{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/63.2-1201.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/63.2-1201.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/63.2-1201.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/63.2-1201.html"}],"law_id":70662,"edition_id":1,"section_id":70662,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1201","catch_line":"Filing of petition for adoption; venue; jurisdiction; and proceedings","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 63-348; 1952, c. 550; 1954, c. 489; 1956, c. 300; 1964, c. 459; 1968, c. 578, \u00a7 63.1-221; 1970, c. 672; 1973, c. 406; 1975, c. 461; 1978, c. 730; 1983, c. 614; 1988, c. 882; 1989, c. 647; 1991, cc. 76, 602; 1995, cc. 772, 826; 2000, c. 830, \u00a7 63.1-219.9; 2002, c. 747; 2006, cc. 825, 848; 2007, cc. 606, 623; 2008, cc. 116, 868; 2009, c. 805; 2017, c. 200; 2022, c. 377.","full_text":"Proceedings for the adoption of a minor child and for a change of name of such child shall be instituted only by petition to a circuit court in the county or city in which the petitioner resides, in the county or city in which the child-placing agency that placed the child is located, or in the county or city in which a birth parent executed a consent pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1233. Such petition may be filed by any natural person who resides in the Commonwealth, or who has custody of a child placed by a child-placing agency of the Commonwealth, or by an adopting parent of a child who was subject to a consent proceeding held pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1233, or by intended parents who are parties to a surrogacy contract. The petition shall ask leave to adopt a minor child not legally the petitioner’s by birth and, if it is so desired by the petitioner, also to change the name of such child. In the case of married persons, or persons who were previously married who are permitted to adopt a child under \u00a7 63.2-1201.1, the petition shall be the joint petition of the husband and wife or former spouses but, in the event the child to be adopted is legally the child by birth or adoption of one of the petitioners, such petitioner shall unite in the petition for the purpose of indicating consent to the prayer thereof only. If any procedural provision of this chapter applies to only one of the adoptive parents, then the court may waive the application of the procedural provision for the spouse of the adoptive parent to whom the provision applies. The petition shall contain a full disclosure of the circumstances under which the child came to live, and is living, in the home of the petitioner. Each petition for adoption shall be signed by the petitioner as well as by counsel of record, if any. In any case in which the petition seeks the entry of an adoption order without referral for investigation, the petition shall be under oath.\n\t\tA single petition for adoption under the provisions of this section shall be sufficient for the concurrent adoption by the same petitioners of two or more children who have the same birth parent or parents, and nothing in this section shall be construed as having heretofore required a separate petition for each of such children.\n\t\tThe petition for adoption, except those filed pursuant to subdivisions 4 and 5 of \u00a7 63.2-1210, shall include an additional $50 filing fee that shall be used to fund the Virginia Birth Father Registry established in Article 7 (\u00a7 63.2-1249 et seq.) of this chapter.\n\t\tA petition filed while the child is under 18 years of age shall not become invalid because the child reaches 18 years of age prior to the entry of a final order of adoption. Any final order of adoption entered pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1213 after a child reaches 18 years of age, where the petition was filed prior to the child turning 18 years of age, shall have the same effect as if the child was under 18 years of age at the time the order was entered by the circuit court provided the court has obtained the consent of the adoptee.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":254910,"text":"Proceedings for the adoption of a minor child and for a change of name of such child shall be instituted only by petition to a circuit court in the county or city in which the petitioner resides, in the county or city in which the child-placing agency that placed the child is located, or in the county or city in which a birth parent executed a consent pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1233. Such petition may be filed by any natural person who resides in the Commonwealth, or who has custody of a child placed by a child-placing agency of the Commonwealth, or by an adopting parent of a child who was subject to a consent proceeding held pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1233, or by intended parents who are parties to a surrogacy contract. The petition shall ask leave to adopt a minor child not legally the petitioner’s by birth and, if it is so desired by the petitioner, also to change the name of such child. In the case of married persons, or persons who were previously married who are permitted to adopt a child under \u00a7 63.2-1201.1, the petition shall be the joint petition of the husband and wife or former spouses but, in the event the child to be adopted is legally the child by birth or adoption of one of the petitioners, such petitioner shall unite in the petition for the purpose of indicating consent to the prayer thereof only. If any procedural provision of this chapter applies to only one of the adoptive parents, then the court may waive the application of the procedural provision for the spouse of the adoptive parent to whom the provision applies. The petition shall contain a full disclosure of the circumstances under which the child came to live, and is living, in the home of the petitioner. Each petition for adoption shall be signed by the petitioner as well as by counsel of record, if any. In any case in which the petition seeks the entry of an adoption order without referral for investigation, the petition shall be under oath.\n\t\tA single petition for adoption under the provisions of this section shall be sufficient for the concurrent adoption by the same petitioners of two or more children who have the same birth parent or parents, and nothing in this section shall be construed as having heretofore required a separate petition for each of such children.\n\t\tThe petition for adoption, except those filed pursuant to subdivisions 4 and 5 of \u00a7 63.2-1210, shall include an additional $50 filing fee that shall be used to fund the Virginia Birth Father Registry established in Article 7 (\u00a7 63.2-1249 et seq.) of this chapter.\n\t\tA petition filed while the child is under 18 years of age shall not become invalid because the child reaches 18 years of age prior to the entry of a final order of adoption. Any final order of adoption entered pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1213 after a child reaches 18 years of age, where the petition was filed prior to the child turning 18 years of age, shall have the same effect as if the child was under 18 years of age at the time the order was entered by the circuit court provided the court has obtained the consent of the adoptee.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"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}],"previous_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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/63.2-1201\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 22 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 1952, chapter 550; in 1954, chapter 489; in 1956, chapter 300; in 1964, chapter 459; in 1968, chapter 578; in 1970, chapter 672; in 1973, chapter 406; in 1975, chapter 461; in 1978, chapter 730; in 1983, chapter 614; in 1988, chapter 882; in 1989, chapter 647; in 1991, chapters 76 and 602; in 1995, chapters 772<\/a> and 826<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 830<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 747<\/a>; in 2006, chapters 825<\/a> and 848<\/a>; in 2007, chapters 606<\/a> and 623<\/a>; in 2008, chapters 116<\/a> and 868<\/a>; in 2009, chapter 805<\/a>; in 2017, chapter 200<\/a>; in 2022, chapter 377<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":71931,"section_number":"17.1-275","catch_line":"Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generally","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-275\/"},{"id":72171,"section_number":"63.2-1249","catch_line":"Establishment of Registry","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1249\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":76763,"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","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1201.1\/"},{"id":62868,"section_number":"63.2-1210","catch_line":"Probationary period, interlocutory order and order of reference not required under certain circumstances","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1210\/"},{"id":67676,"section_number":"63.2-1213","catch_line":"Final order of adoption","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1213\/"},{"id":69788,"section_number":"63.2-1233","catch_line":"Consent to be executed in juvenile and domestic relations district court; exceptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1233\/"},{"id":72171,"section_number":"63.2-1249","catch_line":"Establishment of Registry","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1249\/"}],"permalink":{"id":271377,"object_type":"law","relational_id":70662,"identifier":"63.2-1201","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1201","url":"\/63.2-1201\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/63.2-1201\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1201","dublin_core":{"Title":"Filing of petition for adoption; venue; jurisdiction; and proceedings","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 63.2-1201","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Proceedings for the adoption of a minor<\/span> child<\/span> and for a change of name of such child<\/span> shall be instituted only by petition<\/span> to a circuit<\/span> court<\/span> in the county or city in which the petitioner resides, in the county or city in which the child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> that placed the child<\/span> is located, or in the county or city in which a birth parent<\/span> executed a consent pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1233<\/a>. Such petition<\/span> may be filed by any natural person who resides in the Commonwealth, or who has custody<\/span> of a child<\/span> placed by a child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> of the Commonwealth, or by an adopting parent of a child<\/span> who was subject to a consent proceeding held pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1233<\/a>, or by intended parents who are parties to a surrogacy contract<\/span>. The petition<\/span> shall ask leave to adopt a minor<\/span> child<\/span> not legally the petitioner’s by birth and, if it is so desired by the petitioner, also to change the name of such child<\/span>. In the case of married persons, or persons who were previously married who are permitted to adopt a child<\/span> under \u00a7 63.2-1201.1<\/a>, the petition<\/span> shall be the joint petition<\/span> of the husband and wife or former spouses but, in the event the child<\/span> to be adopted is legally the child<\/span> by birth or adoption of one of the petitioners, such petitioner shall unite in the petition<\/span> for the purpose of indicating consent to the prayer thereof only. If any procedural provision of this chapter applies to only one of the adoptive parents, then the court<\/span> may waive<\/span> the application of the procedural provision for the spouse of the adoptive parent to whom the provision applies. The petition<\/span> shall contain a full disclosure of the circumstances under which the child<\/span> came to live, and is living, in the home of the petitioner. Each petition<\/span> for adoption shall be signed by the petitioner as well as by counsel<\/span> of record, if any. In any case in which the petition<\/span> seeks the entry of an adoption order without referral for investigation, the petition<\/span> shall be under oath<\/span>.\n\t\tA single petition<\/span> for adoption under the provisions of this section shall be sufficient for the concurrent adoption by the same petitioners of two or more children who have the same birth parent<\/span> or parents, and nothing in this section shall be construed as having heretofore required a separate petition<\/span> for each of such children.\n\t\tThe petition<\/span> for adoption, except those filed pursuant to subdivisions 4 and 5 of \u00a7 63.2-1210<\/a>, shall include an additional $50 filing fee that shall be used to fund the Virginia Birth Father Registry established in Article 7 (\u00a7 63.2-1249<\/a> et seq.) of this chapter.\n\t\tA petition<\/span> filed while the child<\/span> is under 18 years of age shall not become invalid because the child<\/span> reaches 18 years of age prior to the entry of a final order<\/span> of adoption. Any final order<\/span> of adoption entered pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1213<\/a> after a child<\/span> reaches 18 years of age, where the petition<\/span> was filed prior to the child<\/span> turning 18 years of age, shall have the same effect as if the child<\/span> was under 18 years of age at the time the order was entered by the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> provided the court<\/span> has obtained the consent of the adoptee.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nFILING OF PETITION FOR ADOPTION; VENUE; JURISDICTION; AND PROCEEDINGS (\u00a7\n63.2-1201)\n\nProceedings for the adoption of a minor child and for a change of name of such\nchild shall be instituted only by petition to a circuit court in the county or\ncity in which the petitioner resides, in the county or city in which the\nchild-placing agency that placed the child is located, or in the county or city\nin which a birth parent executed a consent pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1233. Such\npetition may be filed by any natural person who resides in the Commonwealth, or\nwho has custody of a child placed by a child-placing agency of the Commonwealth,\nor by an adopting parent of a child who was subject to a consent proceeding held\npursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1233, or by intended parents who are parties to a surrogacy\ncontract. The petition shall ask leave to adopt a minor child not legally the\npetitioner’s by birth and, if it is so desired by the petitioner, also to\nchange the name of such child. In the case of married persons, or persons who\nwere previously married who are permitted to adopt a child under \u00a7 63.2-1201.1,\nthe petition shall be the joint petition of the husband and wife or former\nspouses but, in the event the child to be adopted is legally the child by birth\nor adoption of one of the petitioners, such petitioner shall unite in the\npetition for the purpose of indicating consent to the prayer thereof only. If\nany procedural provision of this chapter applies to only one of the adoptive\nparents, then the court may waive the application of the procedural provision\nfor the spouse of the adoptive parent to whom the provision applies. The\npetition shall contain a full disclosure of the circumstances under which the\nchild came to live, and is living, in the home of the petitioner. Each petition\nfor adoption shall be signed by the petitioner as well as by counsel of record,\nif any. In any case in which the petition seeks the entry of an adoption order\nwithout referral for investigation, the petition shall be under oath.\n\t\tA single petition for adoption under the provisions of this section shall be\nsufficient for the concurrent adoption by the same petitioners of two or more\nchildren who have the same birth parent or parents, and nothing in this section\nshall be construed as having heretofore required a separate petition for each of\nsuch children.\n\t\tThe petition for adoption, except those filed pursuant to subdivisions 4 and 5\nof \u00a7 63.2-1210, shall include an additional $50 filing fee that shall be used\nto fund the Virginia Birth Father Registry established in Article 7 (\u00a7\n63.2-1249 et seq.) of this chapter.\n\t\tA petition filed while the child is under 18 years of age shall not become\ninvalid because the child reaches 18 years of age prior to the entry of a final\norder of adoption. Any final order of adoption entered pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1213\nafter a child reaches 18 years of age, where the petition was filed prior to the\nchild turning 18 years of age, shall have the same effect as if the child was\nunder 18 years of age at the time the order was entered by the circuit court\nprovided the court has obtained the consent of the adoptee.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 63-348; 1952, c. 550; 1954, c. 489; 1956, c. 300; 1964,\nc. 459; 1968, c. 578, \u00a7 63.1-221; 1970, c. 672; 1973, c. 406; 1975, c. 461;\n1978, c. 730; 1983, c. 614; 1988, c. 882; 1989, c. 647; 1991, cc. 76, 602; 1995,\ncc. 772, 826; 2000, c. 830, \u00a7 63.1-219.9; 2002, c. 747; 2006, cc. 825, 848;\n2007, cc. 606, 623; 2008, cc. 116, 868; 2009, c. 805; 2017, c. 200; 2022, c.\n377.","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}}