More Family Law news More news in Virginia Find Family Law lawyers in Virginia
In a landmark decision on November 26, 2025, the Virginia Supreme Court announced significant changes to the state's family law regarding custody and visitation rights. The ruling comes after years of debate and advocacy by family law practitioners and organizations fighting for more equitable and child-centered family laws in the state.The key change in the court's decision is the elimination of the traditional "primary custody" designation in divorce cases. Instead, the court will now apply a "shared parenting" model where both parents are considered equal in terms of custody rights and responsibilities. This means that both parents will have equal decision-making authority when it comes to important matters affecting their children, such as education, healthcare, and religious upbringing.Furthermore, the court emphasized the importance of both parents maintaining a meaningful and ongoing relationship with their children, even in cases where one parent is designated as the primary physical custodian. Visitation schedules will be designed to maximize the time each parent spends with their children, taking into account each parent's work schedule, living arrangements, and the children's ages and needs.In addition to the changes in custody and visitation rights, the court also announced new guidelines for determining child support payments. The court will now consider the income of both parents when calculating child support amounts, with the goal of ensuring that children receive adequate financial support from both parents regardless of custody arrangements.These changes represent a significant shift in Virginia's family law landscape, emphasizing the importance of shared parenting and co-parenting cooperation for the well-being of children in divorce and separation cases. Family law practitioners and advocates have welcomed the decision, noting that it will help promote healthier relationships between parents and children and reduce conflict and litigation in family courts.The Virginia Supreme Court's ruling will go into effect immediately, affecting all pending and future divorce and custody cases in the state. Families are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the new guidelines and seek legal counsel to ensure their rights and obligations are met under the updated family law regulations.