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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>59619</law_id><section_number>63.2-1220.4</section_number><catch_line>Jurisdiction to approve post-adoption contact and communication agreements</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="1.1">Post-Adoption Contact and Communication Agreements</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Unless otherwise stated in the <span class="dictionary">final order</span> of adoption, the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> in which the <span class="dictionary">final order</span> of adoption was entered shall retain <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> to modify or enforce the terms of a post-adoption contact and communication agreement entered into pursuant to this article. <a id="paragraph-218365" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1220.4/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">birth parent</span> or parents or adoptive parent or parents who have executed a post-adoption contact and communication agreement as described in this article may file a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> with the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> in which the <span class="dictionary">final order</span> of adoption was entered: <a id="paragraph-218366" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1220.4/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> To modify the post-adoption contact and communication agreement; and <a id="paragraph-218367" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1220.4/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> To compel a birth or adoptive parent to comply with the post-adoption contact and communication agreement. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may not award monetary <span class="dictionary">damages</span> as a result of the filing of a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for modification of or compliance with the agreement. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may modify the agreement at any time before or after the adoption if the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, after notice and opportunity to be heard by the <span class="dictionary">birth parent</span> or parents and the adoptive parent or parents, determines that the <span class="dictionary">child</span>&#x2019;s best interest requires the modification of the agreement. Before the <span class="dictionary">court</span> modifies an agreement or hears a <span class="dictionary">motion</span> to compel compliance, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may appoint a <span class="dictionary">guardian ad litem</span> to represent the <span class="dictionary">child</span>&#x2019;s best interest. <a id="paragraph-218368" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1220.4/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall not grant a request to modify the terms of a post-adoption contact and communication agreement unless the moving <span class="dictionary">party</span> establishes that there has been a change of circumstances and the agreement is no longer in the <span class="dictionary">child</span>&#x2019;s best interest; provided, however, that no modification shall affect the irrevocability of the adoption. <a id="paragraph-218369" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1220.4/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2010, c. 331.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
