Peticioni i drejtohet: State Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner

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My name is Amanda Jones, a mother from Henrico County, and I’m calling on lawmakers to reform the way custody orders are enforced in our state. Despite having a court-approved joint custody agreement, I’ve been left powerless when the other parent repeatedly withholds my child—without consequence or accountability.

Right now, custody violations are dismissed as “civil matters,” and law enforcement refuses to intervene. Instead, parents are often told to file a Show Cause or request an emergency custody hearing—lengthy processes that delay justice and allow the continued alienation of children from their parent. These steps also require a valid address to serve the other parent, but in many cases, that information is unavailable or the parent is deliberately avoiding service to stall the process. This loophole is not just a legal technicality—it’s a crisis impacting children and families across Virginia.

We urgently need laws that ensure custody orders are enforceable, protect children from emotional abuse and manipulation, and hold parents accountable when they weaponize the system.
Please sign this petition to support legal reform that protects the rights of parents and the well-being of children. No parent should have to fight alone for the right to see their child.