Adoption is an emotionally charged and complicated legal process. When Georgia parents (or a single parent) agree to be responsible for the care of a child, the family must appear in a Georgia Family Law court to finalize the procedure. Adoptive parents must be 25 years old or an adult married couple. Georgia laws give potential parents several options for adoption.
o Private adoption agencies. These agencies handle all aspects of the adoption. Financial assistance may be given to the birth mother, the adoptive parents will be screened and the agency handles the termination of the birth parents' rights. These adoptions can cost the adoptive parents thousands of dollars. These cases must be heard in Georgia family court since the agency has custody of the child until the adoption is finalized.
o Agencies such as the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services encourage the adoption of children placed in its care that have been there for a lengthy period of time. In most cases, the parent's rights have been terminated because of abuse, abandonment or neglect. Many of these children spend years in foster care before they are adopted.
o Private adoptions are allowed under Georgia law. These adoptions are usually handled by a Georgia family law attorney. The birth mother will relinquish her parent rights and the adoptive parents will file paperwork in court to become the parents. Selling babies is illegal in Georgia and the adoptive parents have to be careful about offering monetary assistance to the birth mother.
o Adoptions by family members or step parents. These adoptions can be challenged if the birth parent objects. In either case, if the parent objects and is present in the child's life, the courts will not likely grant the adoption. The exception is in cases of abuse or neglect.
o International adoptions are becoming more common, especially from Asian countries. These are done by adoption agencies or through attorneys. Even if the adoption is finalized in the foreign country, the parents have to readopt the child in Georgia.
o In rare cases, an adult will adopt another adult. This can occur when a step parent wants to adopt the adult child or in circumstances where the adopted adult has mental or developmental challenges and cannot care for themselves.
Georgia adoption records are sealed as are the original birth records. The only way those records can be unsealed is by a court order or through the Georgia Adoption Reunion Registry, a state agency created in 1990. However if the adoptive parent doesn't want to be found, the registry is not allowed to release his or her name.
Michael Waddington is a trial attorney that has been quoted by hundreds of major media sources to include USA Today, Washington Post, New York Times, Newsweek, Fox News, Fox and Friends, CNN, MSNBC, CBS News, ABC News and many others. He is the founder of the legal marketing firm, Legal Niche Pros, LLC. Learn more at http://www.legalnichepros.com or visit a demo site Macon Divorce Lawyer.
Home Articles Privacy Policy About Us Contact Us