reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 143 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 5 - Adoption|§ 143. Notice to non-consenting parents

 (a) If a parent does not consent to the adoption of his child the court shall order a copy of the petition and order thereon served on him and the child personally, if found in the Virgin Islands, and, if not, that a notice thereof be published once a week for three successive weeks in such newspaper as the court directs, the last publication to be at least four weeks before the time appointed for the hearing and in all cases a copy of the petition and order shall be served on the child. Like notice shall also be published when a child has no parent living and no guardian or next of kin in the Virgin Islands. The court may order such further notice as it deems necessary or proper. (b) A parent who has not, before the hearing of a petition for the adoption of his child, had personal notice thereof, may, at any time within one year after actual notice, apply to the court for a hearing de novo and the court shall give such hearing and issue orders or judgment after such hearing as are warranted in such hearing de novo.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 144 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 5 - Adoption|§ 144. Consent of child

 If the child is 14 years of age or upwards the adoption shall not be made without his consent given to the court on privy examination.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 145 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 5 - Adoption|§ 145. Order of adoption; change of name

 (a) If, upon such petition so presented and consented, it appears that the child has resided with the petitioner for a length of time sufficient to indicate that the proposed adoption is in the best interest of the child, and the Commissioner of Public Welfare has submitted his report and recommendation with respect to the proposed adoption, and the court is satisfied of the identity and relations of the persons, and that the petitioner is of sufficient ability and in all respects a proper person to bring up the child and furnish suitable nurture and education, having reference to the degree and condition of the parents, and that it is fit and proper that such adoption should take effect, a decree shall be made setting forth the facts and ordering that from the date of the decree the child shall, to all legal intents and purposes, be the child of the petitioner. (b) If a change of the child's name is requested in the petition for adoption, the court, upon adjudging the adoption, may also adjudge such change of name and grant a certificate thereof without further notice and a copy thereof shall be furnished by the clerk of the court to the proper local registrar of vital statistics. (c) The original birth record of the adopted child, and all records or files in the custody of any governmental agency or of the court relating to any proceedings under this chapter shall be sealed and thereafter shall not be open to inspection by any person other than the adopted person (if he has attained majority and is not incompetent), except upon the order of the court for good cause shown.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 146 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 5 - Adoption|§ 146. Effect of adoption

 (a) A child adopted under the provisions of this chapter is deemed, for the purpose of inheritance and all other legal consequences and incidents of the natural relation of parents and children, the child of the parents by adoption, the same as if he had been born to them in lawful wedlock, except that he is not capable of taking property expressly limited to heirs of the body or bodies of the parents by adoption, nor property from the lineal or collateral kindred of such parents by right of representation. (b) The natural parents of such child are deprived by a decree under section 145 of this title of all legal rights as respects the child, and the child is freed from all obligations of maintenance and obedience as respects his natural parents.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 147 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 5 - Adoption|§ 147. Subsidized Adoption Act in effect; administered by Department of Social Welfare

 The Department of Social Welfare, acting pursuant to Title 34, chapter 11, Virgin Islands Code, shall operate a subsidized adoption program to make possible the adoption of children who otherwise may not be adopted. This program is to benefit children in special circumstances, presently under the care of public or voluntary licensed agencies, who qualify under the terms of the chapter.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 181 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 7 - Change of Name|§ 181. Application for change of name

 (a) Each application for change of name must be notarized and must provide the following information about the applicant: (1) The applicant’s name and current address; (2) The date and place of birth of the applicant, and if known, the applicant’s father’s name, the applicant’s mother’s maiden name, and where the applicant has resided since birth; (3) If the applicant is married, the name of the applicant’s spouse, and if the applicant has children, the names and ages of each child and where the child resides; (4) A statement that the applicant is a bona fide resident of and domiciled in the Virgin Islands; (5) A statement as to whether the applicant has outstanding child support or tax obligations; (6) If the applicant is over sixteen years of age, the results of a state and national criminal history check conducted by the Virgin Islands Department of Justice, State Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation or a Channeler approved by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, within 90 days of the date of the application; (7) The applicant’s occupation and where the applicant is employed and has been employed for five years preceding the filing of the application for change of name; (8) If the applicant attended graduate school, the names of all graduate schools attended, the date of graduation, and degrees received; (9) Whether the applicant has ever been arrested for or charged with, pled guilty or nolo contendere to, or been found to have committed a criminal offense, regardless of adjudication, and if so, when and where; (10) Whether the applicant has ever been adjudicated bankrupt and if so, where and when; (11) Whether the applicant’s civil rights have ever been suspended or, if the applicant’s civil rights have been suspended, the date on which full restoration of civil rights occurred; and (12) Whether the applicant has been generally known or called by any other names or aliases and if so, by what names or aliases and where and when. (b) Application for change of name may be heard and determined by the superior court. No lawful change of the name of a person, except a woman upon her marriage or divorce, or upon the adoption of a child, shall be made unless for sufficient reasons not inconsistent with the public interest and satisfactory to the court.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 182 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 7 - Change of Name|§ 182. Notice, order and recording of change of name

 Before adjudging a change of name, except as provided in chapter 5 of this title, the court shall require public notice of the application therefor to be given that all persons may appear and show cause, if they have any, why the same should not be granted. The court shall also require public notice to be given of the change adjudged, and on return of proof thereof may grant a certificate, under the seal of the court, of the name the party is to have, and which shall thereafter be his legal name and a copy thereof shall be furnished the proper local registrar of vital statistics. If the child has been baptized in the Virgin Islands the proper church officials shall also be notified of such change of name.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 291 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 11 - Establishing Paternity|§ 291. Definitions

 As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) “Out-of-wedlock” is synonymous with “illegitimate”, and includes children born to a marriage where the child is not the product of the marriage. (b) “Acknowledgment of Paternity” shall be synonymous with “Affidavit of Paternity” or “Acknowledgment of Paternity”, as such terms may appear in the code. (c) “Blood, genetic or DNA tests” means a genetic test generally acknowledged as reliable by accreditation bodies designated by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and performed by a laboratory approved by such an accreditation body. (d) “Birthing hospital or facility” means hospitals with licensed obstetrics-care units, hospitals licensed to provide obstetric services, or licensed birthing centers that provide maternity services.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 294 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 11 - Establishing Paternity|§ 294. Proof of certain support and paternity establishment costs

 In any proceeding initiated pursuant to this chapter, any bills for pregnancy, childbirth and genetic testing are admissible as evidence without requiring third-party foundation testimony, and shall constitute prima facie evidence of amounts incurred for such services or for testing on behalf of the child or children.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 295 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 11 - Establishing Paternity|§ 295. Proof of paternity when a parent is deceased

 (a) The deceased father of a child born out-of-wedlock, by having publicly acknowledged the child as his own, or having received the child into his family and otherwise having treated it as if it were a legitimate child, thereby provides evidence of paternity. (b) If the mother is dead at the time of a paternity establishment proceeding, her declaration made in the time of travail and persevered in as her dying declaration, to the extent relevant, shall be evidence of paternity.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 296 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 11 - Establishing Paternity|§ 296. Paternity establishment through marriage of parents

 Children born out-of-wedlock become legitimized by the subsequent marriage of their parents with each other even though such marriage shall be adjudged to be void.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 297 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 11 - Establishing Paternity|§ 297. Temporary support order based on probable paternity in contested cases

 In any proceeding initiated pursuant to this chapter in which paternity is contested, upon motion of a party to the action, a temporary order shall be issued requiring the provision of child support pending a court or hearing officer determination of paternity, if there is clear and convincing evidence of paternity, either on the basis of genetic tests or other credible evidence.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 298 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 11 - Establishing Paternity|§ 298. No right to jury trial

 The parties to an action initiated under this chapter are not entitled to a trial by jury under any circumstance.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 601 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 17 - Grandparents' Visitation Rights|§ 601. Short title

 This chapter is known as and may be cited as “The Virgin Islands Grandparents' Visitation Rights Act”.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 602 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 17 - Grandparents' Visitation Rights|§ 602. Declaration of public policy

 It is the express policy of this Territory to encourage continuing contact between a minor child and parents and grandparents who have shown the ability to act in the best interest of the child and to further encourage parents and grandparents to share in the rights and responsibilities of raising their children after the parents have separated or dissolved their marriage or relationship.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 603 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 17 - Grandparents' Visitation Rights|§ 603. Definitions

 For purposes of this chapter, the term, “grandparent” means (1) the biological or adoptive parent of either parent of the minor child, including (2) a biological grandparent of a child adopted by a stepparent, or another relative of the child, including a stepparent of the minor child's parent, where a substantial relationship exists between the other relative and the child, and visitation means visitation that is supervised or unsupervised depending on the circumstances of every case and as determined by the court.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 604 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 17 - Grandparents' Visitation Rights|§ 604. Action by grandparent for right of visitation

 (a) A grandparent of a minor child may petition the court for reasonable rights of visitation of a minor child when one or more of the following circumstances exists: (1) The parents of the minor child are currently living separately and apart on a permanent or indefinite basis. (2) One of the parents has been absent for not less than one month, without the other parent's knowing the whereabouts of the absent parent. (3) The child is not residing with either parent and has not been legally adopted. (4) The child's parent, who is the child of the grandparents, has died and the parent has not married a spouse who has legally adopted the child. (b) The petitioner shall give notice of the petition by personal service, pursuant to the Rules of the Superior Court, to each of the parents of the child, any stepparent, and any person who has physical custody of the child.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 605 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 17 - Grandparents' Visitation Rights|§ 605. Factors to be considered by the court in granting visitation rights

 The court may grant a grandparent reasonable rights of visitation or access to a minor child upon finding that the rights of visitation or access are in the best interest of the child and would not significantly interfere with any parent-child relationship or with the parent's rightful authority over the child. In applying this standard, the court shall consider the following factors: (a) Whether such visitation would be in the best interest of the child; (b) Whether such visitation would interfere with any parent-child relationship or with a parent's authority over the child; (c) The nature of the relationship between the grandparent and the minor child, including but not limited to, the frequency of contact, and whether the child has lived with the grandparent and length of time of such residence, and the motivation of the grandparent and capacity to give the child love, affection and guidance; (d) Whether there is reasonable cause to believe that the child's physical or emotional health would be endangered by such visitation or lack of it; (e) The nature of the relationship between the grandparent and the parent of the minor child, including friction between the grandparent and the parent, and the effect such friction would have on the child; (f) The age of the child; (g) The circumstances that resulted in the absence of a nuclear family, whether by divorce, death, relinquishment or termination of parental rights, or other cause; (h) The recommendation regarding visitation made by any guardian ad litem appointed for the child or by a child welfare agency; (i) Any preference or wishes expressed by the child, if the child is of sufficient age and maturity to express a meaningful preference; and (j) Any such other factors as the court may find appropriate or relevant to the petition for visitation.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 606 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 17 - Grandparents' Visitation Rights|§ 606. Notice; standing to intervene

 (a) Once a grandparent has been granted visitation rights, the grandparent shall be given proper notice of any petition or order providing for a change in custody or visitation rights, and the grandparent shall have standing to intervene and be heard in any hearing affecting the grandparent's visitation rights. (b) Any order granting, modifying or denying parent visitation rights shall not affect visitation rights granted to a grandparent pursuant to this chapter, absent a specific finding pursuant to section 608 of this chapter. (c) If the child is actually residing with a grandparent in a stable relationship, whether the court has awarded custody or visitation to the grandparent or not, the court may recognize the grandparent as having the same standing as a parent for evaluating what custody arrangements are in the best interest of the child.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 607 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 17 - Grandparents' Visitation Rights|§ 607. Inapplicability

 The visitation rights granted to grandparents under this chapter do not apply in cases where the grandparent's access to the minor child has been restricted for any reason prior to or contemporaneous with the divorce, death, relinquishment or termination of parental rights, or other cause of the absence of a nuclear family.
V.I. Code tit. 16, § 608 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 16 - Domestic Relations|Chapter 17 - Grandparents' Visitation Rights|§ 608. Termination or modification of visitation rights

 Upon petition by either parent and a finding that a significant change of circumstances has occurred where visitation is no longer in the best interest of the child, the court may modify or terminate grandparent visitation rights. Any order denying or terminating grandparent visitation shall be in writing and shall state its reasons for denial or termination. An order denying or terminating visitation shall be a final order for the purposes of appeal.
V.I. Code tit. 17, § 1 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 17 - Education|Chapter 1 - Classification of Schools|§ 1. Kinds of schools

 All schools in the Virgin Islands are classified as follows— (1) Public schools, which are those supported by Government funds. They shall be organized and administered by the Department of Education; (2) Private schools, which are those supported by private funds; (3) Parochial and denominational schools, which are those supported by recognized parishes or religious communities, both of high moral standard.
V.I. Code tit. 17, § 21 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 17 - Education|Chapter 3 - Virgin Islands Board of Education|§ 21. Powers and duties of Board

 (a) The Virgin Islands Board of Education has authority and jurisdiction to— (1) recommend the establishment of public schools; prescribe general regulations and orders; adopt curricula and courses of study; recommend laws and amendments; recommend appropriations required for the operation of the public schools and the Department of Education; and in general to do anything necessary for the proper establishment, maintenance, management, and operation of the public schools of the Virgin Islands; (2) cooperate with the Office of Education, within the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare, in the administration of all Acts of Congress relating to general education, and administer all provisions of this Code relating thereto, as well as any other legislation pursuant thereto enacted by the Legislature; (3) approve plans for cooperating with the Federal Government in carrying out any or all phases of the educational program in which it may find cooperation to be desirable; (4) provide for the proper administration of funds which may be appropriated by Congress and apportioned to the Virgin Islands for any and all educational purposes; (5) approve or disapprove, subject to the final approval of the Governor, the recommendations made by the Commissioner of Education to the administrator of the Personnel Merit System, under section 121 of this title, with respect to the qualifications of teachers, librarians, supervisors, and other professional personnel of the Department; (6) approve or disapprove, subject to the final approval of the Governor, the rules and regulations proposed by the Commissioner of Education, under section 121 of this title, for the certification, selection, determination of salaries (subject to Schedule III in section 551 of Title 3), and appointment of teachers, librarians, supervisors, and other professional personnel of the Department; (7) do all things necessary to entitle the Virgin Islands to receive the benefits of all funds appropriated to the Virgin Islands under the Acts of Congress referred to in this section; (8) bring court proceedings for enforcement of rights and the collection of accounts, and to this end may contract for such personal services as are deemed necessary by the Board; (9) promulgate rules and regulations for the certification of all elementary, secondary and post secondary educational institutions; and (10) prepare the budget for the Board for submission to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. (b) The Board shall perform such other functions as may be prescribed or required by local or Federal law.
V.I. Code tit. 17, § 22 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 17 - Education|Chapter 3 - Virgin Islands Board of Education|§ 22. Visitation of schools

 The Virgin Islands Board of Education shall visit each school while in session at least once a year.
V.I. Code tit. 17, § 23 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 17 - Education|Chapter 3 - Virgin Islands Board of Education|§ 23. Hearings by Board; compulsory attendance of witnesses

 (a) The Virgin Islands Board of Education shall have the power, and it shall be the duty thereof, to hear complaints and appeals within 30 days of the date of the act complained of, to issue subpoenas, summon and examine witnesses regarding school matters, to compel their attendance at any meeting of the Board, and the Chairman or Secretary may administer oaths and take sworn testimony regarding such matters. No subpoena shall be returnable in less than five days and no person shall be denied the right of representation by counsel. (b) All appeals and complaints made to the Board of Education shall be in writing and subscribed and sworn to. (c) All decisions rendered by the Board of Education in appeal cases or on complaints shall be final, unless reviewed by the Governor.