Georgia Code, Title 19, Chapter 8, Article 1 - General Provisions

• § 19-8-1 - Definitions
  For purposes of this chapter, the term: (1) "Biological father" means the male who impregnated the biological mother resulting in the birth of the...
• § 19-8-2 - Jurisdiction and Venue of Adoption Proceedings
  (a) The superior courts of the several counties shall have exclusive jurisdiction in all matters of adoption, except such jurisdiction as may be granted...
• § 19-8-3 - Who May Adopt a Child; When Petition Must Be Filed in Names of Both Spouses
  (a) Any adult person may petition to adopt a child if the person: (1) Is at least 25 years of age or is married...
• § 19-8-4 - When Surrender or Termination of Parental or Guardian's Rights Required; Consent of Child of 14 or Older Necessary; Acknowledgment of Surrender; Compliance With Interstate Compact on Placement of Children
  (a) Except as otherwise authorized in this chapter, a child who has any living parent or guardian may be adopted through the department or...
• § 19-8-5 - Surrender or Termination of Parental or Guardian's Rights Where Child to Be Adopted by Third Party
  (a) Except as otherwise authorized in this chapter, a child who has any living parent or guardian may be adopted by a third party...
• § 19-8-6 - Surrender of Parental Rights Where Father and Mother Not Still Married; Surrender of Rights Where Only One Parent Still Living
  (a) Except as otherwise authorized in this chapter: (1) A child whose legal father and legal mother are both living but are not still...
• § 19-8-7 - Surrender or Termination of Parental or Guardian's Rights Where Child Adopted by Relative
  (a) Except as otherwise authorized in this Code section, a child who has any living parent or guardian may be adopted by a relative...
• § 19-8-8 - Adoption Based Upon Foreign Decrees and Valid Visa
  A child may be adopted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter based upon: (1) A decree which has been entered pursuant to due...
• § 19-8-9 - Surrender of Parental Rights Where Legal Mother Puts Up for Adoption Child She Previously Adopted Herself; Withdrawal of Surrender; Expiration of Rights
  (a) In those cases where the legal mother of the child being placed for adoption has herself previously adopted such child, said adoptive mother...
• § 19-8-10 - When Surrender or Termination of Parental Rights Not Required; Service on Parents in Such Cases
  (a) Surrender or termination of rights of a parent pursuant to subsection (a) of Code Section 19-8-4, 19-8-5, 19-8-6, or 19-8-7 shall not be...
• § 19-8-11 - Petitioning Superior Court to Terminate Parental Rights; Service of Process
  (a)(1) In those cases where the department or a child-placing agency has either obtained: (A) The voluntary written surrender of all parental rights from...
• § 19-8-12 - Notice to Biological Father; Procedure When Identity or Location of Father Not Known; Petition, Hearing, and Order; When Rights of Biological Father Terminated; Legitimation of Child by Father; Rights of Mother
  (a) The General Assembly finds that: (1) The state has a compelling interest in promptly providing stable and permanent homes for adoptive children, and...
• § 19-8-13 - Petition; Filing and Contents; Financial Disclosures; Attorney's Affidavit
  (a) The petition for adoption, duly verified, together with one conformed copy thereof, must be filed with the clerk of the superior court having...
• § 19-8-14 - Timing of Adoption Hearing; Required Records; Filing
  (a) It is the policy of this state that, in the best interest of the child, uncontested adoption petitions should be heard as soon...
• § 19-8-15 - When Objections May Be Filed by Relatives to Petition for Adoption
  If the child sought to be adopted has no legal father or legal mother living, it shall be the privilege of any person related...
• § 19-8-16 - Investigation by Child-Placing Agency or Other Agent
  (a) Prior to the date set by the court for a hearing on the petition for adoption, it shall be the duty of a...
• § 19-8-17 - Report and Recommendation of Investigating Agency; Dismissal of Petition; Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem
  (a) The report and findings of the investigating agency shall include, among other things, the following: (1) Verification of allegations contained in the petition;...
• § 19-8-18 - Hearing and Decree of Adoption; District Attorney to Be Directed to Review Inducement of Violations; Disposition of Child on Denial of Petition
  (a)(1) Upon the date appointed by the court for a hearing of the petition for adoption or as soon thereafter as the matter may...
• § 19-8-19 - Effect of Decree of Adoption
  (a) A decree of adoption, whether issued by a court of this state or by a court of any other jurisdiction, shall have the...
• § 19-8-20 - Forwarding of Decree, Report, and Subsequent Orders to Department; Issuance of Adoption Certificate; Use As Evidence
  (a) Upon the entry of the decree of adoption, the clerk of the court granting the same shall forward a copy of the decree,...
• § 19-8-21 - Adoption of Adult Persons; Applicability of Code Sections 19-8-19 and 19-8-20
  (a) Adult persons may be adopted on giving written consent to the adoption. In such cases, adoption shall be by a petition duly verified...
• § 19-8-22 - Recognition and Effect of Foreign Decrees
  (a) A decree of a court terminating the relationship of parent and child or establishing the relationship of parent and child by adoption, issued...
• § 19-8-23 - Where Records of Adoption Kept; Examination by Parties and Attorneys; Use of Information by Agency and Department
  (a) The original petition, all amendments and exhibits thereto, all motions, documents, affidavits, records, and testimony filed in connection therewith, and all decrees or...
• § 19-8-24 - Unlawful Advertisements; Unlawful Inducements; Penalties
  (a) It shall be unlawful for any person, organization, corporation, hospital, or association of any kind whatsoever which has not been established as a...
• § 19-8-25 - Effect of Prior Consent or Surrender
  (a) A written consent or surrender, executed on or before June 30, 1990, shall, for purposes of an adoption proceeding commenced on or after...
• § 19-8-26 - How Surrender of Parental Rights Executed; How and When Surrender May Be Withdrawn; Forms
  (a) The surrender of rights by a parent or guardian pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (e) of Code Section 19-8-4 shall conform substantially...
• § 19-8-27 - Postadoption Contact Agreements; Definitions; Procedure; Jurisdiction; Warnings; Enforcement or Termination; Modification; Costs and Expenses of Mediation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Litigation
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term "birth relative" means: (1) A parent, biological father who is not the legal father, grandparent,...

Last modified: October 14, 2016