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Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court - Custody, Visitation & Support

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1. How do I file for custody, visitation, or support?

Please see the Court’s website for detailed information regarding custody, visitation and child support.

2. My child’s parent is not paying child support as they were ordered to. What do I do?

Please see the Court’s website for detailed information regarding filing a Show Cause.

3. I received a summons for court, but my situation cannot wait that long. What do I do to have the matter expedited on the Court’s docket?

Please file a Request for Expedited Hearing (PDF).

Please make sure you articulate the exact reasons your case should be set ahead of everyone else.

Please note: while the Court understands that sensitive matters such as child custody, visitation, and child support are extremely emergent to each individual’s family, we cannot possibly grant every emergency hearing request.

Please limit requests to those of a truly emergent nature where someone’s life, physical, or emotional well-being are in danger.

4. I would like a Guardian Ad Litem to be appointed for my child. What do I do?

Please use the Court’s generic Motion Form to request a Guardian Ad Litem. Please make sure you articulate the reasons why the child’s best interests would not be adequately represented without the appointment of a Guardian Ad Litem.

5. I filed or custody, visitation, or child support. Now what?

Please see the Court’s brochure (PDF) for more information.

6. How do I request a foreign language interpreter?

Please fill out the Foreign Language Request form (PDF) to request an interpreter.

7. I do not like the way the Court decided my case. What are my options?

All final orders of the J&DR District Court may be appealed within 10 days of final judgment. The best way to note your appeal is in person. If you cannot note your appeal in person, please call the Clerk’s Office to be directed to the appropriate appeal form to use to note your appeal, and you may fax it in.

Our office is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Our phone number is 804-748-1379 and our fax number is 804-717-6043.

If the tenth day falls on a holiday or a date the court is otherwise closed, the appeal would be due the next day the court is open. The court will not calculate the date the appeal is due.

If it has been more than 10 days and you have missed your appeal period, you may wish to file a Motion to Reopen/Rehear (Form DC-368 (PDF)/Instructions (PDF)). In criminal cases, a Motion to Reopen must be filed within 60 days. In civil cases, a Motion to Rehear must be filed within 30 days.

Please read the law regarding Motions to Reopen/Rehear:

• Criminal cases - Virginia Code § 16.1-133.1
• Civil cases - Virginia Code § 16.1-97.1

You do not need to have missed the appeal window in order to file a Motion to Reopen/Rehear.

8. I filed a petition or motion with the Court, and I did not appear for my hearing. The case was dismissed. What are my options?

You may wish to file a Motion to Reopen/Rehear (Form DC-368 (PDF)/Instructions (PDF)). In criminal cases, a Motion to Reopen must be filed within 60 days. In civil cases, a Motion to Rehear must be filed within 30 days.

Please read the law regarding Motions to Reopen/Rehear:

• Criminal cases - Virginia Code § 16.1-133.1
• Civil cases - Virginia Code § 16.1-97.1

If the Court does not grant your Motion to Rehear, you may need to file anew.

9. I need a copy of my court order. What do I do?

Please fill out a copy request form and fax it to 804-717.6043.

10. How do I notify the Court of a change to my address?

You will need to mail or fax the DC-437 form (PDF) to change your address.

11. I need to have a party served in a different city/county in Virginia. What do I do?

The Court will mail notice to the Sheriff’s Office serving court papers for the jurisdiction wherein the other party resides. You will not need to do anything other than provide us the correct Virginia address.

12. I need to have a party served in a different state. What do I do?

The Court does not arrange for service out of state; however, we do send notice to the opposing party via certified mail. If you would like to arrange for an out of state Sheriff’s Office or constable to serve the opposing party, you will need to arrange for service and provide payment that the Clerk’s Office will then send out of state.

13. I need to have a party served in a different country. What do I do?

First, you must provide the correct foreign mailing address. The Court will send (via registered mail), notice to the other party.

14. Can I have a party served by a private process server?

Yes, however, you will have to find a private process server yourself and arrange payment directly with them. Please notify the Clerk’s Office as soon as possible that you want a private process server to handle service and we will let you know when it will be ready. The Court will prepare the notice and your private process server can pick it up at the Clerk’s Office.

15. I am the respondent in a child support case and I have a new job. How do I get the employer changed on my current Income Deduction Order?

You will need to fill out the Respondent’s Request for Income Deduction Order (DC-615) (PDF). 

Request for Income Deduction Page

16. The non-custodial parent has a new job. How do I, the custodial parent, get the employer changed on the current Income Deduction Order?

If you have a current Income Deduction Order in place and need to change the employer’s information, please fill out the Notice and Motion for Proposed Income Deduction Order (DC-617) (PDF).

17. I’d like the non-custodial parent to pay me via Income Deduction Order. How can I arrange that?

You will need to fill out the appropriate court forms. (Income Deduction Orders)