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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>81884</law_id><section_number>63.2-1246.1</section_number><catch_line>Commissioner authority to store, preserve, and certify adoption files</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>63.2-1246</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="6">Records</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Upon receipt of all <span class="dictionary">orders</span> from the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> and adoption files from the <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> or <span class="dictionary">local board</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall have the authority to direct the storage and preservation of such records. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall have <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of and retain all adoption files, whether in paper or electronic form, including reports, <span class="dictionary">orders</span>, and other documents with identifying information of <span class="dictionary">birth parents</span> and adoptees, in his office or at another location designated by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>.
		The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> or his designee may direct adoption files, in whole or in part, to be microfilmed, digitally reproduced, copied, photographed, or otherwise duplicated for the purpose of preserving and retaining such files. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may allow adoption files to be taken from his office or other designated location for the purpose of being microfilmed, digitally reproduced, copied, photographed, or otherwise duplicated, but shall take all necessary and proper precautions, by requiring <span class="dictionary">bonds</span> or otherwise, to ensure the preservation and return and to prevent the mutilation thereof. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> or his designee shall examine and compare the reproductions from the microfilm, digitally reproduced, copied, photographed, or otherwise duplicated records with the originals and, if satisfied that the copies are exact, certify them as true copies of the records retained by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>. The same faith and credit shall be given to such reproductions from the microfilm, digitally reproduced, copied, photographed, or otherwise duplicated record as the record reproduced would have been entitled to.</p></section></text><history>2018, c. 10.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
