Effective September 1, Georgia’s adoption code will be overhauled for the first time in three decades.
House Bill 159 aims to make Georgia’s adoption process more efficient as well and also includes language to help birth mothers.
“When this law goes into effect on Saturday, it will make it easier for prospective parents navigate the adoption process and adopt a child right here in Georgia,” said Representative Bert Reeves (R-Marietta). “I want to thank the judges and attorneys, particularly the Georgia Council for Adoption Lawyers, who helped us refine and perfect this legislation.”
The bill is intended to strike a better balance between the rights of birth mothers and the adoptive parents.
This includes shortening the revocation period from 10 days to four, shortening the time in which an adoption can be reversed by either party.
The bill allows all mothers to receive reasonable living expenses after an adoption, similarly to most states in the country. Previously, this would only be available to mothers in an adoption agency.
It also includes several safeguards on temporary powers of attorney, provides for nonresidents to adopt, updates maternity and paternity leave time for new adoptive parents and changes the age at which an individual may access the Adoption Reunion Registry.
Rep. Reeves touts the bill as bringing Georgia up to par with the rest of the nation, and believes it will help ensure that residents can stay in Georgia to adopt.
