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Make edits, fill in missing information, and update formatting in US Legal Forms—just like you would in MS Word.

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To get sole custody of your minor child in Virginia, you must show that sole custody is in your child's best interests. Virginia courts rely on 10 factors, called the best interests factors, to determine the best interests of children when it comes to custody decisions.
These are some mistakes you're going to want to be mindful to avoid. TALKING BADLY ABOUT THE OTHER PARENT TO THE CHILD. FAILING TO TAKE ON CHALLENGING TASKS. NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE OTHER PARENT. TRYING TO MAKE YOUR CHILDREN FEEL SORRY FOR YOU. PREVENTING THE OTHER PARENT'S ACCESS TO THE CHILDREN.
Parents must start the paperwork through their local Court Services Unit of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations (J&DR) Court. For parents with a Divorce case, the Circuit Court could also handle custody and support (both spousal and child). See the Divorce page for more information.
To get a custody order from a court, you will need to start by filing a petition in the Court Service Unit of a juvenile and domestic relations district court in the county where your child is living. For a list of courthouses in Virginia, please see our VA Courthouse Locations page.
Where to file by City, ZIP code CityZIP Code(s)Your courthouse is Pleasant Hill 94523 Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, Martinez Point Richmond 94801 George D. Carroll Courthouse, Richmond Port Costa 94569 Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, Martinez Richmond 94530, 94801 - 94808, 94820, 94850 George D. Carroll Courthouse, Richmond32 more rows
Once an emergency custody petition is filed in Virginia, a judge will review the evidence provided. If the judge believes that the child is in immediate danger, they will issue an emergency custody order. This process can happen quickly, often within 24 hours. However, this is just a temporary solution.