                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

AFFIRMATION, RATIFICATION AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE IN DECREE OF AGREEMENT
BETWEEN PARTIES (§ 20-109.1)

Any court may affirm, ratify and incorporate by reference in its decree
dissolving a marriage or decree of divorce whether from the bond of matrimony or
from bed and board, or by a separate decree prior to or subsequent to such
decree, or in a decree entered in a suit for annulment or separate maintenance,
and in a proceeding arising under subsection A 3 or L of § 16.1-241, any valid
agreement between the parties, or provisions thereof, concerning the conditions
of the maintenance of the parties, or either of them and the care, custody and
maintenance of their minor children, or establishing or imposing any other
condition or consideration, monetary or nonmonetary. Provisions in such
agreements for the modification of child support shall be valid and enforceable.
Unless otherwise provided for in such agreement or decree incorporating such
agreement, such future modifications shall not require a subsequent court
decree. This section shall be subject to the provisions of § 20-108. Where the
court affirms, ratifies and incorporates by reference in its decree such
agreement or provision thereof, it shall be deemed for all purposes to be a term
of the decree, and enforceable in the same manner as any provision of such
decree. The provisions of this section shall apply to any decree hereinbefore or
hereinafter entered affirming, ratifying and incorporating an agreement as
provided herein. Upon the death or remarriage of the spouse receiving support,
spousal support shall terminate unless otherwise provided by stipulation or
contract. In any case where jurisdiction is obtained over a nonresident
defendant by order of publication or by acceptance of service pursuant to §
20-99.1:1, any properly acknowledged and otherwise valid agreement entered into
between the parties may be affirmed, ratified and incorporated as provided in
this section.

HISTORY: 1970, c. 501; 1972, c. 482; 1978, c. 746; 1979, c. 659; 1982, c. 312;
1987, c. 424; 1996, c. 331; 2003, c. 260.