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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>73482</law_id><section_number>63.2-1960</section_number><catch_line>Recovery of certain fees and costs</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>63.2-1908</reference><reference>63.2-1910</reference><reference>63.2-1950</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="63.2">Welfare (Social Services)</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="V">Administrative Child Support</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="19">Child Support Enforcement</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="10">Financial Operations</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall have the authority to assess and recover from the <span class="dictionary">noncustodial parent</span> in proceedings to enforce <span class="dictionary">child</span> support obligations against the <span class="dictionary">noncustodial parent</span>, reasonable attorneys&#x2019; fees. All such fees recovered in proceedings to collect <span class="dictionary">child</span> support arrearages shall be retained by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> in a special fund for the support of the Division of Support Enforcement. The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall also have the authority to assess and recover costs in such cases. However, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall not be entitled to recover attorneys&#x2019; fees or costs in any case in which the <span class="dictionary">noncustodial parent</span> prevails.
		The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall have the authority to assess and recover the actual costs of genetic testing against the <span class="dictionary">noncustodial parent</span> if paternity is established. Where an original test is contested and additional testing is requested, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> may require advance payment by the contestant. The genetic testing costs shall be set at the rate charged the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> by the provider of genetic testing services.
		The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall have the authority to assess and recover the actual costs of intercept programs from the <span class="dictionary">noncustodial parent</span>. The intercept programs&#x2019; costs shall be set at the rate actually charged the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>.
		The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall have the authority to assess and recover the actual costs of fees for <span class="dictionary">service of process</span>, and seizure and sale pursuant to a <span class="dictionary">levy</span> on a <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> in enforcement actions from the <span class="dictionary">noncustodial parent</span>.
		The fees and costs that may be recovered pursuant to this section may be collected using any mechanism provided by this chapter.</p></section></text><history>1991, c. 390, &#xA7; 63.1-274.10; 1996, cc. 746, 1054; 1997, cc. 792, 896; 2002, c. 747; 2005, c. 880.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
