Va. Code § 20-88.44: Proceedings under this chapter

A. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, this article applies to all proceedings under this chapter.B. An individual or a support enforcement agency may initiate a proceeding authorized under this chapter by filing a petition in an initiating tribunal for forwarding to a responding tribunal or by filing a petition or a comparable pleading directly in a tribunal of another state or foreign country that has or can obtain personal jurisdiction over the respondent.1994, c. 673; 2005, c. 754; 2015, c. 727.