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2018 SESSION

18103659D
HOUSE BILL NO. 289
Offered January 10, 2018
Prefiled January 3, 2018
A BILL to amend and reenact § 20-79 of the Code of Virginia, relating to effect of divorce proceedings; transfer of matters to juvenile and domestic relations court; concurrent jurisdiction.
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Patron-- Collins
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Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 20-79 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 20-79. Effect of divorce proceedings.

(a) In any case where an order has been entered under the provisions of this chapter, directing either party to pay any sum or sums of money for the support of his or her spouse, or concerning the care, custody or maintenance of any child, or children, the jurisdiction of the court which entered such order shall cease and its orders become inoperative upon the entry of a decree by the court or the judge thereof in vacation in a suit for divorce instituted in any circuit court in this Commonwealth having jurisdiction thereof, in which decree provision is made for support and maintenance for the spouse or concerning the care, custody or maintenance of a child or children, or concerning any matter provided in a decree in the divorce proceedings in accordance with the provisions of § 20-103.

(b) In any suit for divorce, the court in which the suit is instituted or pending, when either party to the proceedings so requests, shall provide in its decree for the maintenance, support, care or custody of the child or children in accordance with Chapter 6.1 (§ 20-124.1 et seq.), support and maintenance for the spouse, if the same be sought, and counsel fees and other costs, if in the judgment of the court any or all of the foregoing should be so decreed.

(c) In any suit for divorce or suit for maintenance and support, the court may after a hearing, pendente lite, or in any decree of divorce a mensa et thoro, decree of divorce a vinculo matrimonii, final decree for maintenance and support, or subsequent decree in such suit, transfer to the juvenile and domestic relations district court the enforcement of its orders pertaining to support and maintenance for the spouse, maintenance, support, care and custody of the child or children. After the entry of a decree of divorce a vinculo matrimonii the court may transfer to the juvenile and domestic relations district court any other matters pertaining to support and maintenance for the spouse, maintenance, support, care and custody of the child or children on motion by either party, and may so transfer such matters before the entry of such decree on motion joined in by both parties. In the A transfer of any such matters referred to herein, the to the juvenile and domestic relations district court does not divest the circuit court of concurrent jurisdiction to hear such matters. After such transfer, unless the parties agree otherwise, any motion filed in the circuit court regarding such matters shall be heard by the circuit court. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a motion regarding such matters is filed in juvenile and domestic relations district court, such motion shall be heard in such juvenile and domestic relations district court unless, within 21 days of service of such motion upon the parties, a motion regarding such matters is filed in circuit court. The court may, upon the motion of any party, or on its own motion, and for good cause shown, transfer any matters covered by said decree or decrees to any circuit court or juvenile and domestic relations district court within the Commonwealth that constitutes a more appropriate forum. An appeal of an order by such juvenile and domestic relations district court which is to enforce or modify the decree in the divorce suit shall be as provided in § 16.1-296.