{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/63.2-1212.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/63.2-1212.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/63.2-1212.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/63.2-1212.html"}],"law_id":67535,"edition_id":1,"section_id":67535,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1212","catch_line":"Visitations during probationary period and report","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 63-354; 1956, c. 187; 1962, c. 603; 1964, c. 429; 1968, c. 578, \u00a7 63.1-228; 1972, c. 73; 1975, c. 364; 1976, c. 367; 1980, c. 740; 1988, c. 599; 1989, c. 647; 1992, c. 607; 2000, c. 830, \u00a7 63.1-219.19; 2002, c. 747; 2007, cc. 606, 623; 2009, c. 805.","full_text":"A\n\nExcept as hereinafter provided, after the entry of an interlocutory order of adoption, (i) the licensed or duly authorized child-placing agency; (ii) if the child was not placed by an agency and the placement is not a parental placement, the local director; (iii) if the placement is a parental placement, the child-placing agency that submitted the home study; or, (iv) if the child was placed by an agency in another state or by an agency, court, or other entity in another country, the local director or licensed child-placing agency, whichever agency completed the home study or provided supervision, shall cause or have caused the child to be visited at least three times within a period of six months by an agent of such local board or local department or by an agent of such licensed or duly authorized child-placing agency. Whenever practicable, such visits shall be made within the six-month period immediately following the date upon which the child was placed in the physical care of the adoptive parents or of entry of the interlocutory order; however, no less than ninety days shall elapse between the first visit and the last visit. The agency that placed the child, the child-placing agency that submitted the home study, the local director or the licensed child-placing agency, as applicable, shall make a written report to the circuit court, in such form as the Commissioner may prescribe, of the findings made pursuant to such visitations. A copy of the report to the circuit court shall be furnished to the counsel of record for the parties, which copy shall be returned by such counsel as is required by § 63.2-1246 for the return of the original report. A copy of the report to the circuit court shall be served on the Commissioner by delivering or mailing a copy to him on or before the day of filing the report with the circuit court. On the report to the circuit court there shall be appended either acceptance of service or certification of the local director or the representative of the child-placing agency, that copies were served as this section requires, showing the date of delivery or mailing.B\n\nThe three supervisory visits required in subsection A shall be conducted in the presence of the child. At least one such visit shall be conducted in the home of the petitioners in the presence of the child and both petitioners, unless the petition was filed by a single parent or one of the petitioners is no longer residing in the home.C\n\nWhen it is determined for purposes of subsection B that the petitioner no longer resides in the adoptive home, the child-placing agency or local director shall contact the petitioner to determine whether or not the petitioner wishes to remain a party to the proceedings and shall include in its report to the circuit court the results of its findings.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":244686,"text":"Except as hereinafter provided, after the entry of an interlocutory order of adoption, (i) the licensed or duly authorized child-placing agency; (ii) if the child was not placed by an agency and the placement is not a parental placement, the local director; (iii) if the placement is a parental placement, the child-placing agency that submitted the home study; or, (iv) if the child was placed by an agency in another state or by an agency, court, or other entity in another country, the local director or licensed child-placing agency, whichever agency completed the home study or provided supervision, shall cause or have caused the child to be visited at least three times within a period of six months by an agent of such local board or local department or by an agent of such licensed or duly authorized child-placing agency. Whenever practicable, such visits shall be made within the six-month period immediately following the date upon which the child was placed in the physical care of the adoptive parents or of entry of the interlocutory order; however, no less than ninety days shall elapse between the first visit and the last visit. The agency that placed the child, the child-placing agency that submitted the home study, the local director or the licensed child-placing agency, as applicable, shall make a written report to the circuit court, in such form as the Commissioner may prescribe, of the findings made pursuant to such visitations. A copy of the report to the circuit court shall be furnished to the counsel of record for the parties, which copy shall be returned by such counsel as is required by § 63.2-1246 for the return of the original report. A copy of the report to the circuit court shall be served on the Commissioner by delivering or mailing a copy to him on or before the day of filing the report with the circuit court. On the report to the circuit court there shall be appended either acceptance of service or certification of the local director or the representative of the child-placing agency, that copies were served as this section requires, showing the date of delivery or mailing.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":244687,"text":"The three supervisory visits required in subsection A shall be conducted in the presence of the child. At least one such visit shall be conducted in the home of the petitioners in the presence of the child and both petitioners, unless the petition was filed by a single parent or one of the petitioners is no longer residing in the home.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":244688,"text":"When it is determined for purposes of subsection B that the petitioner no longer resides in the adoptive home, the child-placing agency or local director shall contact the petitioner to determine whether or not the petitioner wishes to remain a party to the proceedings and shall include in its report to the circuit court the results of its findings.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/63.2-1212\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 15 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 1956, chapter 187; in 1962, chapter 603; in 1964, chapter 429; in 1968, chapter 578; in 1972, chapter 73; in 1975, chapter 364; in 1976, chapter 367; in 1980, chapter 740; in 1988, chapter 599; in 1989, chapter 647; in 1992, chapter 607; in 2000, chapter 830<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 747<\/a>; in 2007, chapters 606<\/a> and 623<\/a>; in 2009, chapter 805<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":58081,"section_number":"63.2-1208","catch_line":"Investigations; report to circuit court","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1208\/"},{"id":77214,"section_number":"63.2-1209","catch_line":"Entry of interlocutory order","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1209\/"},{"id":67676,"section_number":"63.2-1213","catch_line":"Final order of adoption","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1213\/"},{"id":75367,"section_number":"63.2-1227","catch_line":"Filing of petition for agency adoption","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1227\/"},{"id":65499,"section_number":"63.2-1248","catch_line":"Fees for home studies, investigations, visitations and reports","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1248\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":83198,"section_number":"63.2-1246","catch_line":"Disposition of reports; disclosure of information as to identity of birth family","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1246\/"}],"permalink":{"id":271429,"object_type":"law","relational_id":67535,"identifier":"63.2-1212","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1212","url":"\/63.2-1212\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/63.2-1212\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1212","dublin_core":{"Title":"Visitations during probationary period and report","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 63.2-1212","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Except as hereinafter provided, after the entry of an interlocutory order<\/span> of adoption, (i) the licensed or duly authorized child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span>; (ii) if the child<\/span> was not placed by an agency and the placement is not a parental placement<\/span>, the local director<\/span>; (iii) if the placement is a parental placement<\/span>, the child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> that submitted the home study; or, (iv) if the child<\/span> was placed by an agency in another state or by an agency, court<\/span>, or other entity in another country, the local director<\/span> or licensed child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span>, whichever agency completed the home study or provided supervision, shall cause or have caused the child<\/span> to be visited at least three times within a period of six months by an agent of such local board<\/span> or local department<\/span> or by an agent of such licensed or duly authorized child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span>. Whenever practicable, such visits shall be made within the six-month period immediately following the date upon which the child<\/span> was placed in the physical care of the adoptive parents or of entry of the interlocutory order<\/span>; however, no less than ninety days shall elapse between the first visit and the last visit. The agency that placed the child<\/span>, the child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> that submitted the home study, the local director<\/span> or the licensed child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span>, as applicable, shall make a written report to the circuit<\/span> court<\/span>, in such form as the Commissioner<\/span> may prescribe, of the findings<\/span> made pursuant to such visitations. A copy of the report to the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> shall be furnished to the counsel<\/span> of record for the parties, which copy shall be returned by such counsel<\/span> as is required by § 63.2-1246<\/a> for the return of the original report. A copy of the report to the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> shall be served on the Commissioner<\/span> by delivering or mailing a copy to him on or before the day of filing the report with the circuit<\/span> court<\/span>. On the report to the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> there shall be appended either acceptance of service or certification of the local director<\/span> or the representative of the child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span>, that copies were served as this section requires, showing the date of delivery or mailing. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The three supervisory visits required in subsection A shall be conducted in the presence of the child<\/span>. At least one such visit shall be conducted in the home of the petitioners in the presence of the child<\/span> and both petitioners, unless the petition<\/span> was filed by a single parent or one of the petitioners is no longer residing in the home. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> When it is determined for purposes of subsection B that the petitioner no longer resides in the adoptive home<\/span>, the child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> or local director<\/span> shall contact the petitioner to determine whether or not the petitioner wishes to remain a party<\/span> to the proceedings and shall include in its report to the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> the results of its findings<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nVISITATIONS DURING PROBATIONARY PERIOD AND REPORT (\u00a7 63.2-1212)\n\nA. Except as hereinafter provided, after the entry of an interlocutory order of\nadoption, (i) the licensed or duly authorized child-placing agency; (ii) if the\nchild was not placed by an agency and the placement is not a parental placement,\nthe local director; (iii) if the placement is a parental placement, the\nchild-placing agency that submitted the home study; or, (iv) if the child was\nplaced by an agency in another state or by an agency, court, or other entity in\nanother country, the local director or licensed child-placing agency, whichever\nagency completed the home study or provided supervision, shall cause or have\ncaused the child to be visited at least three times within a period of six\nmonths by an agent of such local board or local department or by an agent of\nsuch licensed or duly authorized child-placing agency. Whenever practicable,\nsuch visits shall be made within the six-month period immediately following the\ndate upon which the child was placed in the physical care of the adoptive\nparents or of entry of the interlocutory order; however, no less than ninety\ndays shall elapse between the first visit and the last visit. The agency that\nplaced the child, the child-placing agency that submitted the home study, the\nlocal director or the licensed child-placing agency, as applicable, shall make a\nwritten report to the circuit court, in such form as the Commissioner may\nprescribe, of the findings made pursuant to such visitations. A copy of the\nreport to the circuit court shall be furnished to the counsel of record for the\nparties, which copy shall be returned by such counsel as is required by §\n63.2-1246 for the return of the original report. A copy of the report to the\ncircuit court shall be served on the Commissioner by delivering or mailing a\ncopy to him on or before the day of filing the report with the circuit court. On\nthe report to the circuit court there shall be appended either acceptance of\nservice or certification of the local director or the representative of the\nchild-placing agency, that copies were served as this section requires, showing\nthe date of delivery or mailing.\n\nB. The three supervisory visits required in subsection A shall be conducted in\nthe presence of the child. At least one such visit shall be conducted in the\nhome of the petitioners in the presence of the child and both petitioners,\nunless the petition was filed by a single parent or one of the petitioners is no\nlonger residing in the home.\n\nC. When it is determined for purposes of subsection B that the petitioner no\nlonger resides in the adoptive home, the child-placing agency or local director\nshall contact the petitioner to determine whether or not the petitioner wishes\nto remain a party to the proceedings and shall include in its report to the\ncircuit court the results of its findings.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 63-354; 1956, c. 187; 1962, c. 603; 1964, c. 429; 1968,\nc. 578, \u00a7 63.1-228; 1972, c. 73; 1975, c. 364; 1976, c. 367; 1980, c. 740;\n1988, c. 599; 1989, c. 647; 1992, c. 607; 2000, c. 830, \u00a7 63.1-219.19; 2002, c.\n747; 2007, cc. 606, 623; 2009, c. 805.","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}}