Preplacement home study bill passed by Georgia legislature
Since the passage of Senate Bill 172, completion of an Adoption Home Study is necessary for all prospective adoptive families prior to a child being placed in their home.
Licensed adoption agencies in GA have historically completed adoptive home studies for families going through the agency adoption process and thus, have the experience and skill for doing home studies to prepare families for adoption and gather information to make sure these families are appropriate and safe families for children.
GALAA member agencies are all licensed child placing adoption agencies and can provide home study services for families. Prospective adoptive families can call any of the listed agencies to find out if they provide home study services and the fees that are connected to these services.
At GALAA, we're here to advocate for good adoption policies. Here are some of the Georgia Adoption Laws you should know about.
GEORGIA ADOPTION LAWS
Georgia Adoption Law as amended September 1, 2018
House Bill 159 passed and became effective September 1, 2018 and brought some important changes to state laws regarding adoption requirements. The most important updates are below.
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Previously, after surrendering parental rights to a child, the birth mother had 10 days to revoke her surrender. Under this new bill, a birth mother now has 4 days to revoke their surrender of parental rights.
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Under House Bill 159, individuals that are looking to adopt in the state of Georgia no longer have to be a resident for a minimum of 6 months.
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The age that adopted individuals must be in order to access the Georgia Adoption Reunion Registry has been lowered to 18 years old.
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To view the changes in their entirety, reference the following link;
http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20172018/172421.pdf
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H.R. 6220 "THE ADOPT ACT" was a federal bill acknowledging that adoption deserves oversight, protections, and transparency. It was bipartisan legislation designed to eliminate online, for-profit adoption brokers in the united states. It aimed to reduce the cost of adoption and ensure that all service providers were licensed and had appropriate oversight. The bill failed due to significant criticism regarding effectiveness.
Senate Bill 100 (Andee's Law)
Georgia has passed Senate Bill 100, which will take effect on July 1, 2025. This law allows for adopted individuals in Georgia to receive their original birth certificate. Adopted individuals aged 18 and over will be able to request a copy of their original birth certificate from the State Registrar by paying the standard fee. This access allows adoptees to gain insights into their biological heritage and personal history.
The law also provides access for relatives of deceased Adoptees. In cases where the adopted individual is deceased, the adoptee's parents, siblings, or descendants can request the original birth certificate, facilitating family connections and historical understanding.​
The Adopt Act Update: Act Failed
Georgia State Advertising Laws
Please be advised that individuals or organizations that are not licensed by the Department of Human Services as a Child Placing Agency are prohibited from advertising adoption services on any platform in the state of Georgia. If you are an individual that is planning on adopting children in the state of Georgia, please ensure that you are working with an agency that is licensed to avoid the risk of unethical practice.
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To review the DHS notice, reference the following link;
https://dhs.georgia.gov/notice-updates-georgia-laws-impacting-adoption-advertisements