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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>64575</law_id><section_number>20-88.59</section_number><catch_line>Special rules of evidence and procedure</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>20-88.43:1</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> The physical presence of a nonresident <span class="dictionary">party</span> who is an individual in a <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth is not required for the establishment, enforcement, or modification of a <span class="dictionary">support order</span> or the rendition of a <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> determining parentage of a <span class="dictionary">child</span>. <a id="paragraph-235020" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.59/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> An <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span>, a document substantially complying with federally mandated forms, or a document incorporated by reference in any of them that would not be excluded under the <span class="dictionary">hearsay</span> rule if given in <span class="dictionary">person</span> is <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> in <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> if given under <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> of <span class="dictionary">perjury</span> by a <span class="dictionary">party</span> or <span class="dictionary">witness</span> residing <span class="dictionary">outside the Commonwealth</span>. <a id="paragraph-235021" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.59/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A copy of the <span class="dictionary">record</span> of <span class="dictionary">child</span> support payments certified as a true copy of the original by the custodian of the <span class="dictionary">record</span> may be forwarded to a <span class="dictionary">responding tribunal</span>. The copy is <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of <span class="dictionary">facts</span> asserted in it and is <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> to show whether payments were made. <a id="paragraph-235022" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.59/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Copies of bills for testing for parentage of a <span class="dictionary">child</span>, and for prenatal and postnatal health care of the mother and <span class="dictionary">child</span>, furnished to the adverse <span class="dictionary">party</span> at least 10 days before <span class="dictionary">trial</span>, are <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> in <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> to prove the amount of the charges billed and that the charges were reasonable, necessary, and customary. <a id="paragraph-235023" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.59/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Documentary <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> transmitted from <span class="dictionary">outside the Commonwealth</span> to a tribunal of the Commonwealth by telephone, telecopier, or other electronic means that does not provide an original <span class="dictionary">record</span> may not be excluded from <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> upon an objection based on the means of transmission. <a id="paragraph-235024" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.59/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> In a proceeding under this chapter, a tribunal of the Commonwealth shall permit a <span class="dictionary">party</span> or <span class="dictionary">witness</span> residing <span class="dictionary">outside the Commonwealth</span> to be deposed or to testify under <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> of <span class="dictionary">perjury</span> by telephone, audiovisual means, or other electronic means at a designated tribunal or other location. A tribunal of the Commonwealth shall cooperate with other <span class="dictionary">tribunals</span> in designating an appropriate location for the <span class="dictionary">deposition</span> or <span class="dictionary">testimony</span>. <a id="paragraph-235025" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.59/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> If a <span class="dictionary">party</span> called to testify at a civil <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> refuses to answer on the ground that the <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> may be self-incriminating, the trier of <span class="dictionary">fact</span> may draw an adverse inference from the refusal. <a id="paragraph-235026" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.59/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H"><p><span class="prefix-number">H.</span> A <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> against disclosure of communication between spouses does not apply in a proceeding under this chapter. <a id="paragraph-235027" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.59/#H"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="I"><p><span class="prefix-number">I.</span> The defense of immunity based on the relationship between spouses or of parent and <span class="dictionary">child</span> does not apply in a proceeding under this chapter. <a id="paragraph-235028" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.59/#I"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="J"><p><span class="prefix-number">J.</span> A voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, certified as a true copy, is <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> to establish parentage of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>. <a id="paragraph-235029" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.59/#J"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1994, c. 673; 2005, c. 754; 2015, c. 727; 2020, c. 900.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
