Adopting a child in Georgia will involve not only adherence to federal but also state regulations. The process of adoption in Georgia will be very similar to the process anywhere else in the United States. Georgia is also subject to the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children when the child, who is being adopted, is from outside the state of Georgia. ICPC allows for the sending state and the receiving state to be made aware that the child will be placed with the prospective adoptive family in the state of Georgia.
If you are adopting a child in Georgia, the process will begin with choosing and adoption agency or adoption attorney who will facilitate the adoption process. Once you have found a facilitator and your application to be represented has been accepted, they will lead you through the adoption process. This process will begin with an adoption home study. Georgia requires preservice training which is essentially education about adoption and child development. The home study will also include a safety audit of your home as well as multiple home visits and interviews. Adoption.com notes, “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 finances and occupation
– A description of the home and community
– Statements regarding the results of criminal records check and a check of the child abuse and neglect registry
– A minimum of three character references
– At least one reference must be from an extended family member not residing with the prospective adoptive family.
– If a prospective adoptive parent(s) has worked with children in the past five years, a reference must be obtained from the former employer(s) for that work experience.”
Once the home study has been completed, the adoption will move forward to the next steps. The next step will be dependent on the result of the home study as well as the type of adoption you are pursuing. If you are adopting from foster care, while it is not incredibly common that infants are available for adoption, you may already have a child you were hoping to adopt. At this point, the transition to placement of the child in your home may begin. If you are adopting privately, you may be simply waiting to be matched with an expectant mother.
If you are adopting privately, you may be required to pay certain pregnancy-related expenses for the expectant mother. In the state of Georgia, medical expenses directly related to the pregnancy of the care of the child would qualify. These fees are typically paid directly to the child placing agency who then funnels the money through the proper channels to pay for these medical expenses directly.
After the birth of the child, the birth mother has four days after she signs the consent to adopt to change her mind and take back custody of the child. The birth mother must withdrawal consent in writing within those four days or the consent is irrevocable. The consent can be signed any time after the birth of the child.
After a child has been placed in your home, you will be required to have at least two post-placement visits. After these visits are completed and all reports have been submitted to the courts, a finalization hearing can be scheduled. This finalization hearing can take place anywhere from three months to about one year after placement occurs. The finalization hearing is usually a formality and more like a celebratory ceremony unless there are extenuating circumstances such as concerns with the post-placement visits or other legal matters.
Are you ready to pursue adoption? Visit Adoption.org or call 1-800-ADOPT-98 to connect with compassionate, nonjudgmental adoption specialists who can help you get started on the journey of a lifetime.
