CHAPTER 71

An Act to amend and reenact § 63-355 of the Code of Virginia, relating to
omission of probationary period and interlocutory order and entrance
of final order of adoption in certain cases, so as to alter certain re-
quirements concerning visitations.

[S 123]

Approved February 19, 1952

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
Ls That § 63-355 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted as
ollows:

§ 63-355. Omission of probationary period and interlocutory order.—
If the child is legally the child by birth or adoption of one of the petitioners,
or if the child has been placed in the home of the petitioner by a child
placing agency and such agency certifies to the court that the child has
lived in the home of the petitioner continuously for a period of at least
one year next preceding the filing of the petition, and has been visited by
a representative of such agency at least once in every three months during
such year, or if the child has resided in the home of the petitioner con-
tinuously for as much as five years immediately prior to the filing of the
petition for adoption, and is at least sixteen years of age at the time
thereof, and if the court is of the opinion that the entry of an interlocutory
order would otherwise be proper, the court may omit the probationary
period provided for in the preceding section and the interlocutory order,
and enter a final order of adoption, and the court may, for good cause
shown, in cases of placement by a child placing agency, omit the require-
ment of this section that the visitations be made in the year immediately
preceding the filing of the petition, provided, however, that such visits be
made in some one year preceding such filing.