CHAPTER 187

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 63-849, as amended, and 68-854 of the Code
of Virginia, relating to investigations and visitations in adoption mat-
ters so as to require certain persons and agencies to make such investt-
gations and visitations under certain circumstances. 2 ind

[ ]

Approved March 1, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 63-349, as amended, and 63-354 of the Code of Virginia be
amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 63-349. Upon the filing of the petition, the court wherein the peti-
tion 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 local superintendent,
or other welfare agency, of a county or city, or through a child placing
agency. Whenever the Commissioner requests that such an investigation
be conducted by a local superintendent or other welfare agency of a county
or city, 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 shall include, in addition to any other inquiries which the
court may require the Commissioner to make, inquiries as to (1) whether
the petitioner is financially able, morally suitable, and a proper person to
eare 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 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.

§ 63-354. After the entry of an interlocutory order of adoption, the
Commissioner shall cause the child to be visited in the home of the peti-
188 ACTS OF ASSEMBLY [va., 1956

tioner, at least once during each period of three months prior to the entry
of the final order of adoption, by an agent of the Department 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. Whenever the Commissioner requests that such
visitations be made by a local superintendent, or other welfare agency of
a county or city, it shall be the duty of such person or agency to make the
necessary visits and to report thereon promptly the results of each such
visit to the Commissioner. The Commissioner shall make to the court a
written report of his findings made pursuant to such visitations, within
fifteen days after the expiration of one year from the date upon which the
interlocutory 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 § 63-360 for
the return of the original report.