The 2022 Virginia Legislative Session just came to a close, and Carly M. Anderson and Kristen L. Kugel presented the Family Law Legislative Update CLE to the Fairfax Bar Association on April 7, 2022.
2022 Family Law Updates for Virginia
There were a number of bills introduced in the family law realm this session. A few highlights include the passage of Senate Bill 348, which makes various changes to VA Code Sections 20-103 and 20-108.1.
Retroactive Child and/or Spousal Support
Most importantly, this bill made it clear that any child or spousal support award would be retroactive to the date a party filed in Juvenile Court, even if the case was moved up to Circuit Court.
Rental Income and Child Support in Virginia
This legislative session also fixed an inconsistency in Court of Appeals opinions regarding the inclusion of rental income in a party’s gross income for purposes of a child support calculation.
Gross rental income from any property owned individually, jointly, or by an entity shall be subject to the deduction of reasonable expenses, except for the cost of acquisition, depreciation, or the principal portion of any mortgage payment.
The Virginia Family Law Coalition, chaired by Daniel L. Gray, will be hard at work again next session to assist lawmakers on family law issues.