O.C.G.A. § 19-8-2
Jurisdiction and venue of adoption proceedings
Redline — December 1, 2018 → current.View current text →
Current — August 17, 2021
As of December 1, 2018
(1) The superior courts of the several counties shall have exclusive jurisdiction in all matters of adoption, except such jurisdiction as may be granted to the juvenile courts.
(1) The superior courts of the several counties shall have exclusive jurisdiction in all matters of adoption.
(2) All petitions under this chapter shall be filed in the county in which any petitioner resides, except that: Upon good cause being shown, the court of the county of the child's domicile or of the county in which is located any child-placing agency having legal custody of the child sought to be adopted may, in its discretion, allow the petition to be filed in that court; and
(2) All petitions for adoption under this article shall be filed in the county in which any petitioner resides, except that: Upon good cause being shown, the court may, in its discretion, allow such petition to be filed in the court of the county: Of the child's domicile;
(3) In which is located any child-placing agency having legal custody of the child;
(4) Where the child was born if such petition is filed within one year of the child's birth; or
(5) In which is located the office of the department having legal custody of the child;
(6) Any individual who is a resident of any United States army post or military reservation within this state may file such petition in any county adjacent to the United States army post or military reservation; and
(7) When a child has been placed for adoption with an individual who is a resident of another state in compliance with Chapter 4 of Title 39, relating to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children; with an individual who is a resident of another state to which the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children does not apply; or with an individual who is a resident of another country, such petition shall be filed in: The court of the county where the child was born, or resides, or was residing at the time of placement;
(8) The court of the county in which is located any child-placing agency having legal custody of the child; or
(9) Superior Court of Fulton County.
Current official text: Official Code of Georgia Annotated (LexisNexis). Digitized from the Internet Archive scan of the OCGA. Reproduced from public-domain Georgia statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.