Virginia’s children deserve a family court system that protects them, listens to them, and treats both parents fairly. Family court decisions can affect a child for years, so those decisions should be based on reliable information, careful investigation, due process, and the individual needs of the child.

We are asking Virginia lawmakers to consider the following child-centered reforms:

Encourage child-focused, cooperative parenting while preserving judicial discretion. Virginia’s family court system should encourage parents to make decisions based on their children’s needs rather than conflict with one another. Courts should have appropriate tools to identify and discourage conduct that unnecessarily escalates conflict, places children in the middle, interferes with healthy parent-child relationships, or misuses court and investigative processes against a co-parent. At the same time, parents must remain free to raise genuine safety concerns in good faith, and judges must retain the discretion needed to respond to the unique circumstances and safety needs of each family.

Prompt review when temporary orders restrict parent-child contact. Courts must be able to act immediately when there is a credible concern for a child’s safety. However, when an emergency or temporary order substantially restricts a parent’s contact with a child before the allegations have been fully heard, the case should receive prompt review whenever practicable. Temporary restrictions should not continue longer than necessary simply because of scheduling delays. When safe and appropriate, judges should retain flexibility to consider less restrictive temporary measures while the facts are being determined.

Accountability for knowingly false allegations. When evidence establishes that someone intentionally made a materially false allegation to a court, CPS, law enforcement, or another agency in an attempt to improperly influence a custody matter or harm the other parent, courts should have appropriate tools to respond. This should never punish a parent for raising a genuine concern in good faith simply because it cannot ultimately be proven.

One family, one judge whenever possible. Keeping the same judge involved in a family’s custody and related proceedings can provide greater continuity. It allows the court to become familiar with the history of the case, previous allegations, prior decisions, patterns of behavior, and most importantly, the needs of the child.

Stronger standards and accountability for Guardians ad Litem. Every child deserves a GAL who performs a meaningful investigation, communicates appropriately with the child, considers relevant information, and genuinely represents the child’s best interests. Families should have a fair process for requesting review of a GAL’s performance and, when serious deficiencies are established, requesting replacement without unnecessarily delaying the case.

Give children a stronger voice and access to independent counseling. Children involved in high-conflict custody cases should have access to qualified, neutral counseling when appropriate. A child should have a safe place to discuss concerns, emotions, changes in the family, or things happening in either household without feeling pressured to choose between parents.

Strengthen CPS investigation procedures. When a report raises a credible concern that unsafe conditions or behavior could be temporarily hidden before an investigation, CPS should have appropriate discretion to conduct an unannounced initial safety assessment when legally permitted and warranted by the circumstances. Advance scheduling should not unnecessarily undermine an investigation. At the same time, investigations should respect constitutional protections, due process, and the rights of everyone involved.

These reforms are not about mothers versus fathers. They are about protecting children, treating parents fairly, discouraging misuse of the legal system, improving the quality of information available to judges, and making sure children have a meaningful voice.

Why This Matters to Me and My Daughter

As a father, this issue is deeply personal to me because I believe children and parents can sometimes become caught in a family court system that does not always have enough information, time, or resources to understand what is truly happening.

I have learned how difficult it can be when a child tells a parent that something is bothering her or making her uncomfortable, but the parent does not know whether the concern will be considered serious enough for someone to investigate. Parents should not have to feel as though they must wait for something worse to happen before their child's concerns receive appropriate attention.

There are also situations where advance notice of an investigation or wellness assessment may make it difficult for investigators to observe the conditions that originally caused concern. I believe agencies should have appropriate tools to investigate credible concerns effectively while still respecting the rights of everyone involved.

Most importantly, children deserve a voice. A young child may not understand court proceedings, legal standards, or how to explain everything that is happening in her life. That does not mean her feelings or concerns should be overlooked. Children deserve qualified people around them — judges, GALs, counselors, investigators, and parents — who will listen carefully and determine what is truly in their best interests.

I am supporting these reforms because I want a better system for my daughter and every Virginia child who may someday find themselves caught between two parents, two households, or competing allegations. The goal should never be for one parent to defeat the other. The goal should be to find the truth, protect the child, preserve healthy parent-child relationships whenever safe, and give families the best opportunity to move forward.

Please sign and share this petition if you believe Virginia children and families deserve a fairer, more consistent, evidence-driven, and child-centered family court system.