{"data":{"id":"us-va/va.-code-20-88.38","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"Va. Code § 20-88.38","heading":"Simultaneous proceedings in another state","body":"A. A tribunal of the Commonwealth may exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the petition or comparable pleading is filed after a pleading is filed in another state or foreign country only if:1. The petition or comparable pleading in the Commonwealth is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the other state or the foreign country for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by the other state or the foreign country;2. The contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in the other state or the foreign country; and3. If relevant, the Commonwealth is the home state of the child.B. A tribunal of the Commonwealth may not exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the petition or comparable pleading is filed before a petition or comparable pleading is filed in another state or foreign country if:1. The petition or comparable pleading in the other state or foreign country is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the Commonwealth for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by the Commonwealth;2. The contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in the Commonwealth; and3. If relevant, the other state or foreign country is the home state of the child.1994, c. 673; 2015, c. 727.","path":["Title 20. DOMESTIC RELATIONS","Chapter 5.3. UNIFORM INTERSTATE FAMILY SUPPORT ACT","Article 3. JURISDICTION IN PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING TWO OR MORE STATES"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/20-88.38/","current_through":"9/4/2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:14:44Z","sha256":"d5366d0362f575923d31ed68094b952e28072341e8d1598a69211f9bbbcad916","source_id":"us-va","stale":true,"prev":"us-va/va.-code-20-88.37","next":"us-va/va.-code-20-88.39"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}