| The laws and guidelines for custody matters in the | | | | contact with both parents. This is also found in Chapter |
| state of Virginia are found in Title 20 in the Code of | | | | 6, Title 20 in the Code of Virginia. This means that both |
| Virginia. Parents must become familiar with these | | | | parents should be involved in the raising and caring of |
| guidelines as they work out their child custody situation. | | | | the child, and both parents have the right to be with |
| It's especially important for parents to know the laws | | | | and see the children (unless there is a history of |
| that govern how a custody agreement, also called a | | | | abuse). Virginia law can assign sole or joint custody. In |
| parenting plan, must be created and how it is accepted | | | | a sole custody assignment, the parents must create a |
| as a legal document. Here are some of the laws that | | | | visitation schedule. In a joint custody assignment, the |
| Virginia parents should know about their parenting | | | | parents must have a schedule that shows the time the |
| plans. | | | | child is with both parents. |
| 1. The court gives primary consideration to the child's | | | | 3. The Virginia court considers many factors when |
| best interest when determining custody. This is found in | | | | determining if a parenting plan is in the child's best |
| Chapter 6 of Title 20 (this is the section of the law that | | | | interest. If parents aren't able to agree on a custody |
| outlines how custody arrangements are made). Virginia | | | | agreement, the court decides what the agreement will |
| custody laws are based on the idea that everything | | | | be. Each parent has the opportunity to present a plan |
| that happens in the custody decisions should be done | | | | to the judge. When deciding if a plan is in the best |
| for the best interest of the child. This means that | | | | interest of the child, the judge will consider: the age and |
| parenting plans and custody agreements are | | | | mental condition of the child, the age and mental |
| evaluated on how they fulfill the child's needs--not on if | | | | condition of the parents, the relationship of the children |
| the parents simply want the plan. Parents should think | | | | to each of the parents, the needs of the child, if the |
| about how they can best help their child while making | | | | parents support the child having contact with the other |
| every part of the agreement. | | | | parent. A mother and father should also think about |
| 2. The children should have frequent and continuing | | | | these things when making a custody agreement. |