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Legal Information: Virginia

Statutes: Virginia

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Updated: 
November 13, 2023

31-1. Natural guardians

The father and mother of every legitimate unmarried minor child, if living together and being themselves respectively competent to transact their own business and not otherwise unsuitable, shall be the joint natural guardians of the person of such child, with equal legal powers and equal legal rights in regard to such child; and upon the death of either parent the survivor shall be the natural guardian of the person of such child. If either parent has abandoned his family, the other shall be the natural guardian of the person of such child.