As used in this article:\n'Application' means a request under the Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance by an obligee or obligor, or on behalf of a child, made through a central authority for assistance from another central authority.\n'Central authority' means the entity designated by the United States or a foreign country described in § 20-88.32 to perform the functions specified in the Convention.\n'Convention support order' means a support order of a tribunal of a foreign country described in § 20-88.32.\n'Direct request' means a petition or similar pleading filed by an individual in a tribunal of the Commonwealth in a proceeding involving an obligee, obligor, or child residing outside the United States.\n'Foreign central authority' means the entity designated by a foreign country described in § 20-88.32 to perform the functions specified in the Convention.\n'Foreign support agreement' means an agreement for support in a record that (i) is enforceable as a support order in the country of origin; (ii) has been formally drawn up or registered as an authentic instrument by a foreign tribunal or authenticated by or in a record that (i) is enforceable as a support order in the country of origin; (ii) has been formally drawn up or registered as an authentic instrument by a foreign tribunal or authenticated by or concluded, registered, or filed with a foreign tribunal; and (iii) may be reviewed and modified by a foreign tribunal. 'Foreign support agreement' includes a maintenance arrangement or authentic instrument under the Convention.\n'United States central authority' means the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.\n2015, c. 727.
Virginia Legal Code