{"data":{"id":"us-va/va.-code-20-88.83","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"Va. Code § 20-88.83","heading":"Definitions","body":"As used in this article:\"Application\" means a request under the Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance by an obligee or obligor, or on behalf of a child, made through a central authority for assistance from another central authority.\"Central authority\" means the entity designated by the United States or a foreign country described in § 20-88.32 to perform the functions specified in the Convention.\"Convention support order\" means a support order of a tribunal of a foreign country described in § 20-88.32.\"Direct request\" means a petition or similar pleading filed by an individual in a tribunal of the Commonwealth in a proceeding involving an obligee, obligor, or child residing outside the United States.\"Foreign central authority\" means the entity designated by a foreign country described in § 20-88.32 to perform the functions specified in the Convention.\"Foreign support agreement\" means an agreement for support in a record that (i) is enforceable as a support order in the country of origin; (ii) has been formally drawn up or registered as an authentic instrument by a foreign tribunal or authenticated by or concluded, registered, or filed with a foreign tribunal; and (iii) may be reviewed and modified by a foreign tribunal. \"Foreign support agreement\" includes a maintenance arrangement or authentic instrument under the Convention.\"United States central authority\" means the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.2015, c. 727.","path":["Title 20. DOMESTIC RELATIONS","Chapter 5.3. UNIFORM INTERSTATE FAMILY SUPPORT ACT","Article 13. SUPPORT PROCEEDING UNDER HAGUE CONVENTION"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/20-88.83/","current_through":"9/4/2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:14:44Z","sha256":"81f21c6277b3c8037c92128eec10f4896ad4dfee2ef2374bf4ec2deb4bb115f2","source_id":"us-va","stale":true,"prev":"us-va/va.-code-20-88.81","next":"us-va/va.-code-20-88.84"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}