Title 16, Domestic Relations
11 chapters · 247 sections in this title.
16 V.I.C. § 141 Petition for adoption
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Any inhabitant of the Virgin Islands may petition the proper court to adopt a child who is not his own and who is in the Virgin Islands. If desired, the petition may also ask for a change of the child's name. In no case however, may the petition of a person who has a spouse be gr…
16 V.I.C. § 142 Consent of parents; appointment of guardian ad litem
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(a) The parents of the child, or the survivor of them, shall, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, consent in writing to such adoption. If neither parent is living, the guardian of the child, or, if there is no guardian, the next of kin in the Virgin Islands may give suc…
16 V.I.C. § 143 Notice to non-consenting parents
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(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 we…
16 V.I.C. § 144 Consent of child
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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.
16 V.I.C. § 145 Order of adoption; change of name
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(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 r…
16 V.I.C. § 146 Effect of adoption
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(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 lawf…
16 V.I.C. § 147 Subsidized Adoption Act in effect; administered by Department of Social Welfare
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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, pr…