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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>60564</law_id><section_number>20-49.2</section_number><catch_line>Commencement of action; parties; jurisdiction</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="3.1">Proceedings to Determine Parentage</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Proceedings under this chapter may be instituted upon <span class="dictionary">petition</span>, verified by <span class="dictionary">oath</span> or affirmation, filed by a child, a parent, a person claiming parentage, a person standing in loco parentis to the child or having legal <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the child or a representative of the Department of Social Services or the Department of Juvenile Justice.
		The child may be made a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the action, and if he is a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> and is made a <span class="dictionary">party</span>, he shall be represented by a <span class="dictionary">guardian ad litem</span> appointed by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in accordance with the procedures specified in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Appointment of counsel and guardian ad litem" href="/16.1-266/">16.1-266</a> or &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Guardian ad litem for persons under disability; when guardian ad litem need not be appointed for person under disability" href="/8.01-9/">8.01-9</a>. The child&#x2019;s mother or father may not represent the child as guardian or otherwise. The determination of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> under the provisions of this chapter shall not be binding on any person who is not a <span class="dictionary">party</span>.
		The <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">courts</span> shall have concurrent <span class="dictionary">original jurisdiction</span> of cases arising under this chapter with the juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">courts</span> when the parentage of a child is at <span class="dictionary">issue</span> in any matter otherwise before the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span>. The determination of parentage, when raised in any proceeding, shall be governed by this chapter.</p></section></text><history>1988, cc. 866, 878; 1989, c. 368; 2008, cc. 164, 201.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
