63.2-1243 - Adoption of certain persons eighteen years of age or over. - Virginia Statutes

§ 63.2-1243. Adoption of certain persons eighteen years of age or over.

A petition may be filed in circuit court by any natural person who is aresident of this Commonwealth (i) for the adoption of a stepchild eighteenyears of age or over to whom he has stood in loco parentis for a period of atleast three months; (ii) for the adoption of a close relative, as defined in§ 63.2-1242.1, eighteen years of age or older; (iii) for the adoption of anyperson eighteen years of age or older who is the birth child of thepetitioner or who had resided in the home of the petitioner for a period ofat least three months prior to becoming eighteen years of age; or (iv) forthe adoption of any person eighteen years of age or older, for good causeshown, provided that the person to be adopted is at least fifteen yearsyounger than the petitioner and the petitioner and the person to be adoptedhave known each other for at least one year prior to the filing of thepetition for adoption. Proceedings in any such case shall conform as near asmay be to proceedings for the adoption of a minor child under this chapterexcept that:

(a) No consent of either parent shall be required; and

(b) The consent of the person to be adopted shall be required in all cases.

Any interlocutory or final order issued in any case under this section shallhave the same effect as other orders issued under this chapter; and in anysuch case the word "child" in any other section of this chapter shall beconstrued to refer to the person whose adoption is petitioned for under thissection. The entry of a final order of adoption pursuant to this sectionwhich incorporates a change of name shall be deemed to meet the requirementsof § 8.01-217.

The provisions of this section shall apply to any person who would have beeneligible for adoption hereunder prior to July 1, 1972.

(Code 1950, § 63-348.1; 1950, p. 441; 1954, c. 489; 1964, c. 139; 1968, c.578, § 63.1-222; 1972, c. 823; 1974, c. 337; 1979, c. 339; 1985, cc. 298,300; 1988, c. 53; 1995, cc. 772, 826; 2000, c. 830, § 63.1-219.50; 2001, c.236; 2002, c. 747; 2006, cc. 825, 848.)