Georgia Relinquishment, Consent, Revocation laws
Relinquishment - Consent - Time to Revoke
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Georgia
Who Must Consent:
Any living parent or guardian must voluntarily and in writing surrender all rights to the child to the department or child placing agency.
Consent of Adoptee:
A child 14 years or older must consent in the presence of the court.
When Parental Consent is Not Needed:
- The child has been abandoned and parent cannot be found.
- Parent is insane or otherwise incapacitated.
- Parent has failed to contact or support the child.
When Relinquishment Can Be Signed:
Consent may be executed any time after the birth of the child.
How Relinquishment Must Be Signed:
- In an agency adoption, consent may be executed before a notary and representative of the agency.
- In a direct placement, it may be executed before a notary.
Time for Revocation:
- Parent may withdraw consent within 10 days.
- The surrender document is not valid unless it states the right of withdrawal.
- There are no express statutory grounds for revocation, but consent may be invalid if executed under fraud, duress or incapacity.
Adapted from materials prepared by the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
