Virginia
Can I move with my child in Virginia?
Quick answer
Every Virginia custody or visitation order must require any party intending to relocate to give 30 days’ advance written notice to the court and the other party of the move and of any intended change of address, unless the court, for good cause shown, orders otherwise (Va. Code § 20-124.5).
Researched by Dan Martin, Legal Researcher · Published by Onbello Legal · Last updated October 2026
Notice
The court may require the notice to be in a particular form and contain the information it deems proper and necessary, so the wording of your own order controls (§ 20-124.5).
When the schedule has to change
Virginia’s custody chapter contains no separate relocation statute or factor list beyond the notice condition. A parent who wants custody or visitation changed because of a move asks the court to modify the order, in the J&DR court on Form DC-630, and the court applies the change in circumstances and best interests test from Keel v. Keel, 225 Va. 606 (1983), with the factors in § 20-124.3.
Leaving Virginia
A Virginia court that made a custody determination keeps exclusive, continuing jurisdiction as long as the child, a parent, or a person acting as a parent continues to live in Virginia, except for temporary emergency jurisdiction (§ 20-146.13(A)).
Tools and resources
Where to check this
Forms, deadlines, and local rules change. Verify anything on this page against the official self-help resources for your state before you rely on it.
This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Laws and local rules vary and change. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed family-law attorney in your state.