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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>57851</law_id><section_number>20-88.41</section_number><catch_line>Determination of controlling child support order</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>20-88.76</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="4">Reconciliation of Two or More Orders</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> If a proceeding is brought under this chapter and only one <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> has issued a <span class="dictionary">child support order</span>, the order of that <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> controls and shall be so recognized. <a id="paragraph-211807" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.41/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If a proceeding is brought under this chapter, and two or more <span class="dictionary">child support orders</span> have been issued by <span class="dictionary">tribunals</span> of the Commonwealth or another <span class="dictionary">state</span> or <span class="dictionary">foreign country</span> with regard to the same <span class="dictionary">obligor</span> and same child, a <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth having personal <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over both the <span class="dictionary">obligor</span> and individual <span class="dictionary">obligee</span> shall apply the following rules and by order shall determine which order controls and must be recognized: <a id="paragraph-211808" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.41/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> If only one of the <span class="dictionary">tribunals</span> would have continuing, exclusive <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> under this chapter, the order of that <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> controls. <a id="paragraph-211809" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.41/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> If more than one of the <span class="dictionary">tribunals</span> would have continuing, exclusive <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> under this chapter, (i) an order issued by a <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> in the current <span class="dictionary">home state</span> of the child controls, or (ii) if an order has not been issued in the current <span class="dictionary">home state</span> of the child, the order most recently issued controls. <a id="paragraph-211810" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.41/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> If none of the <span class="dictionary">tribunals</span> would have continuing, exclusive <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> under this chapter, a <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a <span class="dictionary">child support order</span>, which controls. <a id="paragraph-211811" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.41/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If two or more <span class="dictionary">child support orders</span> have been issued for the same <span class="dictionary">obligor</span> and same child, upon request of a <span class="dictionary">party</span> who is an individual or a <span class="dictionary">support enforcement agency</span>, a <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth having personal <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over both the <span class="dictionary">obligor</span> and the <span class="dictionary">obligee</span> who is an individual shall determine which order controls under subsection B. The request may be filed with a registration for enforcement or registration for modification pursuant to Articles 8 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Registration of order for enforcement" href="/20-88.66/">20-88.66</a> et seq.) and 9 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Procedure to register child support order of another state for modification" href="/20-88.74/">20-88.74</a> et seq.) or may be filed as a separate proceeding. <a id="paragraph-211812" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.41/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A request to determine which is the controlling order shall be accompanied by a copy of every <span class="dictionary">child support order</span> in effect and the applicable <span class="dictionary">record</span> of payments. The requesting <span class="dictionary">party</span> shall give notice of the request to each <span class="dictionary">party</span> whose rights may be affected by the determination. <a id="paragraph-211813" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.41/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> that issued the controlling order under subsection A, B or C has continuing <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> to the extent provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify child support order" href="/20-88.39/">20-88.39</a> or <a class="law" title="Continuing jurisdiction to enforce child support order" href="/20-88.40/">20-88.40</a>. <a id="paragraph-211814" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.41/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> A <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth that determines by order which is the controlling order under subdivision B 1 or B 2 or under subsection C or that <span class="dictionary">issues</span> a new controlling order under subdivision B 3 shall state in that order: <a id="paragraph-211815" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.41/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The basis upon which the <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> made its determination; <a id="paragraph-211816" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.41/#F1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The amount of prospective support, if any; and <a id="paragraph-211817" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.41/#F2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The total amount of consolidated <span class="dictionary">arrears</span> and accrued interest, if any, under all of the orders after all payments made are credited as provided by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Credit for payments" href="/20-88.43/">20-88.43</a>. <a id="paragraph-211818" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.41/#F3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> Within 30 days after issuance of an order determining which is the controlling order, the <span class="dictionary">party</span> obtaining that order shall file a certified copy of it in each <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> that had issued or registered an earlier order of child support. A <span class="dictionary">party</span> or <span class="dictionary">support enforcement agency</span> obtaining the order that fails to file a certified copy is subject to appropriate <span class="dictionary">sanctions</span> by a <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> in which the <span class="dictionary">issue</span> of failure arises. The failure to file does not affect the validity or enforceability of the controlling order. <a id="paragraph-211819" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.41/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H"><p><span class="prefix-number">H.</span> An order that has been determined to be the controlling order, or a <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> for consolidated <span class="dictionary">arrears</span> of support and interest, if any, made pursuant to this section shall be recognized in proceedings under this chapter. <a id="paragraph-211820" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.41/#H"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1994, c. 673; 1997, cc. 797, 897; 2005, c. 754; 2015, c. 727.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
