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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>77457</law_id><section_number>63.2-1301</section_number><catch_line>Types of adoption assistance payments</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>63.2-1302</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="13">Adoption Assistance for Children with Special Needs</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Title IV-E maintenance payments shall be made to the adoptive parents on behalf of an adopted <span class="dictionary">child</span> placed if it is determined that the <span class="dictionary">child</span> is a <span class="dictionary">child</span> with special needs as set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Purpose and intent of adoption assistance; eligibility" href="/63.2-1300/">63.2-1300</a> and the <span class="dictionary">child</span> meets the requirements set forth in &#xA7; 473 of Title IV-E of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. &#xA7; 673). <a id="paragraph-277846" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1301/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> State-funded maintenance payments may be made to the adoptive parents on behalf of an adopted <span class="dictionary">child</span> if it is determined that the <span class="dictionary">child</span> does not meet the requirements set forth in &#xA7;&#xA0;473 of Title IV-E of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;673) but the <span class="dictionary">child</span> is a <span class="dictionary">child</span> with special needs as set forth in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Purpose and intent of adoption assistance; eligibility" href="/63.2-1300/">63.2-1300</a>. A <span class="dictionary">child</span> with special needs shall receive state-funded maintenance payments if he: <a id="paragraph-277847" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1301/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Was in the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of a <span class="dictionary">local board</span> or a licensed <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> at the time of the <span class="dictionary">adoptive placement</span>; <a id="paragraph-277848" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1301/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Was in the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of a <span class="dictionary">local board</span> or a licensed <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> at the time of the <span class="dictionary">adoptive placement</span> and met the factors set forth in subdivision B 1 or 2 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Purpose and intent of adoption assistance; eligibility" href="/63.2-1300/">63.2-1300</a> at the time of adoption but such factors were not diagnosed until after the <span class="dictionary">final order</span> of adoption and no more than one year has elapsed from the date of diagnosis; or <a id="paragraph-277849" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1301/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Lived with his foster parents for at least 12 months and has developed significant emotional ties with his foster parents while in their care and the foster parents wish to adopt the <span class="dictionary">child</span> and state-funded maintenance payments are necessary to enable the adoption. <a id="paragraph-277850" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1301/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Special services payments may be made for the provision of services to the <span class="dictionary">child</span> that are not covered by insurance, Medicaid, or otherwise. Special services include (i) medical, surgical, and dental care; (ii) hospitalization; (iii) individual remedial education services; (iv) psychological and psychiatric treatment; (v) speech and physical therapy; and (vi) special equipment, treatment, and training for physical and mental disabilities. A <span class="dictionary">child</span> is eligible for special services payments if: <a id="paragraph-277851" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1301/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The <span class="dictionary">child</span> is a <span class="dictionary">child</span> with special needs as set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Purpose and intent of adoption assistance; eligibility" href="/63.2-1300/">63.2-1300</a>; <a id="paragraph-277852" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1301/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The <span class="dictionary">child</span> is receiving adoption assistance payments pursuant to subsection A or B; and <a id="paragraph-277853" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1301/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The adoptive parents are capable of providing the permanent family relationships needed by the <span class="dictionary">child</span> in all respects except financial. <a id="paragraph-277854" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1301/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Nonrecurring expense payments shall be made to the adoptive parents for expenses related to the adoption, including reasonable and necessary adoption fees, <span class="dictionary">court</span> costs, attorney fees and other legal service fees, as well as any other expenses that are directly related to the legal adoption of a <span class="dictionary">child</span> with special needs, including costs related to the adoption study, any health and psychological examinations, supervision of the placement prior to adoption and any transportation costs and reasonable costs of lodging and food for the <span class="dictionary">child</span> and the adoptive parents when necessary to complete the placement or adoption process for which the adoptive parents carry ultimate liability for payment and that have not been reimbursed from any other source, as set forth in 45 C.F.R. &#xA7; 1356.41. However, the total amount of nonrecurring expense payments made to adoptive parents for the adoption of a <span class="dictionary">child</span> shall not exceed $2,000 or an amount established by federal <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-277855" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1301/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1974, c. 507, &#xA7; 63.1-238.2; 1982, c. 171; 1983, c. 292; 1987, cc. 650, 681; 2002, c. 747; 2010, c. 271; 2017, c. 199; 2023, cc. 148, 149.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
