{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/20-146.21.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/20-146.21.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/20-146.21.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/20-146.21.html"}],"law_id":353562,"edition_id":2,"section_id":353562,"structure_id":50628,"section_number":"20-146.21","catch_line":"Appearance of parties and child","history":"1979, c. 229, \u00a7 20-134; 2001, c. 305.","full_text":"A\n\nIn a child custody proceeding in this Commonwealth, the court may order a party to the proceeding who is in this Commonwealth to appear before the court in person with or without the child. The court may order any person who is in this Commonwealth and who has physical custody or control of the child to appear in person with the child.\n\nB\n\nIf a party to a child custody proceeding whose presence is desired by the court is outside this Commonwealth, the court may direct the party to appear in person with or without the child and inform the party that failure to appear may result in a decision adverse to the party.\n\nC\n\nThe court may enter any orders necessary to ensure the safety of the child and of any person ordered to appear under this section.\n\nD\n\nIf a party to a child custody proceeding who is outside this Commonwealth is directed to appear under subsection B or desires to appear personally before the court with or without the child, the court may require another party to pay reasonable and necessary travel and other expenses of the party so appearing and of the child.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1317212,"text":"In a child custody proceeding in this Commonwealth, the court may order a party to the proceeding who is in this Commonwealth to appear before the court in person with or without the child. The court may order any person who is in this Commonwealth and who has physical custody or control of the child to appear in person with the child.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1317213,"text":"If a party to a child custody proceeding whose presence is desired by the court is outside this Commonwealth, the court may direct the party to appear in person with or without the child and inform the party that failure to appear may result in a decision adverse to the party.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1317214,"text":"The court may enter any orders necessary to ensure the safety of the child and of any person ordered to appear under this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1317215,"text":"If a party to a child custody proceeding who is outside this Commonwealth is directed to appear under subsection B or desires to appear personally before the court with or without the child, the court may require another party to pay reasonable and necessary travel and other expenses of the party so appearing and of the child.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50628,"edition_id":2,"name":"Jurisdiction","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":50626,"metadata":{"child_laws":10,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:30:17","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:53","permalink":{"id":1406273,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50628,"identifier":"2","token":"20\/7.1\/2","url":"\/20\/7.1\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50626,"edition_id":2,"name":"Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act","identifier":"7.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":15,"parent_id":50619,"metadata":{"child_laws":38,"child_structures":4},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:30:17","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:53","permalink":{"id":1406225,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50626,"identifier":"7.1","token":"20\/7.1","url":"\/20\/7.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50619,"edition_id":2,"name":"Domestic Relations","identifier":"20","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":56,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":329,"child_structures":36},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:30:08","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:49","permalink":{"id":1405077,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50619,"identifier":"20","token":"20","url":"\/20\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":353552,"structure_id":50628,"section_number":"20-146.12","catch_line":"Initial child custody jurisdiction","url":"\/20-146.12\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.12","metadata":false},{"id":353553,"structure_id":50628,"section_number":"20-146.13","catch_line":"Exclusive, continuing jurisdiction","url":"\/20-146.13\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.13","metadata":false},{"id":353554,"structure_id":50628,"section_number":"20-146.14","catch_line":"Jurisdiction to modify determination","url":"\/20-146.14\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.14","metadata":false},{"id":353555,"structure_id":50628,"section_number":"20-146.15","catch_line":"Temporary emergency jurisdiction","url":"\/20-146.15\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.15","metadata":false},{"id":353556,"structure_id":50628,"section_number":"20-146.16","catch_line":"Notice; opportunity to be heard; joinder","url":"\/20-146.16\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.16","metadata":false},{"id":353557,"structure_id":50628,"section_number":"20-146.17","catch_line":"Simultaneous proceedings","url":"\/20-146.17\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.17","metadata":false},{"id":353558,"structure_id":50628,"section_number":"20-146.18","catch_line":"Inconvenient forum","url":"\/20-146.18\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.18","metadata":false},{"id":353559,"structure_id":50628,"section_number":"20-146.19","catch_line":"Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct","url":"\/20-146.19\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.19","metadata":false},{"id":353561,"structure_id":50628,"section_number":"20-146.20","catch_line":"Information to be submitted to court","url":"\/20-146.20\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.20","metadata":false},{"id":353562,"structure_id":50628,"section_number":"20-146.21","catch_line":"Appearance of parties and child","url":"\/20-146.21\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.21","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":353561,"structure_id":50628,"section_number":"20-146.20","catch_line":"Information to be submitted to court","url":"\/20-146.20\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.20","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/20-146.21\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1979. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 229 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1979 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2001, chapter 305<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1406311,"object_type":"law","relational_id":353562,"identifier":"20-146.21","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.21","url":"\/20-146.21\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/20-146.21\/","token":"20\/7.1\/2\/20-146.21","dublin_core":{"Title":"Appearance of parties and child","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 20-146.21","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> In a child custody<\/span> proceeding in this Commonwealth, the court<\/span> may order<\/span> a party<\/span> to the proceeding who is in this Commonwealth to appear before the court<\/span> in person with or without the child. The court<\/span> may order<\/span> any person who is in this Commonwealth and who has physical custody<\/span> or control of the child to appear in person with the child. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> If a party<\/span> to a child custody<\/span> proceeding whose presence is desired by the court<\/span> is outside this Commonwealth, the court<\/span> may direct the party<\/span> to appear in person with or without the child and inform the party<\/span> that failure to appear may result in a decision adverse to the party<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The court<\/span> may enter any orders<\/span> necessary to ensure the safety of the child and of any person ordered to appear under this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> If a party<\/span> to a child custody<\/span> proceeding who is outside this Commonwealth is directed to appear under subsection B or desires to appear personally before the court<\/span> with or without the child, the court<\/span> may require another party<\/span> to pay reasonable and necessary travel and other expenses of the party<\/span> so appearing and of the child. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nAPPEARANCE OF PARTIES AND CHILD (\u00a7 20-146.21)\n\nA. In a child custody proceeding in this Commonwealth, the court may order a\nparty to the proceeding who is in this Commonwealth to appear before the court\nin person with or without the child. The court may order any person who is in\nthis Commonwealth and who has physical custody or control of the child to appear\nin person with the child.\n\nB. If a party to a child custody proceeding whose presence is desired by the\ncourt is outside this Commonwealth, the court may direct the party to appear in\nperson with or without the child and inform the party that failure to appear may\nresult in a decision adverse to the party.\n\nC. The court may enter any orders necessary to ensure the safety of the child\nand of any person ordered to appear under this section.\n\nD. If a party to a child custody proceeding who is outside this Commonwealth is\ndirected to appear under subsection B or desires to appear personally before the\ncourt with or without the child, the court may require another party to pay\nreasonable and necessary travel and other expenses of the party so appearing and\nof the child.\n\nHISTORY: 1979, c. 229, \u00a7 20-134; 2001, c. 305.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}