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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>353562</law_id><section_number>20-146.21</section_number><catch_line>Appearance of parties and child</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="56" identifier="20">Domestic Relations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="15" identifier="7.1">Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="2" identifier="2">Jurisdiction</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In a child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> proceeding in this Commonwealth, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may <span class="dictionary">order</span> a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the proceeding who is in this Commonwealth to appear before the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in person with or without the child. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may <span class="dictionary">order</span> any person who is in this Commonwealth and who has physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> or control of the child to appear in person with the child. <a id="paragraph-1317212" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.21/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to a child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> proceeding whose presence is desired by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> is outside this Commonwealth, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may direct the <span class="dictionary">party</span> to appear in person with or without the child and inform the <span class="dictionary">party</span> that failure to appear may result in a decision adverse to the <span class="dictionary">party</span>. <a id="paragraph-1317213" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.21/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may enter any <span class="dictionary">orders</span> necessary to ensure the safety of the child and of any person ordered to appear under this section. <a id="paragraph-1317214" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.21/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> If a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to a child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> proceeding who is outside this Commonwealth is directed to appear under subsection B or desires to appear personally before the <span class="dictionary">court</span> with or without the child, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may require another <span class="dictionary">party</span> to pay reasonable and necessary travel and other expenses of the <span class="dictionary">party</span> so appearing and of the child. <a id="paragraph-1317215" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.21/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1979, c. 229, &#xA7; 20-134; 2001, c. 305.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
