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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>78582</law_id><section_number>20-79</section_number><catch_line>Effect of divorce proceedings</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-243</reference><reference>16.1-278.16</reference><reference>16.1-278.17</reference><reference>20-113</reference><reference>20-77</reference><reference>20-78</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="5">Desertion and Nonsupport</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="a"><p><span class="prefix-number">a.</span> In any case where an <span class="dictionary">order</span> has been entered under the provisions of this chapter, directing either <span class="dictionary">party</span> to pay any sum or sums of money for the support of his or her spouse, or concerning the care, <span class="dictionary">custody</span> or maintenance of any child, or children, the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> which entered such <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall cease and its <span class="dictionary">orders</span> become inoperative upon the entry of a <span class="dictionary">decree</span> by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> thereof in vacation in a suit for divorce instituted in any <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> in this Commonwealth having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> thereof, in which <span class="dictionary">decree</span> provision is made for support and maintenance for the spouse or concerning the care, <span class="dictionary">custody</span> or maintenance of a child or children, or concerning any matter provided in a <span class="dictionary">decree</span> in the divorce proceedings in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Court may make orders pending suit for divorce, custody or visitation, etc" href="/20-103/">20-103</a>. <a id="paragraph-281612" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-79/#a"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b"><p><span class="prefix-number">b.</span> In any suit for divorce, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which the suit is instituted or pending, when either <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the proceedings so requests, shall provide in its <span class="dictionary">decree</span> for the maintenance, support, care or <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the child or children in accordance with Chapter 6.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/20-124.1/">20-124.1</a> et seq.), support and maintenance for the spouse, if the same be sought, and <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> fees and other costs, if in the <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> any or all of the foregoing should be so decreed. <a id="paragraph-281613" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-79/#b"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="c"><p><span class="prefix-number">c.</span> Enforcement of <span class="dictionary">orders</span>. In any suit for divorce or suit for maintenance and support, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may after a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>, <span class="dictionary">pendente lite</span>, or in any <span class="dictionary">decree</span> of divorce a mensa et thoro, <span class="dictionary">decree</span> of divorce a vinculo matrimonii, final <span class="dictionary">decree</span> for maintenance and support, or subsequent <span class="dictionary">decree</span> in such suit, transfer to the juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">court</span> the enforcement of its <span class="dictionary">orders</span> pertaining to support and maintenance for the spouse, maintenance, support, care and <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the child or children.
			Transfer of case for modification. After the entry of a <span class="dictionary">decree</span> of divorce a vinculo matrimonii the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may transfer to the juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">court</span> any other matters pertaining to support and maintenance for the spouse, maintenance, support, care and <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the child or children on <span class="dictionary">motion</span> by either <span class="dictionary">party</span>, and may so transfer such matters before the entry of such <span class="dictionary">decree</span> on <span class="dictionary">motion</span> joined in by both parties. A <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall not (i) transfer a case for modification to the juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">court</span> in the absence of a <span class="dictionary">motion</span> by either <span class="dictionary">party</span> or (ii) require a provision for transfer of matters for modification to the juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">court</span> as a condition of entry of a <span class="dictionary">decree</span> of divorce a vinculo matrimonii.
			Change of <span class="dictionary">venue</span>. In the transfer of any matters referred to herein, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may, upon the <span class="dictionary">motion</span> of any <span class="dictionary">party</span>, or on its own <span class="dictionary">motion</span>, and for good cause shown, transfer any matters covered by said <span class="dictionary">decree</span> or <span class="dictionary">decrees</span> to any <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> or juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">court</span> within the Commonwealth that constitutes a more appropriate forum. An <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> of an <span class="dictionary">order</span> by such juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">court</span> which is to enforce or modify the <span class="dictionary">decree</span> in the divorce suit shall be as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Jurisdiction of appeals; procedure" href="/16.1-296/">16.1-296</a>. <a id="paragraph-281614" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-79/#c"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7; 1939; 1940, p. 478; 1960, c. 76; 1964, c. 636; 1970, c. 459; 1974, cc. 464, 473; 1975, c. 644; 1976, c. 345; 1977, c. 71; 1988, c. 502; 1994, c. 769; 2018, c. 254.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
