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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>83322</law_id><section_number>63.2-903</section_number><catch_line>Entrustment agreements; adoption</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-241</reference><reference>16.1-277.01</reference><reference>2.2-438</reference><reference>63.2-100</reference><reference>63.2-1202</reference><reference>63.2-1221</reference><reference>63.2-320</reference><reference>63.2-401</reference><reference>63.2-901</reference><reference>63.2-906</reference><reference>63.2-908</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="9">Foster Care</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Whenever a <span class="dictionary">local board</span> accepts <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of a <span class="dictionary">child</span> pursuant to an entrustment agreement entered into under the authority of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Accepting children for placement in homes, facilities, etc., by local boards" href="/63.2-900/">63.2-900</a>, or a licensed <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> accepts <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of a <span class="dictionary">child</span> pursuant to an entrustment agreement entered into under the authority of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Acceptance and control over children by licensed child-placing agency, children's residential facility or independent foster home" href="/63.2-1817/">63.2-1817</a>, in the city or county juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">court</span> a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for approval of the entrustment agreement (i) shall be filed within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 89 days after the execution of an entrustment agreement for less than 90 days, if the <span class="dictionary">child</span> is not returned to his home within that period; (ii) shall be filed within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 30 days after the execution of an entrustment agreement for 90 days or longer or for an unspecified period of time, if such entrustment agreement does not provide for the termination of all parental rights and responsibilities with respect to the <span class="dictionary">child</span>; and (iii) may be filed in the case of a permanent entrustment agreement which provides for the termination of all parental rights and responsibilities with respect to the <span class="dictionary">child</span>. <a id="paragraph-298543" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-903/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> For purposes of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Accepting children for placement in homes, facilities, etc., by local boards" href="/63.2-900/">63.2-900</a>, <a class="law" title="Acceptance and control over children by licensed child-placing agency, children's residential facility or independent foster home" href="/63.2-1817/">63.2-1817</a> and this section, a parent who is less than 18 years of age shall be deemed fully competent and shall have legal capacity to execute a valid entrustment agreement, including an agreement that provides for the termination of all parental rights and responsibilities, and shall be as fully bound thereby as if such parent had attained the age of 18 years. An entrustment agreement for the termination of all parental rights and responsibilities shall be executed in writing and notarized. An entrustment agreement for the termination of all parental rights and responsibilities with respect to the <span class="dictionary">child</span> shall be valid notwithstanding that it is not signed by the father of a <span class="dictionary">child</span> born out of wedlock if the identity of the father is not reasonably ascertainable, or if such father is given notice of the entrustment by registered or certified mail to his last known address and fails to <span class="dictionary">object</span> to the entrustment within 15 days of mailing of such notice. An <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span> of the mother that the identity of the father is not reasonably ascertainable shall be sufficient <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of this <span class="dictionary">fact</span>, provided there is no other <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that would refute such an <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span>. The absence of such an <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span> shall not be deemed <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the identity of the father is reasonably ascertainable. For purposes of determining whether the identity of the father is reasonably ascertainable, the standard of what is reasonable under the circumstances shall control, taking into account the relative interests of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>, the mother and the father. <a id="paragraph-298544" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-903/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> An entrustment agreement for the termination of parental rights and responsibilities with respect to the <span class="dictionary">child</span> shall be valid notwithstanding that it is not signed by the birth father of a <span class="dictionary">child</span> when such father has been convicted of a violation of subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Rape" href="/18.2-61/">18.2-61</a>, &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Carnal knowledge of child between thirteen and fifteen years of age" href="/18.2-63/">18.2-63</a>, subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Sexual intercourse by persons forbidden to marry; incest; penalties" href="/18.2-366/">18.2-366</a>, or an equivalent <span class="dictionary">offense</span> of another state, the United States, or any foreign <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, or has been found by clear and convincing <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> to have engaged in the conduct prohibited by subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Rape" href="/18.2-61/">18.2-61</a>, &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Carnal knowledge of child between thirteen and fifteen years of age" href="/18.2-63/">18.2-63</a>, or subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Sexual intercourse by persons forbidden to marry; incest; penalties" href="/18.2-366/">18.2-366</a>, whether or not the birth father has been charged with or convicted of the alleged violation, and the <span class="dictionary">child</span> was conceived as a result of such violation or conduct. <a id="paragraph-298545" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-903/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A <span class="dictionary">child</span> may be placed for adoption by a licensed <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> or a <span class="dictionary">local board</span>, in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Placement of children for adoption by agency or local board" href="/63.2-1221/">63.2-1221</a>. <a id="paragraph-298546" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-903/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 63-73, 63-241; 1952, c. 409; 1960, c. 331; 1968, cc. 466, 578, 585, &#xA7;&#xA7; 63.1-56, 63.1-204; 1972, c. 50; 1974, c. 620; 1975, cc. 248, 406; 1977, cc. 559, 562, 634, 645; 1978, cc. 730, 734, 735; 1981, c. 259; 1984, c. 734; 1985, cc. 18, 285; 1986, cc. 88, 281; 1988, c. 882; 1989, c. 647; 1991, c. 34; 1994, c. 865; 1995, cc. 772, 826; 1999, cc. 889, 1028; 2000, c. 830; 2002, c. 747; 2004, c. 815; 2005, c. 890; 2007, cc. 606, 623; 2025, c. 547.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
