Virginia statute
Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-288 — Protection of religious affiliations
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Article 9: Disposition, Code of Virginia.
Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-288
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.
In placing a child under the guardianship or custody of an individual or of a private agency or institution, the court shall whenever practicable select a person, or an agency or institution governed by persons, of the same religious faith as that of the parents of the child, or in case of a difference in the religious faith of the parents and religious faith of the child, or, if the religious faith of the child is not ascertainable, then of the faith of either of the parents or of the child, unless the parent or parents of the child waive such selection.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.