{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/63.2-1225.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/63.2-1225.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/63.2-1225.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/63.2-1225.html"}],"law_id":74467,"edition_id":1,"section_id":74467,"structure_id":15572,"section_number":"63.2-1225","catch_line":"Determination of appropriate home","history":"1989, c. 647, \u00a7 63.1-220.2; 1990, c. 202; 1991, c. 364; 1995, cc. 772, 826; 1999, c. 1028; 2000, c. 830, \u00a7 63.1-219.32; 2002, c. 747; 2003, c. 779; 2006, cc. 654, 825; 2009, c. 805; 2014, c. 285.","full_text":"A\n\nIn determining the appropriate home in which to place a child for adoption, a married couple or an unmarried individual shall be eligible to receive placement of a child for purposes of adoption. Prior to or after the acceptance of custody of a child placed for adoption, a licensed child-placing agency or a local board shall consider the recommendations of the birth parent(s), a physician or attorney licensed in the Commonwealth, or a clergyman who is familiar with the situation of the prospective adoptive parent(s) or the child. No birth parent, physician, attorney or clergyman shall advertise that he is available to make recommendations, nor shall he charge any fee for such recommendations to a board or agency, except that an attorney may charge for legal fees and services rendered in connection with such placement.B\n\nThe agency or local board may give consideration to placement of the child with the recommended adoptive parent(s) if the agency or local board finds that such placement is in the best interest of the child. When the birth parent(s) has recommended such placement, the agency or local board shall provide the birth parent(s) the opportunity to be represented by independent legal counsel as well as the opportunity for counseling with a social worker, family-services specialist, or other qualified equivalent worker. The agency or board also shall advise the prospective adoptive parent(s) of the right to be represented by independent legal counsel. The parties may, but are not required to, exchange identifying information as provided for in subdivision A 3 of § 63.2-1232.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":267636,"text":"In determining the appropriate home in which to place a child for adoption, a married couple or an unmarried individual shall be eligible to receive placement of a child for purposes of adoption. Prior to or after the acceptance of custody of a child placed for adoption, a licensed child-placing agency or a local board shall consider the recommendations of the birth parent(s), a physician or attorney licensed in the Commonwealth, or a clergyman who is familiar with the situation of the prospective adoptive parent(s) or the child. No birth parent, physician, attorney or clergyman shall advertise that he is available to make recommendations, nor shall he charge any fee for such recommendations to a board or agency, except that an attorney may charge for legal fees and services rendered in connection with such placement.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":267637,"text":"The agency or local board may give consideration to placement of the child with the recommended adoptive parent(s) if the agency or local board finds that such placement is in the best interest of the child. When the birth parent(s) has recommended such placement, the agency or local board shall provide the birth parent(s) the opportunity to be represented by independent legal counsel as well as the opportunity for counseling with a social worker, family-services specialist, or other qualified equivalent worker. The agency or board also shall advise the prospective adoptive parent(s) of the right to be represented by independent legal counsel. The parties may, but are not required to, exchange identifying information as provided for in subdivision A 3 of § 63.2-1232.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15572,"edition_id":1,"name":"Agency Adoptions","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14096,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:56:26","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:56:26","permalink":{"id":271487,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15572,"identifier":"2","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/2","url":"\/63.2\/III\/12\/2\/","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":87110,"structure_id":15572,"section_number":"63.2-1221","catch_line":"Placement of children for adoption by agency or local board","url":"\/63.2-1221\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/2\/63.2-1221","metadata":false},{"id":80789,"structure_id":15572,"section_number":"63.2-1222","catch_line":"Execution of entrustment agreement by birth parent(s); exceptions; notice and objection to entrustment; copy required to be furnished; requirement for agencies outside the Commonwealth","url":"\/63.2-1222\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/2\/63.2-1222","metadata":false},{"id":66503,"structure_id":15572,"section_number":"63.2-1223","catch_line":"Revocation of entrustment agreement","url":"\/63.2-1223\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/2\/63.2-1223","metadata":false},{"id":66793,"structure_id":15572,"section_number":"63.2-1224","catch_line":"Explanation of process, legal effects of adoption required","url":"\/63.2-1224\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/2\/63.2-1224","metadata":false},{"id":74467,"structure_id":15572,"section_number":"63.2-1225","catch_line":"Determination of appropriate home","url":"\/63.2-1225\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/2\/63.2-1225","metadata":false},{"id":59404,"structure_id":15572,"section_number":"63.2-1226","catch_line":"When birth parents recommend adoptive parents","url":"\/63.2-1226\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/2\/63.2-1226","metadata":false},{"id":75367,"structure_id":15572,"section_number":"63.2-1227","catch_line":"Filing of petition for agency adoption","url":"\/63.2-1227\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/2\/63.2-1227","metadata":false},{"id":73962,"structure_id":15572,"section_number":"63.2-1228","catch_line":"Forwarding of petition","url":"\/63.2-1228\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/2\/63.2-1228","metadata":false},{"id":76967,"structure_id":15572,"section_number":"63.2-1228.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/63.2-1228.1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/2\/63.2-1228.1","metadata":false},{"id":84546,"structure_id":15572,"section_number":"63.2-1229","catch_line":"Foster parent adoption","url":"\/63.2-1229\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/2\/63.2-1229","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":66793,"structure_id":15572,"section_number":"63.2-1224","catch_line":"Explanation of process, legal effects of adoption required","url":"\/63.2-1224\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/2\/63.2-1224","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":59404,"structure_id":15572,"section_number":"63.2-1226","catch_line":"When birth parents recommend adoptive parents","url":"\/63.2-1226\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/2\/63.2-1226","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/63.2-1225\/","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 10 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 1990, chapter 202; in 1991, chapter 364; in 1995, chapters 772<\/a> and 826<\/a>; in 1999, chapter 1028<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 830<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 747<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 779<\/a>; in 2006, chapters 654<\/a> and 825<\/a>; in 2009, chapter 805<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 285<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":75426,"section_number":"63.2-1232","catch_line":"Requirements of a parental placement adoption; exception","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1232\/"}],"permalink":{"id":271505,"object_type":"law","relational_id":74467,"identifier":"63.2-1225","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/2\/63.2-1225","url":"\/63.2-1225\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/63.2-1225\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/2\/63.2-1225","dublin_core":{"Title":"Determination of appropriate home","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 63.2-1225","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> In determining the appropriate home in which to place a child<\/span> for adoption, a married couple or an unmarried individual shall be eligible to receive placement of a child<\/span> for purposes of adoption. Prior to or after the acceptance of custody<\/span> of a child<\/span> placed for adoption, a licensed child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> or a local board<\/span> shall consider the recommendations of the birth parent<\/span>(s), a physician or attorney licensed in the Commonwealth, or a clergyman who is familiar with the situation of the prospective adoptive parent(s) or the child<\/span>. No birth parent<\/span>, physician, attorney or clergyman shall advertise that he is available to make recommendations, nor shall he charge any fee for such recommendations to a board or agency, except that an attorney may charge for legal fees and services rendered in connection with such placement. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The agency or local board<\/span> may give consideration to placement of the child<\/span> with the recommended adoptive parent(s) if the agency or local board<\/span> finds that such placement is in the best interest of the child<\/span>. When the birth parent<\/span>(s) has recommended such placement, the agency or local board<\/span> shall provide the birth parent<\/span>(s) the opportunity to be represented by independent legal counsel<\/span> as well as the opportunity for counseling with a social worker, family-services specialist, or other qualified equivalent worker. The agency or board also shall advise the prospective adoptive parent(s) of the right to be represented by independent legal counsel<\/span>. The parties may, but are not required to, exchange identifying information as provided for in subdivision A 3 of § 63.2-1232<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDETERMINATION OF APPROPRIATE HOME (\u00a7 63.2-1225)\n\nA. In determining the appropriate home in which to place a child for adoption, a\nmarried couple or an unmarried individual shall be eligible to receive placement\nof a child for purposes of adoption. Prior to or after the acceptance of custody\nof a child placed for adoption, a licensed child-placing agency or a local board\nshall consider the recommendations of the birth parent(s), a physician or\nattorney licensed in the Commonwealth, or a clergyman who is familiar with the\nsituation of the prospective adoptive parent(s) or the child. No birth parent,\nphysician, attorney or clergyman shall advertise that he is available to make\nrecommendations, nor shall he charge any fee for such recommendations to a board\nor agency, except that an attorney may charge for legal fees and services\nrendered in connection with such placement.\n\nB. The agency or local board may give consideration to placement of the child\nwith the recommended adoptive parent(s) if the agency or local board finds that\nsuch placement is in the best interest of the child. When the birth parent(s)\nhas recommended such placement, the agency or local board shall provide the\nbirth parent(s) the opportunity to be represented by independent legal counsel\nas well as the opportunity for counseling with a social worker, family-services\nspecialist, or other qualified equivalent worker. The agency or board also shall\nadvise the prospective adoptive parent(s) of the right to be represented by\nindependent legal counsel. The parties may, but are not required to, exchange\nidentifying information as provided for in subdivision A 3 of § 63.2-1232.\n\nHISTORY: 1989, c. 647, \u00a7 63.1-220.2; 1990, c. 202; 1991, c. 364; 1995, cc. 772,\n826; 1999, c. 1028; 2000, c. 830, \u00a7 63.1-219.32; 2002, c. 747; 2003, c. 779;\n2006, cc. 654, 825; 2009, c. 805; 2014, c. 285.","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}}