VIRGINIA Part 78

Generally, you would file a petition for modification at the juvenile and domestic relations district court that issued your original custody order.  You would have to arrange for the abuser to be served with the petition so that he has the chance to appear in court.  The hearing may be similar to previous custody hearings, but you will have to prove that a material change in circumstances has occurred and that it is in the child's best interests to change the order.

Also, if one of the parties in a custody case is a member of the army, navy, marine corps, coast guard, national guard, or any other reserve, and the reason for the modification request is that party's deployment, then it can be requested that the petition be reviewed more quickly by the judge.*