Type In Legal Virginia Adoption Forms For Free

Apply In Person Visit any DMV customer service center. Complete either the "Virginia Birth Certificate Application" (DL 81) for birth certificates or the "Virginia Vital Record Application" (DL 82) for marriage, divorce and death certificates. Present acceptable identification. Pay a $14 records search fee.

While foster care adoptions are the most frequent, there are several types of adoption such as international, stepparent, close relative, parental placement and adult adoption.

Although Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) preserves adoption records, VDSS does not maintain original birth certificates. The Department of Health Vital Records maintains original birth certificates. Accessing your original birth certificate will require a court order or the Commissioner of VDSS approval.

STEPS TO ADOPTION: STEP 1 INITIAL CONTACT When you call 1-800-DO-ADOPT, the Adoption Resource Exchange of Virginia, you have taken the first step in the adoption process. After a few general questions, you may be referred to a local department of social services or a to a private child placing agency for orientation.

Virginia is a "closed" or "sealed" adoption state. At the time of finalization, adoption files are sealed by a court order and are not public record. This means that there are restrictions on who can request information relating to an adoption and the type of information that can be released.

If you have none of the above identification and are requesting a birth certificate for your child, please provide a letter from the hospital (their letterhead) where the child was born along with a letter (their letterhead) from the health care provider who provided the mother prenatal care.