{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/20-146.38.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/20-146.38.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/20-146.38.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/20-146.38.html"}],"law_id":353580,"edition_id":2,"section_id":353580,"structure_id":50630,"section_number":"20-146.38","catch_line":"Construction of provisions; purposes of act","history":"2001, c. 305.","full_text":"A\n\nThe general purposes of this act are to:\n\n1\n\nAvoid jurisdictional competition and conflict with courts of other states in matters of child custody that have in the past resulted in the shifting of children from state to state with harmful effects on their well-being;\n\n2\n\nPromote cooperation with the courts of other states to the end that a custody decree is rendered in that state that can best decide the case in the interest of the child;\n\n3\n\nEnsure that litigation concerning the custody of a child take place ordinarily in the state with which the child and his family have the closest connection and where significant evidence concerning his care, protection, training, and personal relationships is most readily available, and that courts of this state decline the exercise of jurisdiction when the child and his family have a closer connection with another state;\n\n4\n\nDiscourage continuing controversies over child custody in the interest of greater stability of home environment and of secure family relationships for the child;\n\n5\n\nDeter abductions and other unilateral removals of children undertaken to obtain custody awards;\n\n6\n\nAvoid relitigation of custody decisions of other states in this Commonwealth insofar as feasible;\n\n7\n\nFacilitate the enforcement of custody decrees of other states;\n\n8\n\nPromote and expand the exchange of information and other forms of mutual assistance between the courts of this Commonwealth and those of other states concerned with the same child; and\n\n9\n\nMake uniform the law of those states that enact it.\n\nB\n\nThis act shall be construed to promote the general purposes stated in this section.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1317273,"text":"The general purposes of this act are to:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":1317274,"text":"Avoid jurisdictional competition and conflict with courts of other states in matters of child custody that have in the past resulted in the shifting of children from state to state with harmful effects on their well-being;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":1317275,"text":"Promote cooperation with the courts of other states to the end that a custody decree is rendered in that state that can best decide the case in the interest of the child;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":1317276,"text":"Ensure that litigation concerning the custody of a child take place ordinarily in the state with which the child and his family have the closest connection and where significant evidence concerning his care, protection, training, and personal relationships is most readily available, and that courts of this state decline the exercise of jurisdiction when the child and his family have a closer connection with another state;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":1317277,"text":"Discourage continuing controversies over child custody in the interest of greater stability of home environment and of secure family relationships for the child;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"A5"},"5":{"id":1317278,"text":"Deter abductions and other unilateral removals of children undertaken to obtain custody awards;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"A5","prefix_anchor":"A5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"A6"},"6":{"id":1317279,"text":"Avoid relitigation of custody decisions of other states in this Commonwealth insofar as feasible;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"A6","prefix_anchor":"A6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A5","next_prefix":"A7"},"7":{"id":1317280,"text":"Facilitate the enforcement of custody decrees of other states;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"A7","prefix_anchor":"A7","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A6","next_prefix":"A8"},"8":{"id":1317281,"text":"Promote and expand the exchange of information and other forms of mutual assistance between the courts of this Commonwealth and those of other states concerned with the same child; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"A8","prefix_anchor":"A8","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A7","next_prefix":"A9"},"9":{"id":1317282,"text":"Make uniform the law of those states that enact it.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"A9","prefix_anchor":"A9","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A8","next_prefix":"B"},"10":{"id":1317283,"text":"This act shall be construed to promote the general purposes stated in this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A9"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50630,"edition_id":2,"name":"Miscellaneous Provisions [Repealed]","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":4,"parent_id":50626,"metadata":{"child_laws":3,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:30:20","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:53","permalink":{"id":1406373,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50630,"identifier":"4","token":"20\/7.1\/4","url":"\/20\/7.1\/4\/","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":353578,"structure_id":50630,"section_number":"20-146.36","catch_line":"Application and construction","url":"\/20-146.36\/","token":"20\/7.1\/4\/20-146.36","metadata":false},{"id":353579,"structure_id":50630,"section_number":"20-146.37","catch_line":"Transitional provision","url":"\/20-146.37\/","token":"20\/7.1\/4\/20-146.37","metadata":false},{"id":353580,"structure_id":50630,"section_number":"20-146.38","catch_line":"Construction of provisions; purposes of act","url":"\/20-146.38\/","token":"20\/7.1\/4\/20-146.38","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":353579,"structure_id":50630,"section_number":"20-146.37","catch_line":"Transitional provision","url":"\/20-146.37\/","token":"20\/7.1\/4\/20-146.37","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/20-146.38\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2001. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 305<\/a> 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.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1406383,"object_type":"law","relational_id":353580,"identifier":"20-146.38","token":"20\/7.1\/4\/20-146.38","url":"\/20-146.38\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/20-146.38\/","token":"20\/7.1\/4\/20-146.38","dublin_core":{"Title":"Construction of provisions; purposes of act","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 20-146.38","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The general purposes of this act are to: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Avoid jurisdictional competition and conflict with courts<\/span> of other states in matters of child custody<\/span> that have in the past resulted in the shifting of children from state to state with harmful effects on their well-being; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Promote cooperation with the courts<\/span> of other states to the end that a custody<\/span> decree<\/span> is rendered in that state that can best decide the case in the interest of the child; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Ensure that litigation<\/span> concerning the custody<\/span> of a child take place ordinarily in the state with which the child and his family have the closest connection and where significant evidence<\/span> concerning his care, protection, training, and personal relationships is most readily available, and that courts<\/span> of this state decline the exercise of jurisdiction<\/span> when the child and his family have a closer connection with another state; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Discourage continuing controversies over child custody<\/span> in the interest of greater stability of home environment and of secure family relationships for the child; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Deter abductions and other unilateral removals of children undertaken to obtain custody<\/span> awards; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Avoid relitigation of custody<\/span> decisions of other states in this Commonwealth insofar as feasible; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Facilitate the enforcement of custody<\/span> decrees<\/span> of other states; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> Promote and expand the exchange of information and other forms of mutual assistance between the courts<\/span> of this Commonwealth and those of other states concerned with the same child; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> Make uniform the law<\/span> of those states that enact it. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> This act shall be construed to promote the general purposes stated in this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCONSTRUCTION OF PROVISIONS; PURPOSES OF ACT (\u00a7 20-146.38)\n\nA. The general purposes of this act are to:\n\n 1. Avoid jurisdictional competition and conflict with courts of other states\n in matters of child custody that have in the past resulted in the shifting of\n children from state to state with harmful effects on their well-being;\n\n 2. Promote cooperation with the courts of other states to the end that a\n custody decree is rendered in that state that can best decide the case in the\n interest of the child;\n\n 3. Ensure that litigation concerning the custody of a child take place\n ordinarily in the state with which the child and his family have the closest\n connection and where significant evidence concerning his care, protection,\n training, and personal relationships is most readily available, and that\n courts of this state decline the exercise of jurisdiction when the child and\n his family have a closer connection with another state;\n\n 4. Discourage continuing controversies over child custody in the interest of\n greater stability of home environment and of secure family relationships for\n the child;\n\n 5. Deter abductions and other unilateral removals of children undertaken to\n obtain custody awards;\n\n 6. Avoid relitigation of custody decisions of other states in this\n Commonwealth insofar as feasible;\n\n 7. Facilitate the enforcement of custody decrees of other states;\n\n 8. Promote and expand the exchange of information and other forms of mutual\n assistance between the courts of this Commonwealth and those of other states\n concerned with the same child; and\n\n 9. Make uniform the law of those states that enact it.\n\nB. This act shall be construed to promote the general purposes stated in this\nsection.\n\nHISTORY: 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"}}