RD370 - Report Pursuant to Item 37.K. 2014 Acts of Assembly, Chapter 2, Single Petition for Custody/Visitation in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court


Executive Summary:
This report is submitted in accordance with Item 37.K., 2014 Acts of Assembly, Chapter 2, which requires the "Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia to review the impact on the court system, fiscal and operational, of allowing a single petition in juvenile and domestic relations district court case[s] involving two or more children if such children have the same parents or legal guardians."

To assist with the preparation of this report, the Office of the Executive Secretary has undertaken the following tasks, each of which is presented throughout this report:

• Reviewed the current statutory authority and obligations of the juvenile and domestic relations district court.

• Reviewed the proposed legislation (HB 438) from the 2014 Session of the General Assembly.

• Reviewed comments previously received from juvenile and domestic relations district court judges on the impact of similar legislation proposed during past General Assembly sessions.

• Surveyed juvenile and domestic relations district court clerks on the impact of the proposed legislation on their clerks' offices.

• Completed a Fiscal Impact Analysis.