Court Jurisdiction and Venue for Adoption Petitions - Georgia

Date: January 2022

Jurisdiction

Citation: Ann. Code § 19-8-2(a)

The superior court of each county shall have exclusive jurisdiction in all matters of adoption.

Venue

Citation: Ann. Code § 19-8-2(b)-(c)

All petitions for adoption shall be filed in the county in which any petitioner resides except, upon good cause being shown, the court may, in its discretion, allow the petition to be filed in the court of the county in which one of the following applies:

  • Where the child is domiciled
  • Where the child-placing agency having legal custody of the child is located
  • Where the child was born if the petition is filed within 1 year of the child's birth
  • Where the office of the Department of Human Services that has legal custody of the child is located

Any individual who is a resident of any U.S. Army post or military reservation within this State may file such petition in any county adjacent to the Army post or military reservation.

When a child has been placed for adoption with an individual who is a resident of another State in compliance with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC), with an individual who is a resident of another State to which the ICPC does not apply, or with an individual who is a resident of another country, such petition shall be filed in any of the following:

  • The court of the county in which the child was born, or resides, or was residing at the time of placement
  • The court of the county in which is located any child-placing agency having legal custody of the child
  • The Superior Court of Fulton County

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