Get free answers to your Adoption legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I am a 15-year-old who was adopted by my uncle and aunt. Due to a violent incident where my uncle threw me around, I had to call the police. They relocated me to my grandma's house. My uncle and aunt took my phone, and my grandma won't let me talk to the police or ask questions about my... View More 
answered on Apr 7, 2025
You can ALWAYS call the police. ALWAYS.
If you are in danger you can ALWAYS reach out to Police, Fire and other State Agents as there are protections for you due to your age.
A teacher is another safe pathway, as they are trained how to deal with these issue and get the right... View More
I am 16 years old and I buy my food and phone with my money and my parents keep taking it when it arrives so i was wondering if they can take my stuff even tho i buy it with my money. Also My dad threatended with a knife when i backed him up because he got close and he was heated and my counselor... View More
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answered on Nov 16, 2024
I'm saddened to hear this is occurring in your household. Abuse of any kind is absolutely never condoned by the law. If your dad is chastising you by striking you with foreign objects or makeshift weapons, you should contact the authorities including your local police and local department of... View More
My sons bio father does nothing for him,doesn’t see him anymore he also stays in another state and i doubt he’s willing to give up his parental rights even though i can prove he isn’t fit to be a parent.My boyfriend has been caring for my son and doing for him since he was 1 month old.We do... View More
answered on Jun 3, 2024
You aren't able to simply put your boyfriends name on your child's birth certificate because he helps to support your child. If your boyfriend was able to ever adopt your son, after marriage, then he would have legal rights. But no, you can't simply remove the biological father and... View More
I received citizenship when I was adopted by a U.S. citizen and previously held a passport. I recently applied for a new passport at the US Department of State, but my application was returned due to a lack of citizenship proof. Although I submitted a Certificate of Foreign Birth, it was not... View More
answered on Apr 16, 2025
If you do not have your previous passport, you can submit your Certificate of Citizenship, issued by USCIS.
They tell me that because I had a history with the department. I wasn't able to get him. Also my daughter refuses to allow me to do kinship, she is convinced i made the reports against her, which is false.
Nevertheless i did have multiple cases which eventually led to me loosing them... View More
answered on Oct 17, 2024
This same website allows you to search for attorneys in a specific area and in areas of practice. This is a place to have questions answered. If you need an attorney you should use this site to locate one.
What's the process? Do I give him to her? What do I do?
answered on Jul 25, 2024
If you have no guardianship then the children will need to be returned or you could be charged with kidnapping. Guardianship did not transfer to you. You have no legal rights to those children.
Do I have to be legitimized through the court system
answered on Dec 9, 2023
If you are the father DFCS will not give you custody even temporarily until you legitimize. Therefore, yes, the juvenile court will allow you to legitimize the child and sign an order, should they decide too, so that you can be awarded custody.
Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) occurred in 2021 and was involuntary. It is my understanding that in GA, a TPR can be vacated under certain circumstances, and the time limit is 3 years from the date of the TPR. Is this right? If so, does it still apply to my case if my kids have already been... View More
answered on Sep 5, 2023
Unfortunately, the time to appeal your termination of parental rights order would have needed to have been filed within 30 days from the date of the order.
We already had sole custody of our granddaughter. Do the other grandparents have standing to file for visitation? My understanding is if parents are together with the child grand parents can't ask.
answered on Aug 25, 2023
Grandparents can always petition the court for visitation. Whether they get it or not will depend on what the court thinks is in the best interest of the minor child. But certainly they can file for visitation and have the adoptive parents served.
It has been brought to my attention that my 23 year old step-daughter has expressed her desire to be legally adopted by me. I understand that she has no desire to have a relationship with her biological father and that she is of sound mind. I would like to confirm that she has not been in the... View More
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answered on Jul 5, 2023
To adopt an adult in Georgia, you would need to prepare a Petition for Adult Adoption, gather consent forms from the adult being adopted and any other necessary parties, undergo required background checks, file the petition and supporting documents with the appropriate court, and attend a court... View More
My nephew's mom is my younger sister has been in trouble with the law, currently on an ankle monitor and has accepted a PPP loan for a business that she never had. She is not making the best decisions for herself nor my nephew and I want to adopt him until her circumstances improve.
answered on Apr 26, 2023
You should schedule a consultation and speak directly with an attorney to discuss this case. Because the advice given and the steps on how to move forward will depend on whether the mother consents to this change or not. This sounds like guardianship and not adoption. But even in a guardianship... View More
Research seems to show volunteers can be GALS as a CASA but to be paid you must be a licensed mental health professional or lawyer. Are there other pathways to being a GAL?
answered on Feb 5, 2023
From a webpage I often rely on:
Only those individuals who have received training administered or approved by the Office of the Child Advocate may serve as a GAL in a proceeding concerning the custody or welfare of a child. O.C.G.A. 15-11-9(b). A GAL shall receive such training as provided... View More
I have full custody. My divorce decree states that he must pay child support and supervised visitations
answered on Jan 30, 2023
There is not enough information here for me to respond as to whether the father's parental rights can be terminated. You could file for child abandonment, based on what you have written, if he has not paid child support or seen the child. But I'm not sure if what you have written would... View More
My 16-year-old daughter wants to be adopted by her stepdad (my husband). Her birth father has not paid child support since early 2020, has not seen her since mid-2020 (June or July) and has not contacted her since end of 2020 (December). I have attempted to contact him with no luck in getting... View More
answered on Jan 30, 2023
You can contact the father to see if he will sign paperwork to consent to the adoption. You can also file to terminate his parental rights so the child can be adopted. I would seek an attorney who can assist you, as there are some who dedicate a part of their practice to the field of adoption.
What I found was that the petition needs to include:
name of the adopted adult
name of the adoptees
address of both parties
relevant information (i.e., social security numbers, years of age, etc.)
the adult’s written consent to be adopted
So would... View More
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answered on Oct 17, 2022
As with any court document, getting an attorney is best. A consent adult adoption would be relatively inexpensive and you can ensure it would be done correctly.
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answered on Sep 25, 2022
I'm assuming your husband is your daughter's step-father. The biological and legal father's parental rights must be terminated as part of an adoption. These are very complicated matters that require representation by an attorney.
year kid that isnt even your kid but you wasnt threatening him/her or putting your hands on anyone but yet you was arrested supposedly for a probation violation?
answered on Sep 9, 2022
Pretty sure that is some sort of local code, as the OCGA for that number is a venue issue. Without more info it is hard to say.
When officers are dispatched to a DV there are a lot of issues in play, and their primary goals are going to be securing the safety of everyone followed by... View More
Hello I’m in Georgia and found out my child’s mother placed our child for adoption. I havent did dna or anything yet but I want to and apparently baby is already in aps state. Who do I contact? She lied on her paperwork to not name me. Her friend told me. It’s been 20 days
answered on Jul 26, 2022
Based on the facts above, you likely need to file a petition to legitimize the child so that you will have custodial rights. If you successfully legitimize the child, you will be able to contest adoption and custody of the child.
answered on Apr 12, 2022
If a child is legally adopted in Georgia, he or she will have rights to inherit from their parents the same as any child who is the biological child.
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answered on Jan 29, 2022
You can hire a private investigator to find her. If your children are in school, they are likely enrolled in school somewhere.
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