20-146.38 - Construction of provisions; purposes of act. - Virginia Statutes

§ 20-146.38. Construction of provisions; purposes of act.

A. The general purposes of this act are to:

1. Avoid jurisdictional competition and conflict with courts of other statesin matters of child custody that have in the past resulted in the shifting ofchildren from state to state with harmful effects on their well-being;

2. Promote cooperation with the courts of other states to the end that acustody decree is rendered in that state that can best decide the case in theinterest of the child;

3. Ensure that litigation concerning the custody of a child take placeordinarily in the state with which the child and his family have the closestconnection and where significant evidence concerning his care, protection,training, and personal relationships is most readily available, and thatcourts of this state decline the exercise of jurisdiction when the child andhis family have a closer connection with another state;

4. Discourage continuing controversies over child custody in the interest ofgreater stability of home environment and of secure family relationships forthe child;

5. Deter abductions and other unilateral removals of children undertaken toobtain custody awards;

6. Avoid relitigation of custody decisions of other states in thisCommonwealth insofar as feasible;

7. Facilitate the enforcement of custody decrees of other states;

8. Promote and expand the exchange of information and other forms of mutualassistance between the courts of this Commonwealth and those of other statesconcerned with the same child; and

9. Make uniform the law of those states that enact it.

B. This act shall be construed to promote the general purposes stated in thissection.

(2001, c. 305.)