63.2-1248 - Fees for home studies, investigations, visitations and reports. - Virginia Statutes

§ 63.2-1248. Fees for home studies, investigations, visitations and reports.

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 17.1-275, the circuit court withjurisdiction over any adoption matter, or the person, agency, orchild-placing agency that attempts to locate the birth family pursuant to §63.2-1246 or subsection B of § 63.2-1247, or that attempts to locate theadult adoptee pursuant to subsection A of § 63.2-1247, shall assess a feeagainst the petitioner, or applicant and, in the case of local departments,shall assess such fee in accordance with regulations and fee schedulesestablished by the Board, for home studies, investigations, visits andreports provided by the appropriate local department, person, or agencypursuant to §§ 20-160, 63.2-1208, 63.2-1212, 63.2-1231, 63.2-1238 or §63.2-1246. The Board shall adopt regulations and fee schedules, which shallinclude (i) standards for determining the petitioner's or applicant's abilityto pay and (ii) a scale of fees based on the petitioner's or applicant'sincome and family size and the actual cost of the services provided. The feecharged shall not exceed the actual cost of the service. The fee shall bepaid to the appropriate local department, person, or agency and a receipttherefor shall be provided to the circuit court, or to the Commissioner ifpursuant to § 63.2-1246 or § 63.2-1247, prior to the acceptance of parentalconsent, entry of any final order, or release of identifying information bythe Commissioner, and no court shall accept parental consent or enter anyfinal order and the Commissioner shall not release any identifyinginformation until proof of payment of such fees has been received.

(1987, c. 5, § 63.1-236.1; 1989, c. 214; 1990, cc. 101, 297; 1991, c. 600;1992, c. 607; 1995, cc. 772, 826; 2000, c. 830, § 63.1-219.55; 2002, c. 747.)