Chap. 29.—An ACT to amend and re-enact Sections 5333-c and 5333-f of the Code
of Virginia, relating to the procedure for the adoption of children. {H B 12]

Approved February 21, 1946

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia :

1. That sections fifty-three hundred thirty-three-c and fifty-three
hundred thirty-three-f of the Code of Virginia be amended and re-en-
acted, as follows:

Section 5333-c. Preliminary investigations; duties of Commission-
er.—Upon the filing of the petition, the court wherein the petition is filed,
or the clerk thereof upon order of the court, shall forthwith forward a copy
of the petition to the Commissioner who shall cause to be made a thorough
investigation of the matter and report thereon in writing to the court
within sixty days after the copy of the petition is forwarded to him. Such
investigation may be made through the Superintendent of Public Wel-
fare, or other welfare agency, of a county or city, or through a child
placing agency. The investigation shall include, in addition to any other
inquiries which the court may require the Commissioner to make, in-
quiries as to (1) whether the petitioner is financially able and morally
fit 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 re-
lieved 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 circumstances 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. In making his
report the Commissioner shall also include his recommendation as to the
action to be taken by the court on the petition. A copy of the report shall
be furnished counsel of record for the parties if requested in any plead-
ing filed in the proceedings, setting out the name and address of such
counsel, and which copy shall be returned by such counsel as 1s required
by section fifty-three hundred thirty-three-j for the return of the original
report.

Pe Section 5333-f. Probationary period; visitations and reports.—
After the entry of an interlocutory order of adoption, the Commissioner
shall cause the child to be visited in the home of the petitioner, at least
once during each period of three months prior to the entry of the final or-
der of adoption, by an agent of the State Department of Public Welfare or
of a local board or department of public welfare, or by an agent of a child
placing agency, or, if the petitioner has moved outside of the State, by a
representative of a public welfare agency, or of any agency approved by
the public welfare authorities, of the State, territory or country into which
the petitioner has moved. The Commissioner shall make to the court a
written report of his findings made pursuant to such visitations, within fif-
teen days after the expiration of one year from the date upon which the in-
terlocutory order was entered, and shall furnish a copy of such report to
counsel of record for the parties if requested in any pleading filed in the
proceedings, setting out the name and address of such counsel, and which
copy shall be returned by such counsel as is required by section fifty-
three hundred thirty-three-j for the return of the original report.