Adoption is the legal engagement of nurturing, supporting a non-biologically related child after voluntary or court termination of parental rights. There are no biased requirements during the approval process of adoption but in fact, everyone cannot adopt a child. The final approval decision is based on the best interest of the child. Adoption is not an easy process and there are many different legal processes and laws in DeKalb County before the approval decision regarding adopting a child in Georgia.
In the State of Georgia, the adoption processes are handle by the Child Welfare department of the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). This division has …show more content…
Before starting the process of adoption, we have to know who may be eligible to adopt. In the State of Georgia, according to the Georgia Department of Human Services, a person who wants to adopt a child must be
-If single at least 25 years old, and be at least 10 years older than the child to be adopted
-If espoused and living with the companion, and be at least 10 years older than the child to e adopted
-And “A bona fide reside for at 6 months prior to filling petition” (Division of Family and Children Services)
According to the DFCS there are 7 stages in the legal procedure of adopting a child in Georgia for DeKalb County:
I/ “The Inquiry”
This is the process of finding and contacting a certified adoption service agency. In the case of DeKalb County, as mentioned above the Child Welfare department of the DFCS is the recommended office.
II/ “The Information meetings”
This stage is the one that gives you all the crucial information about the all necessaries in the process of adoption. Also through this stage, there is a possibility to identify children available for adoption.
III/ “Pre-service …show more content…
This is also the beginning of the evaluation.
IV/ “Evaluation”
In fact, an agency’s representative (in general a social worker) will conduct some legal searches about the adopting family. Those searches vary from financial, medical and criminal reports. Also, an evaluation of the home will be scheduled in order to make sure that it will be a safe place for the adoptee. At the end of this evaluation, if positive, the family will be approved as a possible adopting family.
V/ “Pre-Placement”
This is the stage between the above approval and the permanent placement of the child. This is an essay period were social services see if the adopting family if comfortable on the nurturing of a child. Here, is the time to choose the child who suits the best to the family.
VI/ “Placement”
The placement stage is the one where the permanent placement agreement is signed. But before arriving to the signing, authorized visitations will be appointed by social services in order to have a smooth transition.
VII/