8.3 Venue

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

8.3 VENUE

8.301 Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Just as children can be harmed when they are moved from state to state by a parent seeking a more favorable jurisdiction in which to litigate a custody or visitation claim, children can be harmed when they are moved around in Virginia by a parent intending to be heard in a more favorable venue. To alleviate these harms to children, the Virginia venue statute applicable to child custody and visitation cases is similar to the prioritized jurisdictional bases set forth in the UCCJEA. Within Virginia, the different venues are arranged

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in priority fashion, so that a venue which satisfies a "significant connection" test cannot be chosen unless a "home venue" for the child is unavailable.

In cases involving custody or visitation, section 16.1-243 of the Virginia Code requires that the case be commenced in the court of the city or county...