{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/63.2-1251.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/63.2-1251.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/63.2-1251.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/63.2-1251.html"}],"law_id":375348,"edition_id":2,"section_id":375348,"structure_id":53365,"section_number":"63.2-1251","catch_line":"Furnishing information; confidentiality; penalty","history":"2006, c. 825; 2012, c. 424; 2015, c. 531.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Department is not required to locate the mother of a child who is the subject of a registration, but the Department shall send a copy of the notice of registration to the mother if an address is provided.\n\nB\n\nInformation contained in the registry is confidential and may only be released on request to:\n\n1\n\nA court or a person designated by the court;\n\n2\n\nThe mother of the child who is the subject of the registration;\n\n3\n\nAn agency authorized by law to receive such information;\n\n4\n\nA licensed child-placing agency;\n\n5\n\nA support enforcement agency;\n\n6\n\nThe child’s guardian ad litem;\n\n7\n\nA party or the party’s attorney of record in an adoption proceeding, custody proceeding, paternity proceeding, or in a proceeding of termination of parental rights, regarding a child who is the subject of the registration;\n\n8\n\nA putative father registry in another state; and\n\n9\n\nA local department of social services for the purpose of establishing paternity of a child accepted for placement by a local board pursuant to § 63.2-900.\n\nC\n\nInformation contained in the registry shall be exempt from disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.).\n\nD\n\nAn individual who intentionally releases information from the registry to an individual or agency not authorized to receive the information in this section is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1401137,"text":"The Department is not required to locate the mother of a child who is the subject of a registration, but the Department shall send a copy of the notice of registration to the mother if an address is provided.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1401138,"text":"Information contained in the registry is confidential and may only be released on request to:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":1401139,"text":"A court or a person designated by the court;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":1401140,"text":"The mother of the child who is the subject of the registration;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":1401141,"text":"An agency authorized by law to receive such information;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"5":{"id":1401142,"text":"A licensed child-placing agency;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"B5"},"6":{"id":1401143,"text":"A support enforcement agency;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"B5","prefix_anchor":"B5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"B6"},"7":{"id":1401144,"text":"The child’s guardian ad litem;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"B6","prefix_anchor":"B6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B5","next_prefix":"B7"},"8":{"id":1401145,"text":"A party or the party’s attorney of record in an adoption proceeding, custody proceeding, paternity proceeding, or in a proceeding of termination of parental rights, regarding a child who is the subject of the registration;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"B7","prefix_anchor":"B7","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B6","next_prefix":"B8"},"9":{"id":1401146,"text":"A putative father registry in another state; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"B8","prefix_anchor":"B8","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B7","next_prefix":"B9"},"10":{"id":1401147,"text":"A local department of social services for the purpose of establishing paternity of a child accepted for placement by a local board pursuant to § 63.2-900.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"B9","prefix_anchor":"B9","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B8","next_prefix":"C"},"11":{"id":1401148,"text":"Information contained in the registry shall be exempt from disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.).","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B9","next_prefix":"D"},"12":{"id":1401149,"text":"An individual who intentionally releases information from the registry to an individual or agency not authorized to receive the information in this section is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":53365,"edition_id":2,"name":"Virginia Birth Father Registry","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":7,"parent_id":53356,"metadata":{"child_laws":5,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:15:35","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:36:59","permalink":{"id":1498633,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53365,"identifier":"7","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/7","url":"\/63.2\/III\/12\/7\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53356,"edition_id":2,"name":"Adoption","identifier":"12","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":4,"parent_id":53353,"metadata":{"child_laws":67,"child_structures":9},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:15:27","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:36:58","permalink":{"id":1498367,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53356,"identifier":"12","token":"63.2\/III\/12","url":"\/63.2\/III\/12\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53353,"edition_id":2,"name":"Social Services Programs","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":3,"parent_id":53350,"metadata":{"child_laws":188,"child_structures":29},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:15:26","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:36:57","permalink":{"id":1498333,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53353,"identifier":"III","token":"63.2\/III","url":"\/63.2\/III\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53350,"edition_id":2,"name":"Welfare (Social Services)","identifier":"63.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":135,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":493,"child_structures":73},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:15:26","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:36:55","permalink":{"id":1497663,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53350,"identifier":"63.2","token":"63.2","url":"\/63.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":375346,"structure_id":53365,"section_number":"63.2-1249","catch_line":"Establishment of Registry","url":"\/63.2-1249\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/7\/63.2-1249","metadata":false},{"id":375347,"structure_id":53365,"section_number":"63.2-1250","catch_line":"Registration; notice; form","url":"\/63.2-1250\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/7\/63.2-1250","metadata":false},{"id":375348,"structure_id":53365,"section_number":"63.2-1251","catch_line":"Furnishing information; confidentiality; penalty","url":"\/63.2-1251\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/7\/63.2-1251","metadata":false},{"id":375349,"structure_id":53365,"section_number":"63.2-1252","catch_line":"Search of registry","url":"\/63.2-1252\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/7\/63.2-1252","metadata":false},{"id":375350,"structure_id":53365,"section_number":"63.2-1253","catch_line":"Duty to publicize registry","url":"\/63.2-1253\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/7\/63.2-1253","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":375347,"structure_id":53365,"section_number":"63.2-1250","catch_line":"Registration; notice; form","url":"\/63.2-1250\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/7\/63.2-1250","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":375349,"structure_id":53365,"section_number":"63.2-1252","catch_line":"Search of registry","url":"\/63.2-1252\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/7\/63.2-1252","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/63.2-1251\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2006. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 825<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2012, chapter 424<\/a>; in 2015, chapter 531<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":375349,"section_number":"63.2-1252","catch_line":"Search of registry","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1252\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":352955,"section_number":"2.2-3700","catch_line":"Short title; policy","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3700\/"},{"id":375722,"section_number":"63.2-900","catch_line":"Accepting children for placement in homes, facilities, etc., by local boards","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-900\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1498643,"object_type":"law","relational_id":375348,"identifier":"63.2-1251","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/7\/63.2-1251","url":"\/63.2-1251\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/63.2-1251\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/7\/63.2-1251","dublin_core":{"Title":"Furnishing information; confidentiality; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 63.2-1251","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Department<\/span> is not required to locate the mother of a child<\/span> who is the subject of a registration, but the Department<\/span> shall send a copy of the notice of registration to the mother if an address is provided. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Information contained in the registry is confidential and may only be released on request to: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> A court<\/span> or a person designated by the court<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The mother of the child<\/span> who is the subject of the registration; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> An agency authorized by law<\/span> to receive such information; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> A licensed child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> A support enforcement agency; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> The child<\/span>’s guardian ad litem<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> A party<\/span> or the party<\/span>’s attorney of record in an adoption proceeding, custody<\/span> proceeding, paternity proceeding, or in a proceeding of termination of parental rights, regarding a child<\/span> who is the subject of the registration; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> A putative father registry in another state; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> A local department<\/span> of social services<\/span> for the purpose of establishing paternity of a child<\/span> accepted for placement by a local board<\/span> pursuant to § 63.2-900<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Information contained in the registry shall be exempt from disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700<\/a> et seq.). <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> An individual who intentionally releases information from the registry to an individual or agency not authorized to receive the information in this section is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nFURNISHING INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY; PENALTY (\u00a7 63.2-1251)\n\nA. The Department is not required to locate the mother of a child who is the\nsubject of a registration, but the Department shall send a copy of the notice of\nregistration to the mother if an address is provided.\n\nB. Information contained in the registry is confidential and may only be\nreleased on request to:\n\n 1. A court or a person designated by the court;\n\n 2. The mother of the child who is the subject of the registration;\n\n 3. An agency authorized by law to receive such information;\n\n 4. A licensed child-placing agency;\n\n 5. A support enforcement agency;\n\n 6. The child’s guardian ad litem;\n\n 7. A party or the party’s attorney of record in an adoption proceeding,\n custody proceeding, paternity proceeding, or in a proceeding of termination of\n parental rights, regarding a child who is the subject of the registration;\n\n 8. A putative father registry in another state; and\n\n 9. A local department of social services for the purpose of establishing\n paternity of a child accepted for placement by a local board pursuant to\n § 63.2-900.\n\nC. Information contained in the registry shall be exempt from disclosure under\nthe Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.).\n\nD. An individual who intentionally releases information from the registry to an\nindividual or agency not authorized to receive the information in this section\nis guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: 2006, c. 825; 2012, c. 424; 2015, c. 531.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}