                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

FEES FOR SERVICES OF JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT JUDGES AND
CLERKS IN CERTAIN CIVIL CASES (§ 16.1-69.48:5)

Except as otherwise provided, upon the initial commencement of any case in the
juvenile and domestic relations district court pursuant to subdivision A 3 of §
16.1-241 when the custody or visitation of a child is a subject of controversy
or requires determination, there shall be a filing fee of $25. However, only one
$25 fee shall be required for all custody and visitation petitions
simultaneously initiated by a single petitioner. Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, there shall be no other fees or costs added to this fee as a
condition of filing. No case to which this fee is applicable shall be set for
hearing by the clerk until this fee has been paid except on account of poverty
as provided in § 17.1-606. Fees shall be paid to the clerk in the jurisdiction
in which the petition is filed.
		This fee shall not be charged in any case brought by an agent of the
Commonwealth or of a local government entity.
		When service of process is had on the respondent named in a petition for which
the filing fee established by this section has been paid, such petition may be
reissued once by changing the return day of such process, for which service
there shall be no charge; however, reissuance of such process shall be within
three months after the original return day.
		In the case of an appeal filed pursuant to § 16.1-296, the clerk shall
collect any applicable fees for service of process of the notice of appeal in
the circuit court from the appellant prior to transmitting the case to the clerk
of the circuit court. For purposes of this section, service of process in the
circuit court may include service on the appellee by the sheriff or private
process server or certified or registered mail, and service on the attorney for
the appellee by regular mail.

HISTORY: 2003, c. 906; 2004, cc. 366, 659, 727.