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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>75922</law_id><section_number>20-49.8</section_number><catch_line>Judgment or order; costs; birth record</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-277.01</reference><reference>20-49.1</reference><reference>32.1-257</reference><reference>63.2-1202</reference><reference>63.2-1222</reference><reference>63.2-1224</reference><reference>63.2-1250</reference><reference>63.2-1913</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="3.1">Proceedings to Determine Parentage</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> As used in this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">pregnancy and delivery expenses</span>&#x201D; means an amount equal to the sum of a pregnant mother&#x2019;s reasonable and necessary medical costs, minus any portion of such sum that a <span class="dictionary">court</span> determines is <span class="dictionary">equitable</span> based on the totality of the circumstances. Any amount paid by either parent may be credited by a <span class="dictionary">court</span>. <a id="paragraph-272580" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-49.8/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> or <span class="dictionary">order</span> establishing parentage may include any provision directed against the appropriate <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the proceeding, concerning the duty of support, including an <span class="dictionary">equitable</span> apportionment of the expenses incurred on behalf of the child from the date the proceeding under this chapter was filed with the <span class="dictionary">court</span> against the alleged parent or, if earlier, the date an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of the Department of Social Services entered pursuant to Title 63.2 and directing payment of support was delivered to the sheriff or process server for service upon the obligor. The <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> or <span class="dictionary">order</span> may be in favor of the natural parent or any other person or agency who incurred such expenses provided the complainant exercised due diligence in the service of the respondent. The <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> or <span class="dictionary">order</span> may also include provisions for the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> and guardianship of the child, visitation <span class="dictionary">privileges</span> with the child, or any other matter in the best interest of the child. In circumstances where the parent is outside the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may enter a further <span class="dictionary">order</span> requiring the furnishing of <span class="dictionary">bond</span> or other security for the payment required by the <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> or <span class="dictionary">order</span>. In the event that the initial <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for the establishment of parentage is commenced within six months of the live birth of a child, the <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> or <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall, except for good cause shown or as otherwise agreed to by the parties, apportion between the legal parents, in proportion to the legal parents&#x2019; gross incomes, as used for calculating the monthly child support obligation pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Guideline for determination of child support; quadrennial review by Child Support Guidelines Review Panel; executive summary" href="/20-108.2/">20-108.2</a>, (i) the mother&#x2019;s unreimbursed <span class="dictionary">pregnancy and delivery expenses</span> and (ii) those reasonable expenses incurred by either parent for the benefit of the child prior to the birth of the child. However, when the Commonwealth, through the Medicaid program or other government program, has paid such expenses, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may <span class="dictionary">order</span> reimbursement to the Commonwealth for such expenses. <a id="paragraph-272581" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-49.8/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A determination of paternity made by any other state shall be given full faith and credit, whether established through voluntary acknowledgment or through administrative or judicial process; provided, however, that, except as may otherwise be required by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, such full faith and credit shall be given only for the purposes of establishing a duty to make payments of support and other payments contemplated by subsection B. <a id="paragraph-272582" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-49.8/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> For each <span class="dictionary">court</span> determination of parentage made under the provisions of this chapter, a certified copy of the <span class="dictionary">order</span> or <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> shall be transmitted to the State Registrar of Vital Records by the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> within thirty days after the <span class="dictionary">order</span> becomes final. Such <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall set forth the full name and date and place of birth of the person whose parentage has been determined, the full names of both parents, including the maiden name, if any, of the mother and the name and address of an informant who can furnish the information necessary to complete a new birth record. In addition, when the State Registrar receives a document signed by a man indicating his consent to submit to scientifically reliable genetic tests, including blood tests, to determine paternity and the genetic test results affirming at least a ninety-eight percent probability of paternity, a new birth record shall be completed as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="New certificate of birth established on proof of adoption, legitimation, or determination of paternity, or change of sex" href="/32.1-261/">32.1-261</a>. When the State Registrar receives a copy of a <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> or <span class="dictionary">order</span> for a person born outside of this Commonwealth, such <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall be forwarded to the appropriate registration authority in the state of birth or the appropriate federal agency. <a id="paragraph-272583" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-49.8/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1988, cc. 866, 878; 1990, c. 615; 1992, c. 867; 1994, c. 869; 1996, c. 491; 1998, c. 592; 2023, cc. 570, 571.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
