{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/63.2-1218.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/63.2-1218.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/63.2-1218.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/63.2-1218.html"}],"law_id":86942,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86942,"structure_id":14142,"section_number":"63.2-1218","catch_line":"Certain exchange of property, advertisement, solicitation prohibited; penalty","history":"1989, c. 647, \u00a7 63.1-220.4; 1993, c. 553; 1995, cc. 772, 826; 2000, c. 830, \u00a7 63.1-219.25; 2002, c. 747.","full_text":"No person or child-placing agency shall charge, pay, give, or agree to give or accept any money, property, service or other thing of value in connection with a placement or adoption or any act undertaken pursuant to this chapter except (i) reasonable and customary services provided by a licensed or duly authorized child-placing agency and fees paid for such services; (ii) payment or reimbursement for medical expenses and insurance premiums that are directly related to the birth mother’s pregnancy and hospitalization for the birth of the child who is the subject of the adoption proceedings, for mental health counseling received by the birth mother or birth father related to the adoption, and for expenses incurred for medical care for the child; (iii) payment or reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses for food, clothing, and shelter when, upon the written advice of her physician, the birth mother is unable to work or otherwise support herself due to medical reasons or complications associated with the pregnancy or birth of the child; (iv) payment or reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred incidental to any required court appearance including, but not limited to, transportation, food and lodging; (v) usual and customary fees for legal services in adoption proceedings; and (vi) payment or reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred for transportation in connection with any of the services specified in this section or intercountry placements as defined in \u00a7 63.2-100 and as necessary for compliance with state and federal law in such placements. No person shall advertise or solicit to perform any activity prohibited by this section. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. The Commissioner is authorized to investigate cases in which fees paid for legal services appear to be in excess of usual and customary fees in order to determine if there has been compliance with the provisions of this section.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":311275,"text":"No person or child-placing agency shall charge, pay, give, or agree to give or accept any money, property, service or other thing of value in connection with a placement or adoption or any act undertaken pursuant to this chapter except (i) reasonable and customary services provided by a licensed or duly authorized child-placing agency and fees paid for such services; (ii) payment or reimbursement for medical expenses and insurance premiums that are directly related to the birth mother’s pregnancy and hospitalization for the birth of the child who is the subject of the adoption proceedings, for mental health counseling received by the birth mother or birth father related to the adoption, and for expenses incurred for medical care for the child; (iii) payment or reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses for food, clothing, and shelter when, upon the written advice of her physician, the birth mother is unable to work or otherwise support herself due to medical reasons or complications associated with the pregnancy or birth of the child; (iv) payment or reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred incidental to any required court appearance including, but not limited to, transportation, food and lodging; (v) usual and customary fees for legal services in adoption proceedings; and (vi) payment or reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred for transportation in connection with any of the services specified in this section or intercountry placements as defined in \u00a7 63.2-100 and as necessary for compliance with state and federal law in such placements. No person shall advertise or solicit to perform any activity prohibited by this section. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. The Commissioner is authorized to investigate cases in which fees paid for legal services appear to be in excess of usual and customary fees in order to determine if there has been compliance with the provisions of this section.","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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/63.2-1218\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1989. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 647 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 1989 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 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 1993, chapter 553; in 1995, chapters 772<\/a> and 826<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 830<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 747<\/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":66924,"section_number":"63.2-1219","catch_line":"Suspected violation of property exchange information","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1219\/"},{"id":59404,"section_number":"63.2-1226","catch_line":"When birth parents recommend adoptive parents","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1226\/"},{"id":75426,"section_number":"63.2-1232","catch_line":"Requirements of a parental placement adoption; exception","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1232\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":72379,"section_number":"63.2-100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-100\/"}],"permalink":{"id":271453,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86942,"identifier":"63.2-1218","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1218","url":"\/63.2-1218\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/63.2-1218\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/1\/63.2-1218","dublin_core":{"Title":"Certain exchange of property, advertisement, solicitation prohibited; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 63.2-1218","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

No person or child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> shall charge, pay, give, or agree to give or accept any money, property, service or other thing of value in connection with a placement or adoption or any act undertaken pursuant to this chapter except (i) reasonable and customary services provided by a licensed or duly authorized child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> and fees paid for such services; (ii) payment or reimbursement for medical expenses and insurance premiums that are directly related to the birth mother’s pregnancy and hospitalization for the birth of the child<\/span> who is the subject of the adoption proceedings, for mental health counseling received by the birth mother or birth father related to the adoption, and for expenses incurred for medical care for the child<\/span>; (iii) payment or reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses for food, clothing, and shelter when, upon the written advice of her physician, the birth mother is unable to work or otherwise support herself due to medical reasons or complications associated with the pregnancy or birth of the child<\/span>; (iv) payment or reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred incidental to any required court<\/span> appearance<\/span> including, but not limited to, transportation, food and lodging; (v) usual and customary fees for legal services in adoption proceedings; and (vi) payment or reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred for transportation in connection with any of the services specified in this section or intercountry placements<\/span> as defined in \u00a7 63.2-100<\/a> and as necessary for compliance with state and federal law<\/span> in such placements. No person shall advertise or solicit to perform any activity prohibited by this section. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>. The Commissioner<\/span> is authorized to investigate cases in which fees paid for legal services appear to be in excess of usual and customary fees in order<\/span> to determine if there has been compliance with the provisions of this section.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCERTAIN EXCHANGE OF PROPERTY, ADVERTISEMENT, SOLICITATION PROHIBITED; PENALTY\n(\u00a7 63.2-1218)\n\nNo person or child-placing agency shall charge, pay, give, or agree to give or\naccept any money, property, service or other thing of value in connection with a\nplacement or adoption or any act undertaken pursuant to this chapter except (i)\nreasonable and customary services provided by a licensed or duly authorized\nchild-placing agency and fees paid for such services; (ii) payment or\nreimbursement for medical expenses and insurance premiums that are directly\nrelated to the birth mother’s pregnancy and hospitalization for the birth\nof the child who is the subject of the adoption proceedings, for mental health\ncounseling received by the birth mother or birth father related to the adoption,\nand for expenses incurred for medical care for the child; (iii) payment or\nreimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses for food, clothing, and\nshelter when, upon the written advice of her physician, the birth mother is\nunable to work or otherwise support herself due to medical reasons or\ncomplications associated with the pregnancy or birth of the child; (iv) payment\nor reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred incidental to any required\ncourt appearance including, but not limited to, transportation, food and\nlodging; (v) usual and customary fees for legal services in adoption\nproceedings; and (vi) payment or reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred\nfor transportation in connection with any of the services specified in this\nsection or intercountry placements as defined in \u00a7 63.2-100 and as necessary\nfor compliance with state and federal law in such placements. No person shall\nadvertise or solicit to perform any activity prohibited by this section. Any\nperson violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 6\nfelony. The Commissioner is authorized to investigate cases in which fees paid\nfor legal services appear to be in excess of usual and customary fees in order\nto determine if there has been compliance with the provisions of this section.\n\nHISTORY: 1989, c. 647, \u00a7 63.1-220.4; 1993, c. 553; 1995, cc. 772, 826; 2000, c.\n830, \u00a7 63.1-219.25; 2002, c. 747.","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}}