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Any adult person who is a resident of West Virginia may petition the circuit court or any other court of record having jurisdiction of adoption proceedings for permission to adopt one who has reached the age of eighteen years or over, and, if desired, to change the name of such person.

West Virginia adoption law requires that prospective birth mothers wait at least 72 hours after birth before signing any adoption consent papers. Once these consent papers are signed, the child will be placed in your care and the birth parents will voluntarily terminate their parental rights.

Unless both parties apply to the Registry, the only other way to receive identifying information is through an order from the court in which the adoption occurred. Court orders must be issued by a judge and the original, signed order should be sent to the West Virginia Office of Social Services.

The applicant has ever been convicted of felony child abuse or neglect; spousal abuse; a crime against children (including child ography); or a crime involving violence, including rape, sexual assault, or homicide but not including other types of physical assault or battery.

West Virginia maintains a mutual consent voluntary adoption registry through which adult adopted people and birthparents may seek identifying information.

The Adoption Process for West Virginia Residents Potential adoptive parents must attend a pre-service orientation. ... A family assessment (home study) of the interested parents is then done. ... After the family assessment and training are completed, the family is notified whether their home was approved for adoptive children.