<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>353585</law_id><section_number>20-146.8</section_number><catch_line>Appearance and limited immunity</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="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">party</span> to a child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> proceeding, including a modification proceeding, or a petitioner or respondent in a proceeding to enforce or register a child <span class="dictionary">custody</span> determination is not subject to personal <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> in this Commonwealth for another proceeding or purpose solely by reason of having participated, or having been physically present for the purpose of participating, in the proceeding. <a id="paragraph-1317292" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.8/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A person who is subject to personal <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> in this Commonwealth on a basis other than physical presence is not immune from <span class="dictionary">service of process</span> in this Commonwealth. A <span class="dictionary">party</span> present in this Commonwealth who is subject to the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of another state is not immune from <span class="dictionary">service of process</span> allowable under the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of that state. <a id="paragraph-1317293" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.8/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The immunity granted by subsection A does not extend to civil <span class="dictionary">litigation</span> based on acts unrelated to the participation in a proceeding under this act committed by an individual while present in this Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-1317294" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-146.8/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2001, c. 305.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
