Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 20-146.4 (2026)

International application

✓ current as of May 2026

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A. A court of this Commonwealth shall treat a foreign country as if it were a state of the United States for purposes of applying this article and Article 2 (§ 20-146.12 et seq.) of this chapter.

B. Except as otherwise provided in subsection C, a child custody determination made in a foreign country under factual circumstances in substantial conformity with the jurisdictional standards of this act must be recognized and enforced under Article 3 (§ 20-146.22 et seq.) of this chapter.

C. A court of this Commonwealth need not apply this act if the child custody law of a foreign country violates fundamental principles of human rights.

1979, c. 229, § 20-146; 2001, c. 305.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 6 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2011–2024 · leading case: Prizzia v. Prizzia, 707 S.E.2d 461 (Va. Ct. App. 2011).

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Prizzia v. Prizzia, 707 S.E.2d 461 (Va. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 12× “See Code § 20-146.4(13). Essentially, we are faced with the question, “Under the standards of Code § 20-146.”

Soudabeh White v. Malcolm White (Va. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 12× “Code § 20-146.4 expressly addresses how child custody determinations from foreign countries are to be treated under Virginia’s UCCJEA.”

J.M. v. A.A. (Va. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 6× “See Code § 20-146.4(A) (“A court of this Commonwealth shall treat a foreign country as if it were a state of the United States .”

A.A. v. J.M. (Va. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 6× “See Code § 20-146.4(A) (“A court of this Commonwealth shall treat a foreign country as if it were a state of the United States .”

— Va. Code Ann. § 20-146.4(13) — 1 case

Prizzia v. Prizzia, 707 S.E.2d 461 (Va. Ct. App. 2011). “See Code § 20-146.4(13). Essentially, we are faced with the question, “Under the standards of Code § 20-146.”

— Va. Code Ann. § 20-146.4(A) — 5 cases

Prizzia v. Prizzia, 707 S.E.2d 461 (Va. Ct. App. 2011). “See Code § 20-146.4(13). Essentially, we are faced with the question, “Under the standards of Code § 20-146.”

J.M. v. A.A. (Va. Ct. App. 2024). “See Code § 20-146.4(A) (“A court of this Commonwealth shall treat a foreign country as if it were a state of the United States .”

A.A. v. J.M. (Va. Ct. App. 2024). “See Code § 20-146.4(A) (“A court of this Commonwealth shall treat a foreign country as if it were a state of the United States .”

— Va. Code Ann. § 20-146.4(B) — 2 cases

Prizzia v. Prizzia, 707 S.E.2d 461 (Va. Ct. App. 2011). “See Code § 20-146.4(13). Essentially, we are faced with the question, “Under the standards of Code § 20-146.”

Soudabeh White v. Malcolm White (Va. Ct. App. 2015). “Code § 20-146.4 expressly addresses how child custody determinations from foreign countries are to be treated under Virginia’s UCCJEA.”

— Va. Code Ann. § 20-146.4(C) — 5 cases

J.M. v. A.A. (Va. Ct. App. 2024). “See Code § 20-146.4(A) (“A court of this Commonwealth shall treat a foreign country as if it were a state of the United States .”

A.A. v. J.M. (Va. Ct. App. 2024). “See Code § 20-146.4(A) (“A court of this Commonwealth shall treat a foreign country as if it were a state of the United States .”

Soudabeh White v. Malcolm White (Va. Ct. App. 2015). “Code § 20-146.4 expressly addresses how child custody determinations from foreign countries are to be treated under Virginia’s UCCJEA.”

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