Virginia Paternity and Parentage Resources

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When parents were never married, parentage usually has to be established before a court will set a schedule or an amount of support. In Virginia that case is handled by the Circuit Court.

Establishing parentage is what gives a father the standing to ask for time with his child, and it is what lets either parent ask the court for support. In many states the same case can settle parentage, the parenting schedule, and child support together.

Official Virginia paternity resources

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Virginia family law forms (official index) (Virginia judicial branch): The official statewide collection of Virginia family law forms. When a direct document link stops working, this index is where the current version lives. https://www.vacourts.gov/forms/circuit.html

Virginia court self-help resources (Virginia courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own Virginia family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov

VJEFS (Supreme Court of Virginia): Virginia's VJEFS e-filing is restricted to Virginia attorneys and their staff. If you are representing yourself, file your papers on paper with the clerk. https://www.vacourts.gov/online/vjefs/home

Virginia child support guideline resources (vacourts.gov): Official Virginia child support guideline materials, worksheets, or calculators. https://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/dcse/support_guidelines.cgi

Verified official Virginia parentage documents

These official documents are used to establish or contest parentage in Virginia.

Order Determining Parentage (DC-644), form DC-644 (Paternity), official document: https://www.vacourts.gov/forms/district/dc644.pdf

Parentage Supplement to Petition (DC-641), form DC-641 (Paternity), official document: https://www.vacourts.gov/forms/district/dc641.pdf

Official link data for Virginia was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.

Frequently asked questions

Does signing the birth certificate settle everything?

A voluntary acknowledgment can establish parentage, but on its own it does not create a parenting schedule or a support order. Those come from a court case.

Can parentage, custody, and support be handled together?

In many states one case can cover all three. Check the official Virginia forms and self-help material above to see how this state organizes it.