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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>353730</law_id><section_number>20-88.38</section_number><catch_line>Simultaneous proceedings in another state</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="10" identifier="5.3">Uniform Interstate Family Support Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="3" identifier="3">Jurisdiction in Proceedings Involving Two or More States</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth may exercise <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> to establish a <span class="dictionary">support order</span> if the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> or comparable pleading is filed after a pleading is filed in another <span class="dictionary">state</span> or <span class="dictionary">foreign country</span> only if: <a id="paragraph-1317737" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.38/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The <span class="dictionary">petition</span> or comparable pleading in the Commonwealth is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the other <span class="dictionary">state</span> or the <span class="dictionary">foreign country</span> for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> by the other <span class="dictionary">state</span> or the <span class="dictionary">foreign country</span>; <a id="paragraph-1317738" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.38/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The contesting <span class="dictionary">party</span> timely challenges the exercise of <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> in the other <span class="dictionary">state</span> or the <span class="dictionary">foreign country</span>; and <a id="paragraph-1317739" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.38/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> If relevant, the Commonwealth is the <span class="dictionary">home state</span> of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>. <a id="paragraph-1317740" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.38/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> of the Commonwealth may not exercise <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> to establish a <span class="dictionary">support order</span> if the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> or comparable pleading is filed before a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> or comparable pleading is filed in another state or <span class="dictionary">foreign country</span> if: <a id="paragraph-1317741" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.38/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The <span class="dictionary">petition</span> or comparable pleading in the other state or <span class="dictionary">foreign country</span> is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the Commonwealth for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> by the Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-1317742" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.38/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The contesting <span class="dictionary">party</span> timely challenges the exercise of <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> in the Commonwealth; and <a id="paragraph-1317743" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.38/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> If relevant, the other state or <span class="dictionary">foreign country</span> is the <span class="dictionary">home state</span> of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>. <a id="paragraph-1317744" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-88.38/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1994, c. 673; 2015, c. 727.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
