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Child custody

adoption

Adoption is the legal process in which a person assumes responsibility for the health, safety, well-being, and financial support of another person—usually a child—and terminates the rights and responsibilities of the adopted person’s biological parent or parents.

In Georgia, adoption is governed by the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) Title 19, Chapter 8. The process allows an individual or couple to legally assume parental rights and responsibilities for a child, thereby terminating the legal rights of the child's biological parents. Prospective adoptive parents must meet eligibility requirements, which include being at least 25 years old or married and 10 years older than the child, and they must pass a home study that assesses their ability to provide a safe and stable environment. The adoption process in Georgia may involve the consent of the biological parents, unless their rights have been terminated due to specific reasons such as abandonment or unfitness. The process also includes a period of supervision before the adoption is finalized in court. Adoptions can be facilitated through private agencies, the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) for children in foster care, or independently with the assistance of an attorney. After the adoption is finalized, the adoptive parents have the same rights and responsibilities as if the child were born to them, and the child gains inheritance rights and other legal rights and privileges.

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Child custody

adoption

Individual & Family Legal Plan

Articles

Georgia State Code

Child custody

adoption

Georgia State Code

Articles