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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>75979</law_id><section_number>63.2-1205</section_number><catch_line>Best interests of the child; standards for determining</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>63.2-1203</reference><reference>63.2-1206</reference><reference>63.2-1229</reference><reference>63.2-1233</reference><reference>63.2-1241</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="63.2">Welfare (Social Services)</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Social Services Programs</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="12">Adoption</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In determining whether the valid consent of any person whose consent is required is withheld contrary to the best interests of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>, or is unobtainable, the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> or juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">court</span>, as the case may be, shall consider whether granting the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> pending before it would be in the best interest of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>. The <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> or juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">court</span>, as the case may be, shall consider all relevant factors, including the <span class="dictionary">birth parent</span>(s)&#x2019; efforts to obtain or maintain legal and physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>; whether the <span class="dictionary">birth parent</span>(s) are currently willing and able to assume full <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>; whether the <span class="dictionary">birth parent</span>(s)&#x2019; efforts to assert parental rights were thwarted by other people; the <span class="dictionary">birth parent</span>(s)&#x2019; ability to care for the <span class="dictionary">child</span>; the age of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>; the quality of any previous relationship between the <span class="dictionary">birth parent</span>(s) and the <span class="dictionary">child</span> and between the <span class="dictionary">birth parent</span>(s) and any other <span class="dictionary">minor</span> children; the duration and suitability of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>&#x2019;s present custodial environment; and the effect of a change of physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> on the <span class="dictionary">child</span>.</p></section></text><history>1995, cc. 772, 826, &#xA7; 63.1-225.1; 2000, c. 830, &#xA7; 63.1-219.13; 2002, c. 747; 2003, c. 467; 2006, cc. 825, 848.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
