Legal Question in Family Law in Virginia

Re: Chins petition

CHINS is an acronym for "child in need of services". The petition is normally brought by the

Office of the Commonwealth Attorney at the behest

of the local social services agency and is heard

in the Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court. After a hearing on the petition and what is being requested in terms of services for the particular child, the court will then decide whether to make an order granting the various

requests, or, perhaps, only some of them, or

none at all, and dismiss the petition.

If services are ordered and provided for the child, there may be some financial liability for the parent(s) responsible for the child.