{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/63.2-1200.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/63.2-1200.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/63.2-1200.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/63.2-1200.html"}],"law_id":67454,"edition_id":1,"section_id":67454,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1200","catch_line":"Who may place children for adoption","history":"1978, c. 730, \u00a7 63.1-220.1; 1985, c. 285; 1989, c. 647; 2000, c. 830, \u00a7 63.1-219.8; 2002, c. 747; 2004, c. 815; 2006, cc. 825, 848.","full_text":"A child may be placed for adoption by:\n\n1\n\nA licensed child-placing agency;2\n\nA local board;3\n\nThe child&#8217;s parent or legal guardian if the placement is a parental placement; and4\n\nAny agency outside the Commonwealth that is licensed or otherwise duly authorized to place children for adoption by virtue of the laws under which it operates.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":244420,"text":"A child may be placed for adoption by:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":244421,"text":"A licensed child-placing agency;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":244422,"text":"A local board;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":244423,"text":"The child&#8217;s parent or legal guardian if the placement is a parental placement; and","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":244424,"text":"Any agency outside the Commonwealth that is licensed or otherwise duly authorized to place children for adoption by virtue of the laws under which it operates.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14142,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14096,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:01","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:01","permalink":{"id":271367,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14142,"identifier":"1","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1","url":"\/63.2\/III\/12\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14096,"edition_id":1,"name":"Adoption","identifier":"12","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13897,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:52","permalink":{"id":271365,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14096,"identifier":"12","token":"63.2\/III\/12","url":"\/63.2\/III\/12\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13897,"edition_id":1,"name":"Social Services Programs","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12789,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:14","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:14","permalink":{"id":271331,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13897,"identifier":"III","token":"63.2\/III","url":"\/63.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12789,"edition_id":1,"name":"Welfare (Social Services)","identifier":"63.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":270661,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12789,"identifier":"63.2","token":"63.2","url":"\/63.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":67454,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1200","catch_line":"Who may place children for adoption","url":"\/63.2-1200\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1200","metadata":false},{"id":79180,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1200.1","catch_line":"Recognition of foreign adoption; issuance of birth certificates","url":"\/63.2-1200.1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1200.1","metadata":false},{"id":70662,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1201","catch_line":"Filing of petition for adoption; venue; jurisdiction; and proceedings","url":"\/63.2-1201\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1201","metadata":false},{"id":76763,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1201.1","catch_line":"Previously married persons who stood in loco parentis during the time of the marriage may adopt in the same manner as married persons","url":"\/63.2-1201.1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1201.1","metadata":false},{"id":57240,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1202","catch_line":"Parental, or agency, consent required; exceptions","url":"\/63.2-1202\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1202","metadata":false},{"id":70065,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1203","catch_line":"When consent is withheld or unobtainable","url":"\/63.2-1203\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1203","metadata":false},{"id":70767,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1204","catch_line":"When consent is revocable; fraud or duress; mutual consent","url":"\/63.2-1204\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1204","metadata":false},{"id":75979,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1205","catch_line":"Best interests of the child; standards for determining","url":"\/63.2-1205\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1205","metadata":false},{"id":84468,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1205.1","catch_line":"Certain offenders prohibited from adopting a child","url":"\/63.2-1205.1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1205.1","metadata":false},{"id":63319,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1206","catch_line":"No parental presumption after revocation period expires","url":"\/63.2-1206\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1206","metadata":false},{"id":84982,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1207","catch_line":"Removal of child from adoptive home","url":"\/63.2-1207\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1207","metadata":false},{"id":58081,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1208","catch_line":"Investigations; report to circuit court","url":"\/63.2-1208\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1208","metadata":false},{"id":77214,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1209","catch_line":"Entry of interlocutory order","url":"\/63.2-1209\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1209","metadata":false},{"id":62868,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1210","catch_line":"Probationary period, interlocutory order and order of reference not required under certain circumstances","url":"\/63.2-1210\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1210","metadata":false},{"id":71943,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1211","catch_line":"Revocation of interlocutory order","url":"\/63.2-1211\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1211","metadata":false},{"id":67535,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1212","catch_line":"Visitations during probationary period and report","url":"\/63.2-1212\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1212","metadata":false},{"id":67676,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1213","catch_line":"Final order of adoption","url":"\/63.2-1213\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1213","metadata":false},{"id":60911,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1214","catch_line":"Annual review of pending petitions for adoption; duty of Commissioner and circuit court clerk","url":"\/63.2-1214\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1214","metadata":false},{"id":86424,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1215","catch_line":"Legal effects of adoption","url":"\/63.2-1215\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1215","metadata":false},{"id":82487,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1216","catch_line":"Final order not subject to attack after six months","url":"\/63.2-1216\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1216","metadata":false},{"id":55297,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1217","catch_line":"Provision of false information; penalty","url":"\/63.2-1217\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1217","metadata":false},{"id":86942,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1218","catch_line":"Certain exchange of property, advertisement, solicitation prohibited; penalty","url":"\/63.2-1218\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1218","metadata":false},{"id":66924,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1219","catch_line":"Suspected violation of property exchange information","url":"\/63.2-1219\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1219","metadata":false},{"id":57977,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1220","catch_line":"Issuance of birth certificates for children adopted in the Commonwealth","url":"\/63.2-1220\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1220","metadata":false},{"id":61151,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1220.01","catch_line":"Foreign adoptions; establishment of date of birth","url":"\/63.2-1220.01\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1220.01","metadata":false},{"id":62740,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1220.1","catch_line":"Establishment of minimum training requirements","url":"\/63.2-1220.1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1220.1","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":79180,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1200.1","catch_line":"Recognition of foreign adoption; issuance of birth certificates","url":"\/63.2-1200.1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1200.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/63.2-1200\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1978. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 730 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1978 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1985, chapter 285; in 1989, chapter 647; in 2000, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?001+ful+CHAP0830\">830<\/a>; in 2002, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?021+ful+CHAP0747\">747<\/a>; in 2004, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?041+ful+CHAP0815\">815<\/a>; in 2006, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?061+ful+CHAP0825\">825<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?061+ful+CHAP0848\">848<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":81938,"section_number":"18.2-356.1","catch_line":"Purchasing or selling of minors; exceptions; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-356.1\/"},{"id":64023,"section_number":"20-158","catch_line":"Parentage of child resulting from assisted conception","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-158\/"},{"id":54684,"section_number":"20-160","catch_line":"Petition and hearing for court approval of surrogacy contract; requirements; orders","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-160\/"},{"id":81351,"section_number":"22.1-3","catch_line":"Persons to whom public schools shall be free","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-3\/"},{"id":58081,"section_number":"63.2-1208","catch_line":"Investigations; report to circuit court","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1208\/"},{"id":67676,"section_number":"63.2-1213","catch_line":"Final order of adoption","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1213\/"},{"id":67628,"section_number":"63.2-1242.2","catch_line":"Close relative adoption; child in home less than two years","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1242.2\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":271369,"object_type":"law","relational_id":67454,"identifier":"63.2-1200","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1200","url":"\/63.2-1200\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/63.2-1200\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1200","dublin_core":{"Title":"Who may place children for adoption","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 63.2-1200","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>A <span class=\"dictionary\">child<\/span> may be placed for adoption by:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> A licensed <span class=\"dictionary\"><span class=\"dictionary\">child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span>; <a id=\"paragraph-244421\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/63.2-1200\/#1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"2\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> A <span class=\"dictionary\">local board<\/span>; <a id=\"paragraph-244422\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/63.2-1200\/#2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"3\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">3.<\/span> The <span class=\"dictionary\">child<\/span>&#8217;s parent or legal guardian if the placement is a <span class=\"dictionary\">parental placement<\/span>; and <a id=\"paragraph-244423\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/63.2-1200\/#3\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"4\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">4.<\/span> Any agency outside the Commonwealth that is licensed or otherwise duly authorized to place children for adoption by virtue of the <span class=\"dictionary\">laws<\/span> under which it operates. <a id=\"paragraph-244424\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/63.2-1200\/#4\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nWHO MAY PLACE CHILDREN FOR ADOPTION (\u00a7 63.2-1200)\n\nA child may be placed for adoption by:\n\n1. A licensed child-placing agency;\n\n2. A local board;\n\n3. The child&#8217;s parent or legal guardian if the placement is a parental\nplacement; and\n\n4. Any agency outside the Commonwealth that is licensed or otherwise duly\nauthorized to place children for adoption by virtue of the laws under which it\noperates.\n\nHISTORY: 1978, c. 730, \u00a7 63.1-220.1; 1985, c. 285; 1989, c. 647; 2000, c. 830,\n\u00a7 63.1-219.8; 2002, c. 747; 2004, c. 815; 2006, cc. 825, 848.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}