Domestic Relations Services

Fairfax County, Virginia

CONTACT INFORMATION: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

703-246-3040
TTY 711

4110 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 202
Fairfax, VA 22030

Tina Spurlock,
Acting Director

Child Custody and Visitation

POPULAR TOPICS

Custody and Visitation Cases:

Parents, relatives and other interested parties can file petitions asking a judge to determine who will have Custody of a child and determine Visitation.  Visitation can be ordered for specific days and times or simply to permit reasonable and liberal visitation.  

  • NEW Custody and Visitation cases are generally filed in the county/state where the child has lived for the previous six months
    • Contact an Intake Officer in Domestic Relations or an attorney if you have questions about where to file
  • To file for Custody and/or Visitation, make an appointment with Domestic Relations at 703-246-3040

Common Types of Custody Arrangements:

Legal

  • makes decisions about the child, such as health care, religion, and education
  • may be shared by both parents or awarded solely to one parent or relative

Physical

  • where the child lives most of the time
  • one parent or relative has physical custody or the parents or may share joint physical custody

Shared

  • both parents share both legal and physical custody

 

Judges in Virginia Decide Child Custody Based on the Best Interests of the Child

Days and Times for Visitation:

Visitation Orders may cover specific days and times. This may include:

  • weekends, summers, holidays
  • where and when the visits will take place
  • who will transport the child to and from the visits
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