6.5 Service of Process and Notice

• Library: Virginia Family Law: A Systematic Approach (Virginia CLE) (2018 Ed.)

6.5 SERVICE OF PROCESS AND NOTICE

6.501 In General. The date on which the pleading is filed and served will determine the commencement date of the support obligation. In initial support actions, the date of filing the petition "shall" be the effective date of the order. In modification actions, the effective date "may" be the date of notice to the responding party. ³⁷

[Page 453]

6.502 Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. In the juvenile and domestic relations district court, the pleading that commences a spousal support or child support suit is the petition. The "process" issued by the court is the summons. A summons should issue directed to the parents, guardian, legal custodian, or other person standing in loco parentis and to such other persons as appear to the court to be proper or necessary parties to the proceeding. ³⁸ The summons identifies the suit, commands the presence of...