Domestic Relations Services

CONTACT INFORMATION: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
703-246-3040 TTY 711
4110 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 202
Fairfax, VA 22030
Tina Spurlock
Acting Director

Child Custody and Visitation

POPULAR TOPICS

Parents, relatives and other interested parties can file petitions asking a judge to determine who will have Custody of a child and determine Visitation.  Visitation can be ordered for specific days and times or simply to permit reasonable and liberal visitation.  

  • NEW Custody and Visitation cases are generally filed in the county/state where the child has lived for the previous six months
    • Contact an Intake Officer in Domestic Relations or an attorney if you have questions about where to file
  • To file for Custody and/or Visitation, make an appointment with Domestic Relations at 703-246-3040

Legal

  • makes decisions about the child, such as health care, religion, and education
  • may be shared by both parents or awarded solely to one parent or relative

Physical

  • where the child lives most of the time
  • one parent or relative has physical custody or the parents or may share joint physical custody

Shared

  • both parents share both legal and physical custody

 

Judges in Virginia Decide Child Custody Based on the Best Interests of the Child

Visitation Orders may cover specific days and times. This may include:

  • weekends, summers, holidays
  • where and when the visits will take place
  • who will transport the child to and from the visits
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