VIRGINIA Part 70

If the judge denies a request for custody, does s/he have to explain why?

Yes. Virginia law requires that the judge communicate the reasons for his/her decision, either face to face or in writing.   If the judge did not do this at the hearing, you may want to contact his/her court assistant to ask for an explanation in writing.*

However, the judge does not have to explain every aspect of his/her decision-making process in detail, only the main reasons for the decision.**