<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>79696</law_id><section_number>20-88.48</section_number><catch_line>Duties and powers of responding tribunal</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>20-88.63</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="5">Civil Provisions of General Application</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> When a <span class="dictionary">responding tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth receives a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> or comparable pleading from an <span class="dictionary">initiating tribunal</span> or directly pursuant to subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Proceedings under this chapter" href="/20-88.44/">20-88.44</a>, it shall cause the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> or pleading to be filed and notify the petitioner where and when it was filed. An <span class="dictionary">order</span> for spousal support only shall be forwarded to the appropriate juvenile and domestic relations <span class="dictionary">court</span>. <a id="paragraph-285590" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">responding tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth, to the extent not prohibited by other <span class="dictionary">law</span>, may do one or more of the following: <a id="paragraph-285591" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Establish or enforce a support order, modify a <span class="dictionary">child support order</span>, determine the controlling <span class="dictionary">child support order</span>, or determine parentage of a child; <a id="paragraph-285592" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Order an <span class="dictionary">obligor</span> to comply with a support order, specifying the amount and the manner of compliance; <a id="paragraph-285593" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Order <span class="dictionary">income</span> withholding; <a id="paragraph-285594" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Determine the amount of any arrearages, and specify a method of payment; <a id="paragraph-285595" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Enforce <span class="dictionary">orders</span> by civil or criminal <span class="dictionary">contempt</span>, or both; <a id="paragraph-285596" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Set aside property for satisfaction of the support order; <a id="paragraph-285597" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#B6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Place <span class="dictionary">liens</span> and order execution on the <span class="dictionary">obligor</span>&#x2019;s property; <a id="paragraph-285598" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#B7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Order an <span class="dictionary">obligor</span> to keep the tribunal informed of the <span class="dictionary">obligor</span>&#x2019;s current residential address, electronic mail address, telephone number, <span class="dictionary">employer</span>, address of employment, and telephone number at the place of employment; <a id="paragraph-285599" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#B8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> <span class="dictionary">Issue</span> a <span class="dictionary">capias</span> for an <span class="dictionary">obligor</span> who has failed after proper notice to appear at a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> ordered by the tribunal and enter the <span class="dictionary">capias</span> in any local and <span class="dictionary">state</span> computer systems for criminal warrants; <a id="paragraph-285600" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#B9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B10" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> Order the <span class="dictionary">obligor</span> to seek appropriate employment by specified methods; <a id="paragraph-285601" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#B10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B11" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> Award reasonable attorney&#x2019;s fees and other fees and costs; and <a id="paragraph-285602" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#B11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B12" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> Grant any other available remedy. <a id="paragraph-285603" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#B12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A <span class="dictionary">responding tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth shall include in a support order issued under this chapter, or in the documents accompanying the order, the calculations on which the support order is based. <a id="paragraph-285604" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A <span class="dictionary">responding tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth may not condition the payment of a support order issued under this chapter upon compliance by a <span class="dictionary">party</span> with provisions for visitation. <a id="paragraph-285605" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> If a <span class="dictionary">responding tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth <span class="dictionary">issues</span> an order under this chapter, the tribunal shall promptly send a copy of the order to the petitioner and the respondent and to the <span class="dictionary">initiating tribunal</span>, if any. <a id="paragraph-285606" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> If requested to enforce a support order, <span class="dictionary">arrears</span>, or <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> or modify a support order stated in a foreign currency, a <span class="dictionary">responding tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth shall convert the amount stated in the foreign currency to the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars under the applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported. <a id="paragraph-285607" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.48/#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; 2015, c. 727.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
