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SSA - POMS: PR 01805.052 - Virginia - 11/15/2011
Effective Dates: 11/15/2011 - Present Previous | Next
TN 9 (07-09)
PR 01805.052 Virginia
A. PR 12-005 Reply to Your Request for a Legal Opinion as to Whether the Documentation Submitted by Bethany Christian Services Satisfies the Requirement, Pursuant to Virginia Law, that the Father of a Child Be Given Notice of an Entrustment Agreement for the Termination of Parental Rights.
In the State of Virginia an opinion was requested as to whether the documentation submitted by Bethany Christian Services on behalf of Ray, a minor child, pursuant to an entrustment agreement for the termination of paternal rights, satisfied the notice requirement pursuant to Va. Code Ann. § 63.2-903.
Based upon the review of the information provided and the relevant provisions of Virginia law, Bethany Christian Services should make additional efforts to obtain information concerning the whereabouts of the two possible birth fathers in order to provide them with notice of the entrustment agreement as required pursuant to Va. Code Ann § 63.2-903.
On September 19, 2011, you requested our opinion as to whether the documentation submitted by Bethany Christian Services on behalf of A., a minor child, pursuant to an entrustment agreement for the termination of paternal rights, satisfied the notice requirement pursuant to Va. Code Ann. § 63.2-903.
Based upon our review of the information you have provided and the relevant provisions of Virginia law, it is our opinion that Bethany Christian Services should make additional efforts to obtain information concerning the whereabouts of the two possible birth fathers in order to provide them with notice of the entrustment agreement as required pursuant to Va. Code Ann. § 63.2-903. If Bethany Christian Services is unable to provide the possible birth father(s) with notice of the entrustment agreement, we recommend that it provide a summary of its efforts to ascertain the whereabouts of the possible birth fathers along with any supporting documentation.
For the background of this request, we refer you to our Memorandum of July 9, 2007, S9G-F3, concerning your request for a legal opinion as to whether an entrustment agreement signed by a birth parent(s) relinquishing custody of a child to an adoption agency would confer legal custody and responsibility of the child upon an adoption agency under Virginia law and eliminate the need for a court custody document to establish the adoption agency as a proper applicant for a Social Security Number on behalf of the child.[1]
Based upon the information that you have provided to us, it is our understanding that the only issue you have not been able to resolve is whether the documentation submitted by Bethany Christian Services satisfies the notice requirement pursuant to Va. Code Ann. § 63.2-903 (West 2007).
Pursuant to Va. Code Ann. § 63.2-903, an entrustment agreement for the termination of all parental rights and responsibilities with respect to a child shall be valid notwithstanding the fact that it is not signed by the father of a child born out of wedlock if the identity of the father is not reasonably ascertainable, or if such father is given notice of the entrustment by registered or certified mail to his last known address and fails to object to the entrustment agreement within
15 days of mailing of such notice. See also Va. Code Ann. §§ 63.2-1222 (West 2009), 63.2-1233 (West 2009).
Va. Code Ann. § 63.2-1250 (West 2009) provides in relevant part as follows:
Except as otherwise provided in subsection C, [2] a man who desires to be notified of a proceeding for adoption of, or termination of parental rights regarding, a child that he may have fathered shall register with the Putative Father Registry before the birth of the child or within 10 days after the birth. [3] A registrant shall promptly notify the registry of any change in the information registered including but not limited to change of address. The Department shall incorporate all new information received into its records but is not required to obtain current information for incorporation in the registry.
Va. Code Ann. § 63.2-1222 provides in relevant part as follows:
An entrustment agreement for the termination of all parental rights and responsibilities with respect to the child shall be valid notwithstanding that it is not signed by the birth father of a child born out of wedlock if the identity of the birth father is not reasonably ascertainable or such birth father did not register with the Putative Father Registry pursuant to Article 7 (§ 63.2-1249 et seq.) of this chapter or the birth father named by the birth mother denies under oath and in writing the paternity of the child. An affidavit signed by the birth mother stating that the identity of the birth father is unknown may be filed with the court alleging that the identity of the birth father is not known or reasonably ascertainable. A birth father shall be given notice of the entrustment if he is an acknowledged father pursuant to § 20-49.1, an adjudicated father pursuant to § 20-49.8, a presumed father pursuant to § 63.2-1202. or a putative father who has registered with the Putative Father Registry pursuant to Article 7 (§ 62.2-1249 et seq.) of this chapter. If the putative father’s identity is reasonably ascertainable, he shall be given notice pursuant to § 63.2-1250.
Va. Code Ann. § 63.2-1233 provides that “[i]f the identity of the birth father is reasonably ascertainable, but the whereabouts of the birth father are not reasonably ascertainable, verification of compliance with the Putative Father Registry shall be provided to the court.
The Documentation Submitted by Bethany Christian Services Does Not Satisfy the Notice Requirement Pursuant to Va. Code Ann. § 63.2-903.
Bethany Christian Services has submitted the following documentation in order to satisfy the notice requirement pursuant to Va. Code Ann. § 63.2-903:
Birth Mother’s Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity dated February 24, 2011, wherein Emily, the birth mother, named “Duncan” (no surname) with a home phone number of (~) ~ residing in Richmond, Virginia, as the possible birth father of Ray.
a request to search the Virginia Putative Father Registry submitted by Bethany Christian Services for an individual named “Duncan” (surname unknown) with a telephone number of (~) ~ and a notation of “unknown” for the putative father’s city and state of residence.
a Certificate of Search from the Department of Social Services, Virginia Putative Father Registry stating that no registration exists that matches the request to search for “Duncan Unknown Last Name”.
Birth Mother’s Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity dated February 24, 2011, wherein Emily, the birth mother, named “Raymond” with a home phone number of (~) ~ residing in Richmond, Virginia, as the possible birth father of Ray.
a Certificate of Search from the Department of Social Services, Virginia Putative Father Registry stating that no registration exists that matches the request to search for “Raymond.”
Bethany Christian Services’ statement that it completes internet searches in an effort to obtain valid addresses for any named birth fathers.
an internet search on www.intelius.com for Raymond, Ramon, Ramond, Ray, and Raymund, listing six individuals, none of whom reside in Virginia.
an internet search on www.whitepages.com for Raymond in Virginia listing a Raymond C., Raymond A. (two locations), Raymond A. (two locations), Johnnie, Jr., Ray, and L. Ray, none of whom reside in Virginia.
a cell phone search on www.whitepages.com for (~) ~, Raymond’s reported telephone number
a cell phone search on www.whitepages.com for (~) ~, Duncan’s reported telephone number
a reverse phone lookup on www.intelius.com for (~) ~, Raymond’s reported telephone number
Pursuant to Virginia law, a birth mother must first determine whether the identity of the father is not reasonably ascertainable. Va. Code Ann. §§ 63.2-903, 63.2-1222. Based upon the information you have provided to us, the birth mother has identified two possible birth fathers. If the identity of the birth father is reasonably ascertainable, but the whereabouts of the birth father are not reasonably ascertainable, verification of compliance with the Putative Father Registry is required. Va. Code Ann. §§ 63.2-1233.
The information you have provided to us shows that Bethany Christian Services requested searches on the Virginia Putative Father Registry for two possible fathers: an individual by the name of “Duncan” and an individual by the name of Raymond.
However, we believe that Bethany Christian Services could have been more diligent in its efforts to ascertain the whereabouts of the two possible birth fathers and that additional information could have been provided to the Virginia Putative Father Registry. We note that Bethany Christian Services submitted documentation showing that it did cell phone searches on www.whitepages.com using the telephone numbers for “Duncan” and Raymond provided by the birth mother. The information obtained from those searches provides the following links: “View Names & Addresses for current & previous owners of (~) ~” (Raymond’s reported telephone number) and “View Names & Addresses for current & previous owners of (~) ~” (“Duncan’s” reported telephone number). However, Bethany Christian Services has not provided any documentation showing that it opened the aforementioned links and what, if any information, it obtained. We believe that this is information that goes directly to the issue of whether the whereabouts of the birth fathers were reasonably ascertainable. Va. Code Ann. § 63.2-1233.
Bethany Christian Services also provided documentation showing that it did a reverse phone lookup on www.intelius.com for Raymond reported telephone number but did not provide any documentation showing that it did a reverse phone lookup on www.intelius.com for “Duncan’s” reported telephone number. We also note that although the birth mother provided Bethany Christian Services with information that “Duncan” resided in Richmond, Virginia, Bethany Christian Services submitted a search request to the Virginia Putative Father Registry with a notation of “unknown” for the putative father’s city of residence. To facilitate review, it would be helpful for Bethany Christian Services to provide a summary or an explanation detailing the steps taken to ascertain the possible birth fathers’ whereabouts along with any relevant documentation. Bethany Christian Services should also address the questions that have been raised herein with respect to the links obtained from the www.whitepages.com search and any efforts to do a reverse phone lookup on www.intelius.com for “Duncan’s” reported telephone number. In the event that Bethany Christian Services obtains any additional information that could lead to the whereabouts of the two possible birth fathers, it should submit this information to the Virginia Putative Father Registry.
We have approached this request with caution given the birth mother’s responses on her affidavits acknowledging paternity. With respect to the affidavit naming “Duncan” as a possible birth father, the birth mother stated that “Duncan” knew of her pregnancy. The birth mother also answered “no” to the following question: “Do you believe the birth father is or would be supportive of the adoption plan?” In response to a question asking the birth mother to explain why she could not supply any identifying information, she stated, “I don’t know.” We believe that it may be helpful for Bethany Christian Services to obtain a more definitive response from the birth mother concerning these issues.
With respect to the affidavit naming Raymond as a possible birth father, the birth mother stated that they were introduced by a friend. We believe that it may be helpful to question the birth mother as to whether this friend may have any information concerning the whereabouts of Raymond. We also note that the birth mother provided the address where she resided with Raymond. We believe that it may be helpful to explore with the birth mother whether Raymond still resides at this address or whether the postal service has a forwarding address for Raymond. In addition, the birth mother stated in her affidavit that Raymond knew of her pregnancy and answered “no” to the following question: “Do you believe the birth father is or would be supportive of the adoption plan?” In response to a question asking the birth mother to explain why she could not supply any identifying information, she stated, “I don’t know.” We believe that it may be helpful for Bethany Christian Services to obtain a more definitive response from the birth mother concerning these issues.
In summary, we believe that Bethany Christian Services should provide a statement summarizing (1) its efforts to ascertain the whereabouts of the two possible birth fathers, including any internet searches it initiated and the results obtained; (2) any efforts to obtain additional information through internet search engines such as www.intelius.com including, but not limited to, the reverse phone lookup for “Duncan”; and (3) any additional information obtained upon further questioning of the birth mother. Should any of these efforts yield additional information, such as an address, we believe that Bethany Christian Services should give notice of the entrustment agreement to the possible father(s) by registered or certified mail as required pursuant to Virginia law, Va. Code Ann. §§ 63.2-903, 63.2-1222. 63.2-1233. Should Bethany Christian Services obtain any additional information that could lead to the whereabouts of the possible birth fathers, it should submit additional search requests to the Virginia Putative Father Registry and provide the results to us.
Based upon the information that you provided and our review of the relevant provisions of Virginia law, we believe that Bethany Christian Services should make additional efforts to ascertain the whereabouts of the two possible birth fathers. If Bethany Christian Services obtains the address of the possible birth father(s), notice of the entrustment agreement should be given as required pursuant to Virginia law. If Bethany Christian Services obtains any other information that could lead to the whereabouts of the possible birth father(s), Bethany Christian Services should submit additional search requests to the Virginia Putative Father Registry. If Bethany Christian Services is unable to obtain additional information leading to the whereabouts of the two possible birth fathers, we recommend that it provide a summary of its efforts to locate the possible birth fathers along with any relevant documentation.
By:/s/_____________________
B. PR 09-128 Reply to Your Request for a Legal Opinion as to Whether a Document Entitled "Entrustment Agreement for Permanent Surrender of Child in the Commonwealth of Virginia" Signed by the Birth Mother Entrusting the Child, Emily J. M~, to the Care and Custody of a Virginia Adoption Agency, Is Sufficient to Confer Legal Custody Under Virginia Law to Establish the Adoption Agency as a Proper Applicant for a Social Security Number (SSN) on the Child's Behalf.
C. PR 09-127 Reply to Your Request for a Legal Opinion as to Whether a Document Entitled "Entrustment Agreement for Permanent Surrender of Child in the Commonwealth of Virginia" Signed by the Birth Mother Entrusting the Child, LaShawn D~, to the Care and Custody of a Virginia Adoption Agency, Is Sufficient to Confer Legal Custody Under Virginia Law to Establish the Adoption Agency as a Proper Applicant for a Social Security Number (SSN) on the Child's Behalf.
In response to your question, we concluded that a state-licensed Virginia adoption agency need not present a court custody document to qualify as a proper applicant who may file an application for a Social Security Number on behalf of another individual so long as the adoption agency presents a valid entrustment agreement properly executed in accordance with Virginia law.
Subsection C refers to those situations where a man is led to believe through the birth mother’s fraud that the pregnancy was terminated or the mother miscarried when in fact the baby was born, or that the child died when in fact the child is alive. Neither of these situations appears to apply to this case.
A “‘Putative father’ means an alleged father; a person named as the father of a child born out-of-wedlock but whose paternity has not been established.” 22 Va. Admin. Code § 40-880-10 (2002).
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/1501805052
PR 01805.052 - Virginia - 11/15/2011
Rev:11/15/2011