Placement of Children With Relatives - Virgin Islands

Date: September 2022

Relative Placement for Foster Care and Guardianship

Citation: Ann. Code Tit. 5, §§ 2549; 2550

If a child is found to be abused or neglected at a disposition hearing, the court may make any of the following orders of disposition:

  • Permit the child to remain with their parents, guardian, or other person responsible for their care, subject to such conditions as the court may prescribe
  • Place the child under protective supervision
  • Transfer legal custody to any of the following:
    • A relative or other individual
    • A public or private agency responsible for the care of abused or neglected children

The term 'relative' means a grandparent, great-grandparent, sibling, first cousin, or a parent's or grandparent's sibling or that sibling's child, whether related by the whole-blood or half-blood, by affinity, or by adoption or a stepparent.

Requirements for Placement with Relatives

Citation: Ann. Code Tit. 5, § 2549

The relative or other individual who receives custody of a child must be found by the court to be qualified and willing to receive and care for the child, based on a study by the Department of Social Welfare.

Requirements for Placement of Siblings

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.

Relatives Who May Adopt

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.

Requirements for Adoption by Relatives

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.

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