Savannah Adoption Lawyer

Every year more and more adoptions take place in the state of Georgia. Adoption is a viable option for couples who can’t have children or people who simply want to give a needy child a good home and a permanent family.

While adoption may seem confusing, it can be a relatively easy and pleasant experience for many people.

Adoption Defined

Simply put, adoption is the legal process used by a couple or an individual to give all the rights and responsibilities of parenthood to another person. Most adoptions involve a child.

When the adoption process is complete, the birth parents will no longer have any of the rights or responsibilities involving the child. The birth parents will either have their rights terminated, or voluntarily give up any right to the child. They will also not have the right to visit the child, or be involved in any way with any decisions the adoptive parents make for the child.

The only way to legally adopt a child in the state of Georgia is to have a court hearing in front of a judge.  Your attorney, the adoptive parents, and the child will have to be present at the hearing. The birth parents are not required to appear in court for this hearing, but the judge will require you and your attorney to prove that all parental rights of the birth parents have been terminated or voluntarily given up in order for the court to approve the adoption.

People eligible to adopt a child in the state of Georgia

If you want to adopt a child in Georgia you must be over the age of 25 and at least 10 years older than the child being adopted. Georgia law also requires that you be a resident of Georgia in order to adopt a child in that state.

While very rare, if an adult is being adopted they can be a resident of the state of Georgia, but the adopting parent does not have to reside in Georgia in order for the adoption to be granted.

Interstate Adoptions

If you live in Georgia but want to adopt a child from another state, it can be done, but there are very specific rules regarding out-of-state adoptions. The adoption must meet all the laws and requirements of both states before the child be allowed to move.

The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children is the governing body who oversees and regulates out-of-state adoptions.

Adopting Step-Children and Relatives

A step-parent may adopt their step-child if the biological parents of that child agree on the adoption. If a stepfather adopts, that child’s biological father will no longer have any rights to that child.  The same holds true in the event a stepmother adopts a stepchild. The child’s last name could be changed as a part of the adoption process.

In the case of the adoption of a relative; it can be done, but the biological parents will lose any rights they have to that child. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives may adopt a child if the biological parents are unable or unwilling to care for the child.

Adopting a Child From a Foreign Country

The easiest way to adopt a child from another country is to have the adoption finalized according to the laws of that country. Once you bring your child back to Georgia, you can file the paperwork to adopt that same child according to Georgia law.  This process will allow the state of Georgia to issue a certificate of Proof of Foreign Birth that will name you as the parents.

It’s possible to adopt a child in Georgia without going through the adoption process of the foreign country, but, other countries have very strict laws regarding the removal of children from their borders. Adoption a child without going through the adoption process of the other country can also be very complicated. If you don’t follow the laws of the foreign country and try to remove the child, you could be arrested and thrown in jail in that country. Your best bet would be to abide by the adoption laws of the other country, and then redo the process once you and the child are on Georgia soil.