                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

CERTAIN EXCHANGE OF PROPERTY, ADVERTISEMENT, SOLICITATION PROHIBITED; PENALTY
(§ 63.2-1218)

No person or child-placing agency 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
child-placing agency and fees paid for such services; (ii) payment or
reimbursement for medical expenses and insurance premiums that are directly
related to the birth mother&#8217;s pregnancy and hospitalization for the birth
of the child 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 child; (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 child; (iv) payment
or reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred incidental to any required
court appearance 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 intercountry placements as defined in § 63.2-100 and as necessary
for compliance with state and federal law 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
felony. The Commissioner is authorized to investigate cases in which fees paid
for legal services appear to be in excess of usual and customary fees in order
to determine if there has been compliance with the provisions of this section.

HISTORY: 1989, c. 647, § 63.1-220.4; 1993, c. 553; 1995, cc. 772, 826; 2000, c.
830, § 63.1-219.25; 2002, c. 747.