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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>77214</law_id><section_number>63.2-1209</section_number><catch_line>Entry of interlocutory order</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>63.2-1211</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>If, in the case of a direct <span class="dictionary">parental placement</span> adoption pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Placement of children by parent or guardian" href="/63.2-1230/">63.2-1230</a> or in circumstances in which an <span class="dictionary">interlocutory order</span> is necessary in an agency adoption, after considering the home study or any required report, the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> is satisfied that all of the applicable requirements have been complied with, that the petitioner is financially able to maintain adequately, except as provided in Chapter 13 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Purpose and intent of adoption assistance; eligibility" href="/63.2-1300/">63.2-1300</a> et seq.) of this title, and is morally suitable and a proper person to care for and train the <span class="dictionary">child</span>, that the <span class="dictionary">child</span> is suitable for adoption by the petitioner, and that the best interests of the <span class="dictionary">child</span> will be promoted by the adoption, it shall enter an <span class="dictionary">interlocutory order</span> of adoption declaring that henceforth, subject to the probationary period hereinafter provided for and to the provisions of the <span class="dictionary">final order</span> of adoption, the <span class="dictionary">child</span> will be, to all <span class="dictionary">intents</span> and purposes, the <span class="dictionary">child</span> of the petitioner. If the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> includes a prayer for a change of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>&#x2019;s name and the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> is satisfied that such change is in the best interests of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>, upon entry of <span class="dictionary">final order</span>, the name of the <span class="dictionary">child</span> shall be changed. An attested copy of every <span class="dictionary">interlocutory order</span> of adoption shall be forwarded forthwith by the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which it was entered to the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> and to the licensed or duly authorized <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> or the <span class="dictionary">local director</span> that prepared the required home study or report. The agency or director shall, after receipt of the attested copy of the <span class="dictionary">interlocutory order</span> of adoption, prepare a report of visitation pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Visitations during probationary period and report" href="/63.2-1212/">63.2-1212</a>.
		If the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> denies the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for adoption and if it appears to the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> that the <span class="dictionary">child</span> is without proper care, <span class="dictionary">custody</span> or guardianship, the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> may, in its discretion, appoint a guardian for the <span class="dictionary">child</span> or commit the <span class="dictionary">child</span> to a custodial agency as provided for in &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Abused, neglected, or abandoned children or children without parental care" href="/16.1-278.2/">16.1-278.2</a>, <a class="law" title="Relief of care and custody" href="/16.1-278.3/">16.1-278.3</a> and <a class="law" title="Nomination of guardians" href="/64.2-1703/">64.2-1703</a>, respectively.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 63-352; 1954, c. 489; 1964, c. 429; 1968, c. 578, &#xA7; 63.1-226; 1974, c. 507; 1975, c. 364; 1989, c. 647; 1991, c. 534; 1992, c. 607; 2000, c. 830, &#xA7; 63.1-219.16; 2002, c. 747; 2009, c. 805.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
