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Legal Information: Virginia

Custody

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Laws current as of July 9, 2025

What is sole custody?

Sole legal custody means that one parent has the power to make major decisions about the child, including about the child’s educational, medical, and religious needs. Sole physical custody means that one parent has the responsibility to be the child’s primary caretaker, meaning the child will live with this parent.1

The other parent may still be given the right to visit with your child even if you are given sole legal and physical custody.  For more information, see What is visitation?

1 Va. Code § 20-124.1

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