2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 19 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS (§§ 19-1-1 — 19-15-7) › Chapter 8 - ADOPTION (§§ 19-8-1 — 19-8-43) › Article 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 19-8-1 — 19-8-28) › Section 19-8-4 - [See Note] Adoption through the department, child-placing agency, or out-of-state licensed agency (§ 19-8-4) › 2

(a)
A child may be adopted through the department, any child-placing agency, or any out-of-state licensed agency only if each living parent and guardian of such child:
(1)
Has voluntarily and in writing surrendered all of his or her rights to the child to the department, a child-placing agency, or an out-of-state licensed agency as provided in this Code section and such department, child-placing agency, or out-of-state licensed agency thereafter consents to the adoption; or
(2)
Has had all of his or her rights to the child terminated by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, the child has been committed by the court to the department, a child-placing agency, or an out-of-state licensed agency for placement for adoption, and such department, child-placing agency, or out-of-state licensed agency thereafter consents to the adoption.
(b)
In the case of a child 14 years of age or older, the written consent of the child to his or her adoption shall be given and acknowledged in the presence of the court.
(c)
The surrender of rights to the department, a child-placing agency, or an out-of-state licensed agency specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (e) of this Code section shall be executed following the birth of the child, and the pre-birth surrender to the department, a child-placing agency, or an out-of-state licensed agency specified in paragraph (3) of subsection (e) of this Code section shall be executed prior to the birth of the child. Each surrender shall be executed under oath and in the presence of a notary public and an adult witness. A copy of the surrender shall be provided to the individual signing the surrender at the time of the execution thereof.
(d)
An individual signing a surrender of rights pursuant to this Code section shall have the right to revoke such surrender within four days as provided in subsection (a) of Code Section
19-8-9
.
(e)
(1)
The surrender of rights by a parent or guardian specified in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Code section shall meet the requirements of subsection (a) of Code Section
19-8-26
. Such surrender shall be signed under oath and in the presence of a notary public and an adult witness.
(2)
A biological father who is not a legal father of a child may surrender all his rights to the child for the purpose of an adoption pursuant to this Code section. Such surrender shall meet the requirements of subsection (d) of Code Section
19-8-26
. Such surrender shall be signed under oath and in the presence of a notary public and an adult witness.
(3)
(A)
A biological father who is not a legal father of a child may execute a surrender of his rights to the child prior to the birth of the child for the purpose of an adoption pursuant to this Code section. A pre-birth surrender shall serve to relinquish an alleged biological father's rights to the child and to waive an alleged biological father's right to notice of any proceeding with respect to the child's adoption, custody, or guardianship. The court in any adoption proceeding shall have jurisdiction to enter a final order of adoption of the child based upon the pre-birth surrender and in other proceedings to determine the child's legal custody or guardianship shall have jurisdiction to enter an order for those purposes.
(B)
The rights and responsibilities of an alleged biological father shall be permanently terminated only upon an order from a court of competent jurisdiction terminating such rights or the entry of a final order of adoption. An individual executing a pre-birth surrender pursuant to this Code section shall have the right to revoke such surrender within four days from the date of execution thereof, notwithstanding the date of birth of the child.
(C)
If a final order of adoption is not entered after the execution of a pre-birth surrender and paternity is established by acknowledgment, by administrative order, or by judicial order, then an alleged biological father shall be responsible for child support or other financial obligations to the child or to a legal mother, or to both.
(D)
The pre-birth surrender shall not be valid for use by a legal father.
(E)
The pre-birth surrender may be executed at any time after the biological mother executes a sworn statement identifying such individual as an alleged biological father of the biological mother's unborn child meeting the requirements of subsection (m) of Code Section
19-8-26
.
(F)
The pre-birth surrender shall meet the requirements of subsection (f) of Code Section
19-8-26
and shall be signed under oath and in the presence of a notary public and an adult witness.
(f)
A surrender of rights shall be acknowledged by the individual who surrenders those rights by also signing an acknowledgment meeting the requirements of subsection (g) of Code Section
19-8-26
. Such acknowledgment shall be signed under oath and in the presence of a notary public and an adult witness.
(g)
(1)
A legal mother who surrenders her parental rights pursuant to this Code section shall execute an affidavit meeting the requirements of subsection (h) of Code Section
19-8-26
. Such affidavit shall be signed under oath and in the presence of a notary public.
(2)
A legal mother who is the adoptive mother of the child and who surrenders her parental rights pursuant to this Code section shall execute an affidavit meeting the requirements of subsection (i) of Code Section
19-8-26
. Such affidavit shall be signed under oath and in the presence of a notary public.
(h)
Whenever rights are surrendered to the department, a child-placing agency, or an out-of-state licensed agency, the department or agency representative before whom the surrender of rights is signed shall execute an affidavit meeting the requirements of subsection (j) of Code Section
19-8-26
. Such affidavit shall be signed under oath and in the presence of a notary public.
(i)
A surrender of rights pursuant to this Code section may be given by any parent or biological father who is not a legal father of the child regardless of whether such individual is a citizen of the United States, a resident of this state, or has reached the age of 18 years. Such surrender given by such individual shall be binding upon him or her as if the individual were in all respects sui juris and shall include a consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state for any action filed under this article. Such surrender shall state that such individual agrees to be bound by a decree of adoption.
(j)
In any surrender of rights pursuant to this Code section, Chapter 4A of Title 39, relating to the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children, if applicable, shall be complied with.
(k)
A biological father or a legal father who signs a surrender of rights may execute an affidavit regarding his Native American heritage and military service meeting the requirements of subsection (n) of Code Section
19-8-26
. Such affidavit shall be signed under oath and in the presence of a notary public.
Amended by 2024 Ga. Laws 425,§ 5, eff. upon enactment of the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children into law by the thirty-fifth state.
Amended by 2024 Ga. Laws 425,§ 4, eff. upon enactment of the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children into law by the thirty-fifth state.
Amended by 2018 Ga. Laws 285,§ 1-1, eff. 9/1/2018.
Amended by 2016 Ga. Laws 404,§ 10, eff. 7/1/2016.
Amended by 2007 Ga. Laws 214,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2007.
Amended by 2007 Ga. Laws 214,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2007.
This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.