                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION (§ 37.2-804.1)

A. Petitions and orders for emergency custody and temporary detention pursuant
to this chapter may be filed, issued, served, or executed by electronic means,
with or without the use of two-way electronic video and audio communication, and
returned in the same manner with the same force, effect, and authority as an
original document. All signatures thereon shall be treated as original
signatures.

B. Any judge or special justice may conduct proceedings pursuant to this chapter
using any two-way electronic video and audio communication system to provide for
the appearance of any parties and witnesses. Any two-way electronic video and
audio communication system used to conduct a proceeding shall meet the standards
set forth in subsection B of &#xA7; 19.2-3.1. When a witness whose testimony
would be helpful to the conduct of the proceeding is not able to be physically
present, his testimony may be received using a telephonic communication system.

HISTORY: 2005, cc. 51, 716.