Adoption is a legal process in which an adult person assumes responsibility for the care and support of another person (usually a child) who is not the adoptive parent's biological child.
In Virginia, adoption is governed by state statutes found in Title 63.2 of the Virginia Code. The process allows an adult to become the legal parent of someone else, typically a child, who is not their biological offspring. To adopt a child in Virginia, prospective parents must go through a home study, obtain consent from the child's biological parents or have their rights terminated by the court, and receive approval from a judge. The process is designed to ensure the best interests of the child are met. Virginia law allows for different types of adoption, including agency adoptions, private adoptions, step-parent adoptions, and adult adoptions. Each type has specific requirements and procedures. Once an adoption is finalized, the adoptive parents have the same rights and responsibilities as if the child were born to them, and the child gains the right to inherit from the adoptive parents.