In 2006, Virginia joined a growing number of states in creating a Putative Father Registry. There has been a bill before congress for quite some time which would create a National Putative Father Registry, but to date, it has not been enacted. What is the...

Birth Parents
What Rights Does a Birthfather Have?
In Virginia, fathers and mothers have the same legal rights, and a birthfather has the same rights as a birthmother. However, these rights can greatly diminish if the birthfather has not played an active role in the child's life. Virginia Adoption Law...
What if the birth mother will not say who the birth father is?
In Virginia Adoption Law, birth fathers have full parental rights. Consequently, a birth mother has no legal right to conceal the identity of the birth father. They must either consent to the adoption in writing or be served with notice of the...
What Happens if the Birth Father Denies Paternity?
If the man whom the birth mother identifies under oath as being the birth father denies paternity, he may sign a Denial of Paternity. This is just as effective as a signed Consent. However, it will be necessary to search the Virginia Putative Father...
If the birth father cannot be identified, can an adoption still go forward?
Sometimes a birth mother does not know the full identity of the birth father. However, it is also important to understand that a birth mother may be reluctant to identify the birth father because of various emotions, such as shame or fear, and may simply deny...