Starting the adoption process in Georgia can feel overwhelming, but understanding the first steps can make the journey easier to navigate. From choosing the right adoption professional to completing required paperwork and legal requirements, knowing what to expect can help you move forward with confidence.
The adoption process in Georgia begins well before any paperwork is filed. First, you’ll want to confirm that you meet Georgia’s requirements, decide which type of adoption fits your family, and talk with an adoption attorney before you sign or promise anything.
Those choices shape the rest of the process, from who has to consent to whether you’ll need a home study. Families who skip ahead sometimes end up redoing steps they thought were finished.
Who Can Adopt a Child in Georgia?
Georgia law sets out who may petition to adopt a child. These rules are found in the Georgia adoption code, O.C.G.A. Title 19, Chapter 8, and a few of them work differently for stepparents and relatives.
Georgia Adoption Requirements
In general, a person who wants to adopt a child in Georgia must:
- Be at least 25 years old, or be married and living with their spouse
- Be at least 10 years older than the child, with some exceptions for stepparents and relatives
- Have lived in Georgia for at least six months before filing the petition, unless an exception applies
- Be financially, physically, and mentally able to care for the child permanently
Married couples usually file together. In a stepparent adoption, the stepparent files the petition and their spouse, who is already the child’s legal parent, consents to it. If you live outside Georgia, ask an attorney whether an exception applies to you.
Can Single Adults and LGBT Couples Adopt in Georgia?
Yes. Single adults can adopt in Georgia, and so can same-sex couples. Our post on Georgia’s adoption landscape for LGBT couples covers the legal background in more detail.
For couples who had a child through donor conception or surrogacy, a confirmatory or second-parent adoption secures the non-biological parent’s legal relationship with the child through a court judgment. Ask your attorney whether it’s recommended for your family, even if both parents are already on the birth certificate.
Which Type of Adoption Fits Your Situation?
After eligibility, the biggest decision is the type of adoption. It affects almost everything that follows: who has to consent, whether you need a home study, how long the process takes, and what it costs.
The Main Types of Adoption in Georgia
The table below shows where each type of adoption usually begins. The home study column is a general guide only. The court and your attorney will confirm what applies in your case.
| Type of Adoption | Where It Usually Starts | Home Study? |
| Private infant adoption | Choosing an attorney or agency, then completing a home study before a match with an expectant parent. A baby born in another state adds an interstate approval step. | Yes |
| Agency adoption | Applying to a licensed child-placing agency and completing its approval process | Yes |
| Stepparent adoption | Looking at the other biological parent’s rights and whether they will consent | Often not required |
| Relative or kinship adoption | Reviewing any existing custody or guardianship order and the parents’ consent | Depends on the case |
| Foster care adoption | Working with Georgia DFCS and the child’s case plan | Yes |
| Second-parent or confirmatory adoption | Confirming the legal status of a non-biological parent in an established family | Depends on the case |
| Adult adoption | The adult adoptee’s written consent | No |
When More Than One Path Could Work
Some families have a choice to make. A grandparent raising a grandchild might start with guardianship and move to kinship adoption in Georgia later, once the family’s situation is more settled. Guardianship keeps the parents’ rights in place, while adoption is permanent.
Where the child is born can change the path, too. If you’re adopting a baby born in another state, the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) adds an approval step before you can bring the baby home. We explain that process in our post on choosing the right adoption attorney. Stepparents can find a walk-through of their process on our stepparent adoption page.
What Are the First Steps in the Georgia Adoption Process?
Once you know your type of adoption, the first steps look similar for most families.
- Confirm your eligibility. Check the requirements above against your situation, including age, residency, and marital status. If anything is unclear, make a note to ask about it at your consultation.
- Choose the type of adoption. Use the table above to find the path that fits your family. Some families are deciding between two paths, such as adoption and guardianship, and that’s fine at this stage.
- Talk with an adoption attorney. Do this before you sign an agency or facilitator agreement and before you make any commitment to an expectant parent. Our guide to choosing an adoption attorney in Georgia covers what to look for.
- Gather your documents. Most families will need identification, birth certificates, marriage and divorce records, financial information, and medical statements. Some records take weeks to arrive, so start early.
- Complete the home study, if one is required. A licensed agency or evaluator will visit your home and prepare a report for the court. More on this below.
- Move toward placement, filing, and the final hearing. Your attorney files the petition for adoption, secures the required consents, and represents you at the final hearing in superior court, where the judge signs the decree.
What Happens During a Home Study?
A home study is an evaluation that helps the court decide whether a placement is in the child’s best interest. A licensed child-placing agency or an approved evaluator conducts it.
Many families worry about this step. The evaluator isn’t looking for a perfect family. They’re looking at safety and readiness. Expect background checks, interviews, a visit to your home, references, and a look at your health and finances. Nobody expects a spotless house.
For more background, the Child Welfare Information Gateway, a service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, publishes plain-language material on home studies.
What Mistakes Should You Avoid When Starting an Adoption?
A few missteps come up again and again:
- Signing an agency or facilitator contract before an attorney has reviewed it
- Making informal promises to an expectant parent about contact or expenses
- Assuming a stepparent adoption doesn’t involve the other biological parent
- Staying in a guardianship arrangement when the family’s long-term goal is adoption
- Waiting until the last minute to request records and documents
Expense payments deserve extra care. Georgia law limits which expenses adoptive parents may pay on a birth parent’s behalf, and an improper payment can create legal problems for the adoption, not just delays. Talk with your attorney before paying anything.
Most of the other missteps can be corrected, at a cost in time and money. If a match does fall through, our guide to failed adoption matches explains what happens next.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does It Take to Adopt a Child in Georgia?
It depends on the type of adoption and on a few Georgia-specific factors. Locating and notifying an absent parent can add time to a stepparent or relative adoption. A private infant adoption involves waiting for a match, and a baby born in another state adds ICPC approval. Home study scheduling and the county court’s calendar also play a part. Your attorney can give you an estimate once they know your situation.
How Long Does a Home Study Take in Georgia?
The timing depends on the provider’s schedule, how quickly background checks and references come back, and how prepared your documents are. Having your records ready helps. Ask your home study provider for their current timeline when you first contact them.
How Much Does Adoption Cost in Georgia?
Costs depend mostly on the type of adoption. Stepparent, relative, and adult adoptions generally cost the least. Private infant adoptions cost more because they can involve agency fees, a home study, and separate counsel for birth parents. Our attorney selection guide lists each cost to compare. Families adopting from foster care should ask Georgia DFCS about adoption assistance.
Is There a Tax Credit for Adoption in Georgia?
Georgia’s state adoption tax credit is generally limited to children adopted from foster care, meaning children in DFCS custody. Private infant and stepparent adoptions don’t qualify for it. The Georgia Department of Revenue publishes the current amount and rules. The federal adoption tax credit covers a wider range of adoptions, and the IRS adoption credit page explains who is eligible.
Getting Started With Claiborne Fox Bradley Goldman
For more than 30 years, Claiborne Fox Bradley Goldman (GA Baby Law) has helped families grow through adoption, surrogacy, and assisted reproduction. We’ve completed more than 1,000 adoptions and represent adoptive parents in every type of adoption covered in this guide.
You don’t need to have chosen a path before you meet with us. At the first consultation, we look at your eligibility, talk through which type of adoption fits, and point out anything that needs attention right away, such as an absent parent or an out-of-state birth. Bring any agency paperwork, custody or guardianship orders, and your questions. We meet with families at our Atlanta office and our office in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Taking the First Step
Adoption asks a lot of a family. The legal side doesn’t have to add to that. When eligibility is settled and the right path is chosen early, the home study, filings, and final hearing tend to go more smoothly.
If you’re ready to start the adoption process in Georgia, or you’re still deciding which path fits your family, schedule a consultation with Claiborne Fox Bradley Goldman and bring the questions this guide raised.
