Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 63.2-1200 (2026)

Who may place children for adoption

✓ current as of May 2026
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A child may be placed for adoption by:

1. A licensed child-placing agency;

2. A local board;

3. The child's parent or legal guardian if the placement is a parental placement; and

4. Any agency outside the Commonwealth that is licensed or otherwise duly authorized to place children for adoption by virtue of the laws under which it operates.

1978, c. 730, § 63.1-220.1; 1985, c. 285; 1989, c. 647; 2000, c. 830, § 63.1-219.8; 2002, c. 747; 2004, c. 815; 2006, cc. 825, 848.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2008–2026 · leading case: Copeland v. Todd, 715 S.E.2d 11 (Va. 2011).
Copeland v. Todd, 715 S.E.2d 11 (Va. 2011). · cites it 2× “Upon review of the record, we are satisfied that the evidence is sufficient to support the judgment of the circuit court in granting the petition for adoption pursuant to Code §§ 63.2-1200 et seq. III. Conclusion For the reasons stated, we hold that the Court of Appeals did not…”
Wyatt v. McDermott, 725 S.E.2d 555 (Va. 2012). · cites it 2× “(custody and visitation); Code § 63.2-1200 et seq. (adoption). The General Assembly has also enacted legislation criminalizing certain actions that may interfere with parental or custodial relationships.”
T.S.G. v. B.A.S., 665 S.E.2d 854 (Va. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 4× “On May 10, 2007, grandmother filed with the circuit court, pursuant to Code § 63.2-1200 et seq., a petition for adoption of the child, mother’s written consent, and an affidavit for an order of publication for the purpose of effecting constructive service on the child’s father.”
Draghia v. Commonwealth, 678 S.E.2d 272 (Va. Ct. App. 2009). “Adoption under Chapter 12 (§ 63.2-1200 et seq.) of Title 63.2; or h.”
TSG v. Bas, 665 S.E.2d 854 (Va. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 4× “On May 10, 2007, grandmother filed with the circuit court, pursuant to Code § 63.2-1200 et seq., a petition for adoption of the child, mother's written consent, and an affidavit for an order of publication for the purpose of effecting constructive service on the child's father.”
Scott Lee Hardy v. Charlotte M. Poston (Va. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 10× “On May 28, 2013, Poston filed a petition for adoption pursuant to Code § 63.2-1200 et seq. and a petition to terminate Hardy’s parental rights pursuant to Code § 16.”
Michael Stacy Graves, Jr. & Lisa Anne Graves v. Neil Edward Jones (Va. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “2, Chapter 12, of the Code (Code §§ 63.2-1200 through 63.2-1253).” Id.”
John Berry v. Mary Barnes, Tricia Ann Scanlon & Donald Edward Scanlon (Va. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 2× “]” Code § 63.2-1200. Under the framework, the birth parent “may place his [or her] child for adoption directly with the adoptive parents of his [or her] choice.”
In re Pruett, 87 Va. Cir. 68 (Roanoke County Cir. Ct. 2013). · cites it 3× “A child may be placed for adoption by her birth parent if the placement is a “parental placement,” Va. Code § 63.2-1200, meaning that the placement is “for *69 the purpose of foster care or adoption.”
Sherrie Morgan v. Renee Kifus & David Chowaniec (Va. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “Code § 63.2-1200 et seq. And, petitions seeking approval of infant settlements are routinely filed pursuant to Code § 8.”
Rachel Emily Jenkins v. Tazwell Cnty. Dep't of Soc. Servs. (Va. Ct. App. 2020). “1 or Title 20, or involving adoption under Chapter 12 (§ 63.2-1200 et seq.) of Title 63.2 . . . .”
Bonanno v. Quinn (Va. 2021). “involving adoption under Chapter 12 (§ 63.2-1200 et seq.) of Title 63.2, a party may request an award of attorney fees incurred in the appeal of the case by making said request” in his or her brief to the Court of Appeals.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.