Georgia Petition For Adoption: Fill & Download for Free

In Georgia, first contact an adoption agency to walk you through the process of compiling the data and managing the steps required for the court, like taking certain classes. This dossier can be compiled even if a child has not been immediately identified for adoption.Next, there is a document that the parents sign which assigns all parental rights to you. After six months, this can be filed with the court with a petition - you will want an adoption attorney to do this for you. After one year, provided the court approves, the adoption becomes permanent.I did this in the state of Georgia, in Walker county, back in 2005.Good luck to you!

Factors we consideredYou can learn more about our ranking factors in the section below. If you want to get straight to our list, click here.Laws vary from state to state, and although you may enjoy living in a particular location, we wanted to ensure your rights are protected as well.With this in mind, we gave precedence to safety and equality considerations over community-related factors in our rankings.Hate crime lawsHate crime laws are used to investigate and prosecute crimes motivated by various types of bias. Unfortunately, the defined biases vary from state to state.While some states’ definitions include sexual orientation and gender identity, others do not.Anti-discrimination lawsAs with hate crime laws, anti-discrimination laws protect vulnerable communities from unjust treatment that’s motivated by bias. These laws protect against discrimination in five key categories:EmploymentHousingPublic accommodationsCreditPublic employment (state employees require a separate set of protections since the Employment category only covers employees of privately owned companies)Some states’ laws protect you from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in each of those five areas while other states’ anti-discrimination laws cover only a few or none at all.Adoption lawsAlthough LGBTQ+ individuals can adopt in most states, some states’ statutes vary as to whether or not same-sex couples can adopt jointly.A few states don’t even address LGBTQ+ families in their statues, making the process more difficult for their LGBTQ+ residents.Conversion therapy laws for minorsSome states have laws that prohibit licensed mental health practitioners from subjecting LGBTQ+ minors to conversion therapy, a harmful practice that attempts to change a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity.The vast majority of states have no such law in place, but many individual cities within those states have local conversion therapy bans.LGBTQ+ population densityThe population density of the LGBTQ+ community differs from state to state. A high LGBTQ+ population density can be a good indicator of an area’s resources, social climate, and sense of community.Other supplemental considerationsAlthough we placed the most weight on the factors listed above, other factors played a role as we considered our rankings as well:Overall equality by state (meaning positive laws and policies exist that drive equality for members of the LGBTQ+ community)Number of businesses that made the Human Rights Campaign’s “Best Places to Work in 2018” listNumber of same-sex couplesNumber of pride centers in each stateExpert Reviews & Helpful Resources for Moving, Storage, & More’s 5 best states to move to start an LGBTQ+ Family#1: CaliforniaPhoto by Joseph Barrientos on UnsplashCalifornia checks all our boxes for raising an LGBTQ+ family. Hate crime laws cover both sexual orientation and gender identity, and anti-discrimination laws protect LGBTQ+ individuals in every category except for credit. Conversion therapy on minors is also banned within the state.Adoption laws allow same-sex couples to adopt, meaning it’s a great area to move if you’re planning to adopt another member into your family someday.The LGBTQ+ population density is quite high in California, too, coming in at 4.9% of the population, with almost 1.5 million LGBT-identifying peopleAdditional factors to consider21 pride centers are located in California.81 businesses in the state made the Human Rights Campaign’s “Best Places to Work in 2018” list.98,153 same-sex couples reside there, with 16% of them raising children.There are 7.8 same-sex couples per 1,000 households.Median home sale price$478,200Best cities for LGBTQ+ families in CaliforniaLong BeachLos AngelesSacramentoSan FranciscoSan JoseSan Diego#2: IllinoisPhoto by Sawyer Bengtson on UnsplashAnti-discrimination laws in the Land of Lincoln protect LGBTQ+ individuals in all five major categories (employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, and state employment). Hate crime laws are also comprehensive and cover both sexual orientation and gender identity, helping you feel safe in your decision to move there.Conversion therapy for minors is banned within the state, as well.Illinois’s adoption laws cater to same-sex couples petitioning for joint adoption, making adoption easier in Illinois than in other states.If community is high on your priority list, Illinois is a good option. It has the second-highest number of LGBT-identifying residents, with 385,142 individuals making up its LGBTQ+ community.Additional factors to consider5 pride centers are located in Illinois.48 businesses made the Human Rights Campaign’s “Best Places to Work in 2018” list.23,049 same-sex couples live in Illinois, with 16.6% of them raising children.There are 4.77 same-sex couples per 1,000 households.Median home sale price$201,500Best cities for LGBTQ+ families in IllinoisChicagoAuroraJoliet#3: HawaiiPhoto by Christian Joudrey on UnsplashLiving near clear blue water and white sandy beaches is certainly reason enough to want to move your family to Hawaii, but a host of equality-focused state laws and policies make it a great choice too.Hawaii’s hate crime laws cover both sexual orientation and gender identity, and its anti-discrimination laws address four of the five categories. (Credit-related issues aren’t covered.)Adoption laws in Hawaii are also favorable for LGBTQ+ families since same-sex couples can petition for joint adoption.Hawaii’s LGBTQ+ population density is also one of the highest on our list at 3.8% of the state’s population. This means there are currently 42,581 LGBT-identifying individuals throughout the islands.Additional factors to considerThere are many positive laws and policies in place that help drive equality for LGBT people in Hawaii.1 pride center is located in Hawaii.3,239 same-sex couples live in Hawaii, and 15.8% of them are raising children.There are 5.95 same-sex couples per 1,000 households.Median home listing price$599,950Best counties for LGBTQ+ families in HawaiiHawaiiMauiHonolulu#4: ConnecticutPhoto by Sam Burriss on UnsplashIf New England is calling your name, Connecticut is a great option to lay down your roots.Although it has the lowest LGBTQ+ population density in our top five at 3.5% (98,811 individuals), it scores high marks for safety and equality-related policies.Connecticut’s anti-discrimination laws cover all five major categories, and its hate crime laws address sexual orientation and gender identity. You should feel safe in your new home, and Connecticut’s policies lend themselves to protecting your rights and your family.If you’re looking to adopt in the state of Connecticut, the state has some work to do. Connecticut allows joint parent adoptions for same-sex couples. LGBTQ+ singles, however, may face certain restrictions as the state is not required to place a child with a gay, lesbian, or bisexual individual.Additional factors to considerConversion therapy is banned for minors.1 pride center is located in Connecticut.13 businesses made the Human Rights Campaign’s “Best Places to Work in 2018” list.7,852 same-sex couples live in Connecticut, and 17% of them are raising children.There are 5.72 same-sex couples per 1,000 households.Median home sale price$251,300Best cities for LGBTQ+ families in ConnecticutStamfordNew HavenHartfordNew Britain#5: MarylandPhoto by Bob Burkhard on UnsplashMaryland rounds out our best five states to move to start an LGBTQ+ family. Like the other states at the top of our list, it has a large LGBTQ+ population and positive policies for all our main ranking factors.Both hate crime and anti-discrimination laws address all of the important considerations we looked for. Hate crime laws cover gender identity and sexual orientation, and anti-discrimination laws protect LGBTQ+ individuals in all five key categories (employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, and public employment).State law also bans conversion therapy for minors.Maryland scored well on its LGBTQ+ family-related laws and policies, as same-sex couples can petition for joint adoption within the state.Additional factors to considerThere is an LGBTQ+ population density of 3.9%, with 182,041 LGBT-identifying individuals.2 pride centers are located in Maryland.9 businesses made the Human Rights Campaign’s “Best Places to Work in 2018” list.12,538 same-sex couples live in Maryland, and 20.3% of them are raising children.There are 5.81 same-sex couples per 1,000 households.Median home sale price$270,100Best cities for LGBTQ+ families in MarylandBaltimoreFrederickRockvilleCollege ParkHonorable mention: Best cities in the US to move to raise an LGBTQ+ familyAlthough our study focused mostly on what makes each state fit for LGBTQ+ families, a couple of cities stood out too.Washington, D.C.If individual cities qualified for our rankings, our nation’s capital would be number one. It ranks high for equality based on its inclusion of LGBTQ+ rights in local laws and policies, and it has one of the highest LGBTQ+ population densities in the country at 8.6%.New York City, New YorkThe Big Apple is another great choice for LGBTQ+ families, especially if you’re concerned about your work environment. New York has 114 businesses that made the Human Rights Campaign’s “Best Places to Work in 2018” list—that’s over 30 businesses more than in the entirety of California, our number-one state.Expert Reviews & Helpful Resources for Moving, Storage, & More’s 5 worst states to move to start an LGBTQ+ FamilyAlthough the following states scored low on our overall ranking factors, you don’t have to rule them out entirely. Cost of living and other considerations may make them more appealing to you.If your heart is still set on moving to one of these states, each still has a few cities that are good landing spots for LGBTQ+ families.#1: West VirginiaUnlike our top five states, many of West Virginia’s laws and policies do not specifically define protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.Anti-discrimination and hate crime laws make no mention of protections for acts motivated by LGBT-related biases. There is also no law within the state banning conversion therapy for minors.Despite its current lack of equality-focused laws and policies, West Virginia does allow same-sex couples to adopt.Median home sale price$171,400Best cities for LGBTQ+ families in West VirginiaCharlestonHuntington#2: VirginiaVirginia isn’t much different from its western counterpart mentioned above. Neither hate crime laws nor anti-discrimination laws list specific protections for members of the LGBTQ+ community, with the exception of anti-discrimination protections for public employees. Conversion therapy for minors also isn’t banned by law in Virginia.Same-sex couples in the state can petition for joint adoption.Median home sale price$269,400Best places for LGBTQ+ families in VirginiaAlexandriaArlington County#3: WisconsinAmerica’s Dairyland doesn’t fare quite as poorly as the first two states in our bottom five.Although hate crimes in the state don’t cover gender identity, they do cover crimes related to sexual orientation–related biases. Anti-discrimination laws also cover sexual orientation, but only in the categories of employment, public accommodation, and public employment—gender identity, however, isn’t protected in any of the five key categories.Adoption is still difficult in Wisconsin. LGBT singles may petition for adoption within the state, but same-sex couples could face legal restrictions for second-parent adoptions. Keep this in mind if a future adoption is part of your moving decision.Median home sale price$177,700Best cities for LGBTQ+ families in WisconsinMadisonMilwaukeeAppleton#4: South DakotaMoving your family close to Mount Rushmore may make for some historical scenery, but South Dakota scores low in all our ranking factors.The tally of South Dakota’s overall equality policy is negative, meaning its laws don’t do much to protect the LGBTQ+ population, and some even drive equality down.Hate crime and anti-discrimination laws both lack protections for LGBTQ+ citizens, and South Dakota currently has no law banning conversion therapy for minors.As with Wisconsin, adoption in South Dakota is possible for LGBT singles, but same-sex couples may have trouble if they’re hoping to petition for a second-parent adoption through a private agency (depending on the agency, of course).Median home listing price$229,900Best city for LGBTQ+ familiesBrookings#5: North DakotaNorth Dakota isn’t much different from its southern neighbor from an equality perspective. Although you’ll experience wide-open spaces and a sparsely populated state (North Dakota is the third-least populated in the country), LGBTQ+ residents won’t experience the same protections as they would in other parts of the country.Crimes motivated by LGBT-related biases aren’t covered under North Dakota’s hate crime laws, and its anti-discrimination laws don’t address sexual orientation or gender identity in any of the five key categories.You’ll find a similar situation for adoption as you would in North Dakota, as well. While LGBT singles can petition for adoption, same-sex couples might experience legal restrictions for a second-parent adoption.Median home listing price$234,900Best cities for LGBTQ+ familiesFargoThe best states to move to start an LGBTQ+ family, ranked 1–50CaliforniaIllinoisHawaiiConnecticutMarylandNevadaNew MexicoNew JerseyVermontOregonDelawareNew HampshireColoradoRhode IslandMassachusettsFloridaArizonaMinnesotaMissouriMaineLouisianaKentuckyIowaKansasWashingtonNew YorkGeorgiaNebraskaAlabamaAlaskaArkansasIdahoIndianaMichiganTexasNorth CarolinaMississippiTennesseeMontanaOhioPennsylvaniaOklahomaWyomingUtahSouth CarolinaNorth DakotaSouth DakotaWisconsinVirginiaWest Virginia

United States of America:Short answer: it depends. Adoption is not regulated by the Federal Government of the United States, but by the individual states.For the long answer, we can turn to a pamphlet issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services:Who May Be Adopted?All States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands permit the adoption of a child. Some States also allow the adoption of an adult, under the circumstances described below.Adoption of a ChildThree States (Colorado, Indiana, and Rhode Island), American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands specify that the child to be adopted must be under age 18.Five States (Connecticut, Delaware, Montana, Texas, and Wisconsin), American Samoa, and Guam specify in statute that the child must be legally free for adoption. (A child is legally free for adoption when both birth or current legal parents have had their parental rights terminated or have consented the child’s adoption.)Six States (Arizona, Colorado, South Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming), American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands require that the child to be adopted must be present in the State at the time the petition is filed.Iowa requires that the child must have resided for a minimum of 180 days in the home of the prospective adoptive parents.Adoption of an AdultApproximately 29 States and the District of Columbia allow the adoption of any person, regardless of age. (Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.)Colorado, Rhode Island, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands allow parties to petition the court for the adoption of persons over age 18 but under age 21.Massachusetts and Nevada specify that the adult to be adopted must be younger than the adoptive parent.West Virginia and Wisconsin require that the adopting parent be a resident of that state to adopt an adult.Alabama permits adoption of adults only if the person to be adopted has a permanent and total physical or intellectual disability.Ohio allows adoption of an adult only when the person to be adopted has a total or permanent physical or intellectual disability or is a stepchild or foster child with whom the relationship was established while the person was a minor.Idaho, Illinois, and South Dakota require that the adopting parent be in a sustained parental relationship for a specified time, ranging from 6 months to 2 years, with the adult to be adopted.Connecticut allows a stepparent to adopt the adult child of his or her spouse.Virginia allows the adoption of an adult stepchild, niece, or nephew, as long as the adopted person resided in the home for at least 3 months prior to reaching adulthood and is at least 15 years younger than the adopting parent.The states of Arizona, California, and Delaware, aren’t in that list, but the pamphlet linked on the source page indicates that they allow adult adoption in some form or another.Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina, Wyoming, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands appear to have no legal provision for adopting adults.Puerto Rico specifically bars adult adoption.Adopting an adult may be desirable for many reasons, including:Ensuring care for a disabled adopteeEnsuring care for a disabled adoptive parentInheritanceLoveAdoption is a beautiful thing.