Putative father had standing to participate in adoption

“Upon consideration of the record, briefs, and argument of counsel, the Court is of the opinion that there is no reversible error in the judgment of the Court of Appeals. Accordingly, the Court affirms the judgment of the Court of Appeals for the reasons stated in Berry v. Barnes, 72 Va. App. 281, 295 (2020).

“This order shall be published in the Virginia Reports and certified to the Court of Appeals of Virginia and the Circuit Court of Arlington County.”

[Editor’s note: The Court of Appeals held that where an adoption agency sent a certified letter to a putative father informing him about the Virginia Birth Father Registry, he was not obligated to register within the time specified in Code § 63.2-1250(F) to have standing to participate in the child’s adoption proceedings. The father acquired standing under a statutory alternative provided in Code § 63.2-1250(E) by registering within 10 days of the child’s birth.]

Barnes v. Berry, Record No. 200990 (Published Order; Mims, dissenting) Aug. 5, 2021. Upon an appeal from a judgment rendered by the Court of Appeals of Virginia. VLW 021-6-058, 2 pp.