes of applying this article and 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-265707" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.4/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Except as otherwise provided in subsection C, a child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> determination made in a foreign country under factual circumstances in substantial conformity with the jurisdictional standards of this act must be recognized and enforced under Article 3 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/20-146.22/">20-146.22</a> et seq.) of this chapter. <a id="paragraph-265708" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.4/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A <span class="dictionary">court</span> of this Commonwealth need not apply this act if the child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> <span class="dictionary">law</span> of a foreign country violates fundamental principles of human rights. <a id="paragraph-265709" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.4/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1979, c. 229, &#xA7; 20-146; 2001, c. 305.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
