Malika M. Evans, Esquire ©
Many aspects of life have been halted by the COVID-19 “lockdown” or “shelter-in-place” orders. However, problems with child custody arrangements, interruptions in child or spousal support payments, family abuse, and the separation of spouses present pressing issues for families without regard to the state of emergency. Fortunately, Virginia’s courts are still conducting certain emergency hearings and accepting court filings in cases as of the date of this posting.
On March 16, 2020, the Supreme Court of Virginia entered an “Order Declaring a Judicial Emergency in Response to COVID-19 Emergency”, effective through April 6, 2020. This Order suspending all non-emergency cases was later extended until April 26, 2020. The Supreme Court of Virginia ordered all civil, traffic and criminal matters to be continued, except for emergency matters such as protective order cases and emergency child custody or protection cases, among others. The Orders can be found in their entirety here:
http://www.courts.state.va.us/2020_0316_scv_order_declaration_of_judicial_emergency.pdf
In response, Northern Virginia courts have adopted different policies and procedures designed to protect court employees, litigants, and the public while allowing essential parts of the judicial system to continue functioning. You can review the policies of these courts below.
The Fairfax Circuit Court:
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/circuit/coronavirus
The Fairfax Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court:
http://www.courts.state.va.us/news/items/covid/2020_0401_fairfax_jdr.pdf
The Loudoun Circuit Court:
https://www.loudoun.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=5593
The Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relation Court:
https://www.loudoun.gov/5321/County-Closures-Operating-Status
The Prince William Circuit Court:
http://www.courts.state.va.us/news/items/covid/2020_0316_prince_william_county_cc.pdf
http://www.courts.state.va.us/news/items/covid/2020_0316_prince_william_all.pdf
The Prince William Juvenile and Domestic Relation Court:
http://www.courts.state.va.us/news/items/covid/2020_0316_prince_william_all.pdf
http://www.vacourts.gov/news/items/covid/2020_0402_prince_william_jdr.pdf
The Arlington Circuit Court:
The Arlington Juvenile and Domestic Relation Court:
http://www.courts.state.va.us/news/items/covid/2020_0320_arlington_jdr.pdf
The Alexandria Circuit Court:
https://www.alexandriava.gov/ClerkOfCircuitCourt
https://www.alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/clerkofcourt/COVID19Revised03302020.pdf
The Alexandria Juvenile and Domestic Relation Court:
https://www.alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/jdrcourt/AlexandriaJDRCOVA.pdf