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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>78671</law_id><section_number>20-83.1</section_number><catch_line>Transfer of cases between courts in certain instances</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="5">Desertion and Nonsupport</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="a"><p><span class="prefix-number">a.</span> In the event that a spouse or dependent child has left the jurisdiction of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which the original <span class="dictionary">petition</span> was filed, but is still within the Commonwealth, and the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> is not within the jurisdiction embraced by such <span class="dictionary">court</span>, on <span class="dictionary">motion</span> of the spouse or child, or <span class="dictionary">accused</span> or the person having <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of such child, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which the original <span class="dictionary">petition</span> was filed may transfer the case to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> having <span class="dictionary">original jurisdiction</span> to hear such <span class="dictionary">petitions</span> in the county or city in this Commonwealth in which the spouse or child or <span class="dictionary">accused</span> resides. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> to which such case has been transferred shall have power to enforce such <span class="dictionary">orders</span> and <span class="dictionary">decrees</span> as may have been made in the <span class="dictionary">court</span> transferring the case as though the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> had been originally filed therein, and to make such other <span class="dictionary">orders</span> and <span class="dictionary">decrees</span> as may be necessary to enforce the provisions of this chapter. <a id="paragraph-281903" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-83.1/#a"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b"><p><span class="prefix-number">b.</span> In the event that an <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> is pending in a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of record in this Commonwealth from the decision of any <span class="dictionary">court</span> having jurisdiction to hear such <span class="dictionary">petitions</span>, upon <span class="dictionary">motion</span> of the spouse or child, or the person having <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the child, stating that such spouse or child no longer resides within the jurisdiction of such <span class="dictionary">court</span> of record, such <span class="dictionary">court</span>, upon reaching its decision, may transfer the case to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> having <span class="dictionary">original jurisdiction</span> to hear such <span class="dictionary">petitions</span> in the county or city in which the spouse or child resides in the same manner and to the same effect as provided in subsection (a) hereof. <a id="paragraph-281904" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-83.1/#b"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1964, c. 12; 1974, c. 464.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
