{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/63.2-1817.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/63.2-1817.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/63.2-1817.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/63.2-1817.html"}],"law_id":64749,"edition_id":1,"section_id":64749,"structure_id":14933,"section_number":"63.2-1817","catch_line":"Acceptance and control over children by licensed child-placing agency, children’s residential facility or independent foster home","history":"2002, c. 747; 2004, c. 815.","full_text":"A licensed child-placing agency, children’s residential facility or independent foster home shall have the right to accept, for any purpose not contrary to the limitations contained in its license, such children as may be entrusted or committed to it by the parents, guardians, relatives or other persons having legal custody thereof, or committed by any court of competent jurisdiction. The agency, facility or home shall, within the terms of its license and the agreement or order by which such child is entrusted or committed to its care, have custody and control of every child so entrusted or committed and accepted, until he is lawfully discharged, has been adopted, or has attained his majority. An entrustment agreement for the termination of parental rights and responsibilities with respect to such child shall be executed in writing and notarized.\n\t\tAn agency that is licensed as a child-placing agency by the Department and certified as a proprietary school for students with disabilities by the Department of Education shall not be required to take custody of any child placed in its special education program but shall enter into a placement agreement with the parents or guardian of the child concerning the respective responsibilities of the agency and the parents or guardian for the care and control of the child. Such an agency shall conform with all other legal requirements of licensed child-placing agencies including the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 16.1-281 and 16.1-282.\n\t\tA licensed private child-placing agency may accept placement of a child through an agreement with a local department where the local department retains legal custody of the child or where the parents or legal guardian of the child retain legal custody but have entered into a placement agreement with the local department or the public agency designated by the community policy and management team.\n\t\tWhenever a licensed child-placing agency accepts legal custody of a child, the agency shall comply with \u00a7\u00a7 16.1-281 and 16.1-282.\n\t\tA children’s residential facility licensed as a temporary emergency shelter may accept a child for placement provided that verbal agreement for placement is obtained from the parents, guardians, relatives or other persons having legal custody thereof, within eight hours of the child’s arrival at the facility and provided that a written placement agreement is completed and signed by the legal guardian and the facility representative within 24 hours of the child’s arrival or by the end of the next business day after the child’s arrival.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":235620,"text":"A licensed child-placing agency, children’s residential facility or independent foster home shall have the right to accept, for any purpose not contrary to the limitations contained in its license, such children as may be entrusted or committed to it by the parents, guardians, relatives or other persons having legal custody thereof, or committed by any court of competent jurisdiction. The agency, facility or home shall, within the terms of its license and the agreement or order by which such child is entrusted or committed to its care, have custody and control of every child so entrusted or committed and accepted, until he is lawfully discharged, has been adopted, or has attained his majority. An entrustment agreement for the termination of parental rights and responsibilities with respect to such child shall be executed in writing and notarized.\n\t\tAn agency that is licensed as a child-placing agency by the Department and certified as a proprietary school for students with disabilities by the Department of Education shall not be required to take custody of any child placed in its special education program but shall enter into a placement agreement with the parents or guardian of the child concerning the respective responsibilities of the agency and the parents or guardian for the care and control of the child. Such an agency shall conform with all other legal requirements of licensed child-placing agencies including the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 16.1-281 and 16.1-282.\n\t\tA licensed private child-placing agency may accept placement of a child through an agreement with a local department where the local department retains legal custody of the child or where the parents or legal guardian of the child retain legal custody but have entered into a placement agreement with the local department or the public agency designated by the community policy and management team.\n\t\tWhenever a licensed child-placing agency accepts legal custody of a child, the agency shall comply with \u00a7\u00a7 16.1-281 and 16.1-282.\n\t\tA children’s residential facility licensed as a temporary emergency shelter may accept a child for placement provided that verbal agreement for placement is obtained from the parents, guardians, relatives or other persons having legal custody thereof, within eight hours of the child’s arrival at the facility and provided that a written placement agreement is completed and signed by the legal guardian and the facility representative within 24 hours of the child’s arrival or by the end of the next business day after the child’s arrival.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14933,"edition_id":1,"name":"Child Welfare Agencies","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13167,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:50:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:50:53","permalink":{"id":272401,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14933,"identifier":"2","token":"63.2\/IV\/18\/2","url":"\/63.2\/IV\/18\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13167,"edition_id":1,"name":"Facilities and Programs","identifier":"18","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13166,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","permalink":{"id":272349,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13167,"identifier":"18","token":"63.2\/IV\/18","url":"\/63.2\/IV\/18\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13166,"edition_id":1,"name":"Licensure","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12789,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","permalink":{"id":272143,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13166,"identifier":"IV","token":"63.2\/IV","url":"\/63.2\/IV\/","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":56987,"structure_id":14933,"section_number":"63.2-1809","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/63.2-1809\/","token":"63.2\/IV\/18\/2\/63.2-1809","metadata":false},{"id":81532,"structure_id":14933,"section_number":"63.2-1814","catch_line":"Public funds to be withheld for serious or persistent violations","url":"\/63.2-1814\/","token":"63.2\/IV\/18\/2\/63.2-1814","metadata":false},{"id":75587,"structure_id":14933,"section_number":"63.2-1815","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/63.2-1815\/","token":"63.2\/IV\/18\/2\/63.2-1815","metadata":false},{"id":66084,"structure_id":14933,"section_number":"63.2-1816","catch_line":"Municipal and county appropriations; contracts","url":"\/63.2-1816\/","token":"63.2\/IV\/18\/2\/63.2-1816","metadata":false},{"id":64749,"structure_id":14933,"section_number":"63.2-1817","catch_line":"Acceptance and control over children by licensed child-placing agency, children's residential facility or independent foster home","url":"\/63.2-1817\/","token":"63.2\/IV\/18\/2\/63.2-1817","metadata":false},{"id":69966,"structure_id":14933,"section_number":"63.2-1818","catch_line":"Reports to Commissioner","url":"\/63.2-1818\/","token":"63.2\/IV\/18\/2\/63.2-1818","metadata":false},{"id":75228,"structure_id":14933,"section_number":"63.2-1819","catch_line":"Where child-placing agencies may place children","url":"\/63.2-1819\/","token":"63.2\/IV\/18\/2\/63.2-1819","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":66084,"structure_id":14933,"section_number":"63.2-1816","catch_line":"Municipal and county appropriations; contracts","url":"\/63.2-1816\/","token":"63.2\/IV\/18\/2\/63.2-1816","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":69966,"structure_id":14933,"section_number":"63.2-1818","catch_line":"Reports to Commissioner","url":"\/63.2-1818\/","token":"63.2\/IV\/18\/2\/63.2-1818","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/63.2-1817\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2002. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 747<\/a> 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. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 2004, chapter 815<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":71312,"section_number":"16.1-241","catch_line":"Jurisdiction; consent for abortion","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-241\/"},{"id":73490,"section_number":"16.1-277.01","catch_line":"Approval of entrustment agreement","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-277.01\/"},{"id":87110,"section_number":"63.2-1221","catch_line":"Placement of children for adoption by agency or local board","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1221\/"},{"id":81648,"section_number":"63.2-901.1","catch_line":"Criminal history and central registry check for placements of children","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-901.1\/"},{"id":83322,"section_number":"63.2-903","catch_line":"Entrustment agreements; adoption","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-903\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":58560,"section_number":"16.1-281","catch_line":"Foster care plan","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-281\/"},{"id":56077,"section_number":"16.1-282","catch_line":"Foster care review","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-282\/"}],"permalink":{"id":272419,"object_type":"law","relational_id":64749,"identifier":"63.2-1817","token":"63.2\/IV\/18\/2\/63.2-1817","url":"\/63.2-1817\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/63.2-1817\/","token":"63.2\/IV\/18\/2\/63.2-1817","dublin_core":{"Title":"Acceptance and control over children by licensed child-placing agency, children’s residential facility or independent foster home","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 63.2-1817","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A licensed child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span>, children’s residential facility or independent foster home<\/span> shall have the right to accept, for any purpose not contrary to the limitations contained in its license, such children as may be entrusted or committed to it by the parents, guardians, relatives or other persons having legal custody<\/span> thereof, or committed by any court<\/span> of competent jurisdiction<\/span>. The agency, facility or home shall, within the terms of its license and the agreement or order<\/span> by which such child<\/span> is entrusted or committed to its care, have custody<\/span> and control of every child<\/span> so entrusted or committed and accepted, until he is lawfully discharged, has been adopted, or has attained his majority. An entrustment agreement for the termination of parental rights and responsibilities with respect to such child<\/span> shall be executed in writing and notarized.\n\t\tAn agency that is licensed as a child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> by the Department and certified as a proprietary school for students with disabilities by the Department of Education shall not be required to take custody<\/span> of any child<\/span> placed in its special education program but shall enter into a placement agreement with the parents or guardian of the child<\/span> concerning the respective responsibilities of the agency and the parents or guardian for the care and control of the child<\/span>. Such an agency shall conform with all other legal requirements of licensed child<\/span>-placing agencies including the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 16.1-281<\/a> and 16.1-282<\/a>.\n\t\tA licensed private child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> may accept placement of a child<\/span> through an agreement with a local department<\/span> where the local department<\/span> retains legal custody<\/span> of the child<\/span> or where the parents or legal guardian of the child<\/span> retain legal custody<\/span> but have entered into a placement agreement with the local department<\/span> or the public agency designated by the community policy and management team.\n\t\tWhenever a licensed child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> accepts legal custody<\/span> of a child<\/span>, the agency shall comply with \u00a7\u00a7 16.1-281<\/a> and 16.1-282<\/a>.\n\t\tA children’s residential facility licensed as a temporary emergency shelter may accept a child<\/span> for placement provided that verbal agreement for placement is obtained from the parents, guardians, relatives or other persons having legal custody<\/span> thereof, within eight hours of the child<\/span>’s arrival at the facility and provided that a written placement agreement is completed and signed by the legal guardian and the facility representative within 24 hours of the child<\/span>’s arrival or by the end of the next business day after the child<\/span>’s arrival.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nACCEPTANCE AND CONTROL OVER CHILDREN BY LICENSED CHILD-PLACING AGENCY,\nCHILDREN’S RESIDENTIAL FACILITY OR INDEPENDENT FOSTER HOME (\u00a7 63.2-1817)\n\nA licensed child-placing agency, children’s residential facility or\nindependent foster home shall have the right to accept, for any purpose not\ncontrary to the limitations contained in its license, such children as may be\nentrusted or committed to it by the parents, guardians, relatives or other\npersons having legal custody thereof, or committed by any court of competent\njurisdiction. The agency, facility or home shall, within the terms of its\nlicense and the agreement or order by which such child is entrusted or committed\nto its care, have custody and control of every child so entrusted or committed\nand accepted, until he is lawfully discharged, has been adopted, or has attained\nhis majority. An entrustment agreement for the termination of parental rights\nand responsibilities with respect to such child shall be executed in writing and\nnotarized.\n\t\tAn agency that is licensed as a child-placing agency by the Department and\ncertified as a proprietary school for students with disabilities by the\nDepartment of Education shall not be required to take custody of any child\nplaced in its special education program but shall enter into a placement\nagreement with the parents or guardian of the child concerning the respective\nresponsibilities of the agency and the parents or guardian for the care and\ncontrol of the child. Such an agency shall conform with all other legal\nrequirements of licensed child-placing agencies including the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7\n16.1-281 and 16.1-282.\n\t\tA licensed private child-placing agency may accept placement of a child\nthrough an agreement with a local department where the local department retains\nlegal custody of the child or where the parents or legal guardian of the child\nretain legal custody but have entered into a placement agreement with the local\ndepartment or the public agency designated by the community policy and\nmanagement team.\n\t\tWhenever a licensed child-placing agency accepts legal custody of a child, the\nagency shall comply with \u00a7\u00a7 16.1-281 and 16.1-282.\n\t\tA children’s residential facility licensed as a temporary emergency\nshelter may accept a child for placement provided that verbal agreement for\nplacement is obtained from the parents, guardians, relatives or other persons\nhaving legal custody thereof, within eight hours of the child’s arrival at\nthe facility and provided that a written placement agreement is completed and\nsigned by the legal guardian and the facility representative within 24 hours of\nthe child’s arrival or by the end of the next business day after the\nchild’s arrival.\n\nHISTORY: 2002, c. 747; 2004, c. 815.","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}}