<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>86942</law_id><section_number>63.2-1218</section_number><catch_line>Certain exchange of property, advertisement, solicitation prohibited; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>63.2-1208</reference><reference>63.2-1219</reference><reference>63.2-1226</reference><reference>63.2-1232</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>No person or <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> shall charge, pay, give, or agree to give or accept any money, property, service or other thing of value in connection with a placement or adoption or any act undertaken pursuant to this chapter except (i) reasonable and customary services provided by a licensed or duly authorized <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> and fees paid for such services; (ii) payment or reimbursement for medical expenses and insurance premiums that are directly related to the birth mother&#x2019;s pregnancy and hospitalization for the birth of the <span class="dictionary">child</span> who is the subject of the adoption proceedings, for mental health counseling received by the birth mother or birth father related to the adoption, and for expenses incurred for medical care for the <span class="dictionary">child</span>; (iii) payment or reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses for food, clothing, and shelter when, upon the written advice of her physician, the birth mother is unable to work or otherwise support herself due to medical reasons or complications associated with the pregnancy or birth of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>; (iv) payment or reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred incidental to any required <span class="dictionary">court</span> <span class="dictionary">appearance</span> including, but not limited to, transportation, food and lodging; (v) usual and customary fees for legal services in adoption proceedings; and (vi) payment or reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred for transportation in connection with any of the services specified in this section or <span class="dictionary">intercountry placements</span> as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/63.2-100/">63.2-100</a> and as necessary for compliance with state and federal <span class="dictionary">law</span> in such placements. No person shall advertise or solicit to perform any activity prohibited by this section. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 6 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> is authorized to investigate cases in which fees paid for legal services appear to be in excess of usual and customary fees in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to determine if there has been compliance with the provisions of this section.</p></section></text><history>1989, c. 647, &#xA7; 63.1-220.4; 1993, c. 553; 1995, cc. 772, 826; 2000, c. 830, &#xA7; 63.1-219.25; 2002, c. 747.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
