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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84982</law_id><section_number>63.2-1207</section_number><catch_line>Removal of child from adoptive home</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><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>When a <span class="dictionary">child</span> is placed in an <span class="dictionary">adoptive home</span> pursuant to an <span class="dictionary">adoptive home</span> placement agreement by a <span class="dictionary">local board</span> or by a licensed <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Placement of children for adoption by agency or local board" href="/63.2-1221/">63.2-1221</a>, or by the <span class="dictionary">birth parent</span> or legal guardian of the <span class="dictionary">child</span> pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Placement of children by parent or guardian" href="/63.2-1230/">63.2-1230</a>, and a <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of competent <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> has not entered an <span class="dictionary">interlocutory order</span> of adoption, such <span class="dictionary">child</span> shall not be removed from the physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the adoptive parents, except (i) with the consent of the adoptive parents; (ii) upon order of the juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">court</span> or the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of competent <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>; (iii) pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Investigation, visitation, and supervision of foster homes or independent living arrangement; removal of child" href="/63.2-904/">63.2-904</a>, which removal shall be subject to review by the juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">court</span> upon <span class="dictionary">petition</span> of the adoptive parents; or (iv) upon order of the juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">court</span> that accepted consent when consent has been revoked as authorized by &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="When consent is revocable; fraud or duress; mutual consent" href="/63.2-1204/">63.2-1204</a> or &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Revocation of entrustment agreement" href="/63.2-1223/">63.2-1223</a>.
		When a <span class="dictionary">child</span> has been placed in an <span class="dictionary">adoptive home</span> directly by the <span class="dictionary">birth parents</span> or legal guardian of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>, the adoptive parents have been granted <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the <span class="dictionary">child</span> pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Consent to be executed in juvenile and domestic relations district court; exceptions" href="/63.2-1233/">63.2-1233</a>, and it becomes necessary to remove the <span class="dictionary">child</span> from the home of the adoptive parents, the juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">court</span> entering such an order shall order that any consent given for the purposes of such placement shall be void and shall determine the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>.</p></section></text><history>1989, c. 647, &#xA7; 63.1-220.5; 1995, cc. 772, 826; 2000, c. 830, &#xA7; 63.1-219.15; 2002, c. 747.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
