<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>68593</law_id><section_number>20-88.39</section_number><catch_line>Continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify child support order</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>20-88.36</reference><reference>20-88.41</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="5.3">Uniform Interstate Family Support Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Jurisdiction in Proceedings Involving Two or More States</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth that has issued a <span class="dictionary">child support order</span> consistent with the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the Commonwealth has and shall exercise continuing, exclusive <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> to modify its <span class="dictionary">child support order</span> if the order is the controlling order, and: <a id="paragraph-248267" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.39/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> At the time of the filing of a request for modification, the Commonwealth is the residence of the <span class="dictionary">obligor</span>, the individual <span class="dictionary">obligee</span>, or the child for whose benefit the support order is issued; or <a id="paragraph-248268" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.39/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Even if the Commonwealth is not the residence of the <span class="dictionary">obligor</span>, the individual <span class="dictionary">obligee</span>, or the child for whose benefit the support order is issued, the parties consent in a <span class="dictionary">record</span> that the <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth may continue to exercise its <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> to modify its order. <a id="paragraph-248269" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.39/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth that has issued a <span class="dictionary">child support order</span> consistent with the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the Commonwealth may not exercise continuing, exclusive <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> to modify the order if: <a id="paragraph-248270" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.39/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> All of the parties who are individuals file consent in a <span class="dictionary">record</span> with the <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth that a <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> of another <span class="dictionary">state</span> that has <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over at least one of the parties who is an individual or who is located in the <span class="dictionary">state</span> of residence of the child may modify the order and assume continuing, exclusive <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>; or <a id="paragraph-248271" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.39/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Its order is not the controlling order. <a id="paragraph-248272" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.39/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If a <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> of another <span class="dictionary">state</span> has issued a <span class="dictionary">child support order</span> pursuant to this chapter or a <span class="dictionary">law</span> substantially similar to this chapter that modifies a <span class="dictionary">child support order</span> of a <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth, <span class="dictionary">tribunals</span> of the Commonwealth shall recognize the continuing, exclusive <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> of the other <span class="dictionary">state</span>. <a id="paragraph-248273" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.39/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A tribunal of the Commonwealth that lacks continuing, exclusive <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> to modify a <span class="dictionary">child support order</span> may serve as an <span class="dictionary">initiating tribunal</span> to request a tribunal of another <span class="dictionary">state</span> to modify a support order issued in that <span class="dictionary">state</span>. <a id="paragraph-248274" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.39/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> A temporary support order issued <span class="dictionary">ex parte</span> or pending resolution of a jurisdictional conflict does not create continuing, exclusive <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> in the <span class="dictionary">issuing tribunal</span>. <a id="paragraph-248275" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.39/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> The <span class="dictionary">support enforcement agency</span> of the Commonwealth is not authorized to establish or enforce a support order for spousal support only. <a id="paragraph-248276" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.39/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1994, c. 673; 1996, cc. 882, 925; 1997, cc. 797, 897; 2005, c. 754.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
