CHAPTER 346

An Act to amend and reenact § 63-349, as amended, of the Code of
Virginia, relating to preliminary investigation in adoption cases;
report to court.

[H 1143]

Approved April 2, 1968

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 63-349, as amended, of the Code of Virginia be amended and
reenacted as follows:

§ 63-349. Preliminary investigations; report to court.—Upon the
filing of the petition, the court wherein the petition is filed, or the clerk
thereof upon order of the court, * forward a copy of the petition to the
Commissioner or, when the child was placed with the petitioners by a child
placing agency the court may in its discretion forward a copy of the peti-
tion to the agency which placed the child, who or which shall cause to be
made a thorough investigation of the matter and report thereon in writing
to the court within ninety days after the copy of the petition is forwarded.
In the event the above report is not made to the court within the period
specified above, the court may proceed to hear and determine the merits
of the petition and enter such order or orders as the court may deem
appropriate. Whenever the Commissioner requests that such an inves-
tigation be conducted by a local superintendent or other welfare agency
of a county or city or the child placing agency which placed the child,
it shall be the duty of such person or agency to make the necessary
investigation, and to report thereon promptly to the Commissioner. The
investigation requested by the court shall include, in addition to any
other inquiries which the court may require the Commissioner or child
placing agency to make, inquiries as to (1) whether the petitioner is
financially able, morally suitable, and a proper person to care for and to
train the child, (2) what the physical and mental condition of the child is,
(3) why the parents, if living, desire to be relieved of the responsibility
for the custody, care and maintenance of the child, and what their attitude
is toward the proposed adoption, (4) whether the parents have abandoned
the child or are morally unfit to have custody over him, (5) the circum-
stances under which the child came to live, and is living, in the home of
the petitioner, and (6) whether the child is a suitable child for adoption
by the petitioner. Any report made to the court shall include a reeommen-
dation as to the action to be taken by the court on the petition.