A. If no father-child relationship has been established pursuant to § 20-49.1, a petitioner for adoption shall obtain from the Department a certificate that a search of the Virginia Birth Father Registry was performed. If the conception or birth of the child occurred in another state, a petitioner for adoption shall obtain a certificate from that state indicating that a search of the putative father registry was performed, if that state has a putative father registry.
B. The Department shall furnish to the requester a certificate of search of the registry upon the request of an individual, court, or agency listed in § 63.2-1251. Any such certificate shall be signed on behalf of the Department and state that a search has been made of the registry and a registration containing the information required to identify the registrant has been found and is attached to the certificate of search or has not been found. Within four business days from the receipt of the request, the Department shall mail the certificate to the requestor by United States mail. Upon request of the requestor and payment of any additional costs, the Department shall have the certificate delivered to the requestor by overnight mail, in person, by messenger, by facsimile or other electronic communication. The Department's certificate or an appropriate certificate from another state shall be sufficient proof the registry was searched.
C. A petitioner shall file the certificate of search with the court before a proceeding for adoption of, or termination of parental rights regarding, a child may be concluded.
D. A certificate of search of the Virginia Birth Father Registry is admissible in a proceeding for adoption of, or termination of parental rights regarding, a child and, if relevant, in other legal proceedings.
2006, c. 825; 2015, c. 531; 2017, c. 200.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 63.2 - Welfare (Social Services)
§ 63.2-1200. Who may place children for adoption
§ 63.2-1200.1. Recognition of foreign adoption; issuance of birth certificates
§ 63.2-1201. Filing of petition for adoption; venue; jurisdiction; and proceedings
§ 63.2-1202. Parental, or agency, consent required; exceptions
§ 63.2-1203. When consent is withheld or unobtainable
§ 63.2-1204. When consent is revocable; fraud or duress; mutual consent
§ 63.2-1205. Best interests of the child; standards for determining
§ 63.2-1205.1. Certain offenders prohibited from adopting a child
§ 63.2-1206. No parental presumption after revocation period expires
§ 63.2-1207. Removal of child from adoptive home
§ 63.2-1208. Investigations; report to circuit court
§ 63.2-1209. Entry of interlocutory order
§ 63.2-1211. Revocation of interlocutory order
§ 63.2-1212. Visitations during probationary period and report
§ 63.2-1213. Final order of adoption
§ 63.2-1215. Legal effects of adoption
§ 63.2-1216. Final order not subject to attack after six months
§ 63.2-1217. Provision of false information; penalty
§ 63.2-1218. Certain exchange of property, advertisement, solicitation prohibited; penalty
§ 63.2-1219. Suspected violation of property exchange information
§ 63.2-1220. Issuance of birth certificates for children adopted in the Commonwealth
§ 63.2-1220.01. Foreign adoptions; establishment of date of birth
§ 63.2-1220.1. Establishment of minimum training requirements
§ 63.2-1220.2. Authority to enter into post-adoption contact and communication agreements
§ 63.2-1220.3. Approval of post-adoption contact and communication agreements
§ 63.2-1220.4. Jurisdiction to approve post-adoption contact and communication agreements
§ 63.2-1221. Placement of children for adoption by agency or local board
§ 63.2-1223. Revocation of entrustment agreement
§ 63.2-1224. Explanation of process, legal effects of adoption required
§ 63.2-1225. Determination of appropriate home
§ 63.2-1226. When birth parents recommend adoptive parents
§ 63.2-1227. Filing of petition for agency adoption
§ 63.2-1228. Forwarding of petition
§ 63.2-1229. Foster parent adoption
§ 63.2-1230. Placement of children by parent or guardian
§ 63.2-1231. Home study; meeting required; exception
§ 63.2-1232. Requirements of a parental placement adoption; exception
§ 63.2-1233. Consent to be executed in juvenile and domestic relations district court; exceptions
§ 63.2-1234. When consent is revocable
§ 63.2-1235. Adoptive home not in child's best interests
§ 63.2-1236. Duty of Department to disseminate information
§ 63.2-1237. Petition for parental placement adoption; jurisdiction; contents
§ 63.2-1238. Forwarding of petition; when investigation and report not required
§ 63.2-1239. Return of copies furnished to counsel
§ 63.2-1242. Investigation and report at discretion of circuit court
§ 63.2-1242.1. Relative adoption
§ 63.2-1242.2. Close relative adoption; child in home less than two years
§ 63.2-1242.3. Close relative placement; child in home for two years or more
§ 63.2-1243. Adoption of certain persons eighteen years of age or over
§ 63.2-1244. Investigation and report at discretion of circuit court; exception
§ 63.2-1246. Disposition of reports; disclosure of information as to identity of birth family
§ 63.2-1246.1. Commissioner authority to store, preserve, and certify adoption files
§ 63.2-1248. Fees for home studies, investigations, visitations and reports
§ 63.2-1249. Establishment of Registry
§ 63.2-1250. Registration; notice; form
§ 63.2-1251. Furnishing information; confidentiality; penalty