Custody

Visitation, also known as parenting time, allows a parent to spend time with their child even if the parent is not given any form of custody.¹ The judge will decide how often the visits take place, where the visits take place, and whether or not the visits need to be supervised by another adult. At the request of either parent, the judge can order that the exchange of a child take place at an appropriate meeting place instead of at the home of either parent.²

Visitation does not give a parent the right to make major decisions about the child’s well-being, such as education or medical matters. Only a parent with legal custody can make those decisions. A child also will not live with a parent who has visitation rather than physical custody. However, the child may be able to have overnight, weekend, or even longer visits with the parent, depending on what the judge decides.

Non-parents may also be able to get visitation in certain circumstances. For more information, see Can a non-parent get custody or visitation?

¹ Va. Code §§ 16.1-278.15(G1); 20-124.2(B1)
² Va. Code § 20-124.3