What you need to know about...
Adopting in Georgia
Adoption in Georgia
Georgia is on our minds, and so are their adoption laws, which tend to be quite supportive of everyone involved. Any adult, including a foster parent, may adopt as long as s/he is 25 years or older or married and living with his/her spouse, at least 10 years older than the adoptee, a resident of Georgia for 6 months or more, and financially, physically, and mentally prepared to become an adoptive parent. The Birth Mom may receive financial support from the Adoptive Parent(s) when it comes to medical, legal, with affidavit and reasonable living expenses (if licensed by an agency). Consent is four days after documents are signed and if revoked the baby is automatically returned to the Birth Mom. Fun fact about Georgia, it's nicknamed, The Peach State.
Home Study Providers in Georgia
PairTree Home Study
The Modern Way to Home Study
Adoption Attorneys in Georgia
21 Adoption Agencies in GA
16 
AAAA Attorneys in GA
Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys
Who’s Waiting to Adopt in Georgia
Pregnant? Call/Text us at
(206) 279-7578
Personality Type
Most Common Personality Types Amoung Waiting Families on PairTree
Data is from LifePair™ - Our proprietary, personality-based matching system.
Average Age
45 years old
Profession
Most Common Professions Amoung Waiting Families on PairTree
Family Structure
Political Affiliation
Education
Race
Find Families
Browse profiles and get to know our hopeful parents.
Traveling For Your Adoption in Georgia
Length of ICPC
in Georgia
1-60 days
Email: glenene.lanier@dhs.ga.gov
Georgia adheres to the Interstate Compact On The Placement of Children (ICPC) – a uniform law in all 50 States that establishes procedures for the interstate placement of children. The ICPC also places specific responsibilities on those involved in placing the children. The three principle goals of the ICPC are to:
Protect the children being placed.
Ensure that they receive the services they need.
Facilitate permanent placements for those children who are in state custody
Adoption Law FAQ in Georgia
Advertising Law Info
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Can adoptive parents advertise for birth parents?
No.
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State Advertising Code of Law
Citation: Ann. Code § 19-8-24(a)(1), (d)
It shall be unlawful for any person, organization, corporation, hospital, or association that has not been established as a child-placing agency by the Department of Human Services to advertise, whether in a periodical, by television, radio, or any other public medium or private means, that the person, organization, corporation, hospital, or association will adopt children or will arrange for children to be placed for adoption.
Individuals seeking to adopt a child or to place their child for adoption may communicate by private means, which include only written letters or oral statements.
Adoption Law Info
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Who Can Adopt?
Any adult, including a foster parent, may adopt as long as s/he is 25 years or older or married and living with his/her spouse, at least 10 years older than the adoptee, a resident of Georgia for 6 months or more, and financially, physically, and mentally prepared to become an adoptive parent.
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Can out-of-state residents finalize an adoption?
No.
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Can adopting parents use an adoption facilitator or another paid intermediary?
Yes, but adopting parents may only use a child-placing agency that is recognized by the state.
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What birth parent expenses may be paid, and in what time period?
Medical, legal, with affidavit. Reasonable living expenses if licensed agency adoption.
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When does consent become irrevocable? If consent is revoked, is return to birth parent automatic?
4 days after signing; if the 4th day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then period extends to next business day. Return generally automatic.
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Qualifications for Adoptive Parents for adoption
Citation: Ann. Code § 19-8-3
Any adult person meeting the requirements listed below shall be eligible to apply to the department or a child-placing agency for consideration as an adoption applicant. The person may petition to adopt a child if he or she:
• Is at least age 25 or married and living with his or her spouse
• Is at least 10 years older than the child
• Has been a bona fide resident of the State for at least 6 months immediately preceding the filing of the petition
• Is financially, physically, and mentally able to have permanent custody of the child
Home Study Info
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Elements of a Home Study for Adoption
Citation: Rules & Regs. r. 290-9-2-.06(3)
The home study shall include at least three visits on separate days. At least one visit shall be in the home, and the applicant and all other family members shall be see and interviewed. Prospective adoptive parents shall be interviewed together as well as separately.
The study shall include at least the following information concerning the prospective adoptive family:
• Motivation to adopt
• A physical description and social background of each family member
• An evaluation of parenting practices
• A summary of health history and condition of each family member
• An informal assessment of the emotional and mental health of each family member
• An evaluation of the understanding of and adjustment to adoptive parenting
• An evaluation of the prospective adoptive parent(s)â finances and occupation
• A description of the home and community
• Statements regarding the results of a criminal records check and a check of the child abuse and neglect registry
• A minimum of three character references:
o At least one reference must be from an extended family member not residing with the prospective adoptive family.
o If a prospective adoptive parent(s) has worked with children in the past 5 years, a reference must be obtained from the former employer(s) for that work experience. -
Grounds for Withholding Approval for Adoption
This issue is not addressed in the statutes and regulations reviewed.
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When Home Studies Must Be Completed for Adoption
Citation: Rules & Regs. r. 290-9-2-.06(3)
The home study must be completed prior to the placement of a child in the home. When a family is approved for an adoption placement by a Georgia agency, and a child has not been placed with the family within 1 year of the date of the approval by that agency, there shall be documentation annually of the reason(s) a placement has not been made, and a home study update shall be completed prior to a placement being made.
At a minimum, a home study update must include at least one home visit, the applicantâs current employment status, updated medical reports, changes in family composition, and any changes in types of children requested. -
Postplacement Study Requirements for Adoption
Citation: Rules & Regs. r. 290-9-2-.06(7)
The agency caseworker shall make at least two home visits after the placement of the child and prior to the filing of the petition for adoption.
• The first home visit may be made at any time after the placement of the child.
• There shall be a minimum of 2 weeks between the required home visits for a child age 12 months or younger.
• There shall be a minimum of 30 days between the required home visits for a child older than 12 months.
Home visits shall be made with the prospective adoptive family at least once a month prior to the filing of a petition for adoption to verify that the prospective parent(s) are delivering care in a safe and healthy environment to the children in accordance with these rules and regulations and relevant agency policies and procedures. Such visits shall include observation of the child and at least one prospective adoptive parent in the home.