Use of Advertising and Facilitators in Adoptive Placements - Georgia

Use of Advertisement

Citation: Ann. Code § 19-8-24(a), (f)

It shall be unlawful for any person, organization, corporation, hospital, facilitator, or association of any kind whatsoever that is not a child-placing agency; a prospective adoptive parent who has a valid, approved preplacement home study report; or a licensed attorney representing a prospective adoptive parent who has a valid, approved preplacement home study report to advertise, whether in a periodical, by television, by radio, or by any other public medium or by any private means, including, but not limited to, letters, circulars, handbills, internet postings, including social media, and oral statements, that the person, organization, corporation, hospital, facilitator, or association will adopt children or will arrange for children to be adopted or placed for adoption.

Any person, organization, corporation, hospital, facilitator, or association of any kind that is not a child-placing agency that places an advertisement concerning adoption or prospective adoption shall include in such advertisement its license number issued by the Department of Human Services.

Any attorney representing a prospective adoptive parent who has a valid, approved preplacement home study report who places an advertisement concerning adoption or prospective adoption shall include in such advertisement his or her State Bar of Georgia license number.

Any individual who places an advertisement concerning being an adoptive parent shall include in such advertisement that he or she has a valid, approved preplacement home study report.

This section shall not apply to communication by private means, including written or oral statements, by an individual seeking to adopt a child or place that individual's child for adoption, whether the communication occurs before or after the birth of the child.

Use of Intermediaries/Facilitators

Citation: Ann. Code § 19-8-24(c)

It shall be unlawful for any person, organization, corporation, hospital, facilitator, or association of any kind whatsoever to directly or indirectly hold out inducements, including any financial assistance, except medical expenses, to parents to part with their children.

It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer to sell, or conspire with another to sell or offer to sell, a child for money or anything of value, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.