Section 19-8-18 - Hearing; district attorney to be directed to review inducement violations; decree of adoption; factors considered in determining best interests of child; disposition of child on denial of petition(a)(1) Upon the date appointed by the court for a hearing of the petition for adoption or as soon thereafter as the matter may be reached for a hearing, the court shall proceed to a full hearing on such petition and the examination of the parties at interest in chambers, under oath, with the right of continuing the hearing and examinations from time to time as the nature of the case may require. The court at such times shall give consideration to the investigation report to the court provided for in Code Section 19-8-16 and the recommendations contained in such report. There shall be a presumption that a petitioner who is a nonresident of Georgia should be granted the opportunity to appear via electronic means in lieu of physical presence before the court if his or her petition is uncontested, especially if appearing in person would cause hardship to the petitioner. In all other cases, the court may in its discretion allow the petitioner or any witness to appear via electronic means in lieu of requiring his or her physical presence before the court.(2) The court shall examine the petition for adoption and the affidavit specified in subsection (g) of Code Section 19-8-4, 19-8-5, 19-8-6, or 19-8-7, as appropriate, to determine whether Code Section 19-8-12 is applicable. If the court determines that Code Section 19-8-12 is applicable to the petition for adoption, it shall: (A) Determine that an appropriate order has previously been entered;(B) Enter an order consistent with Code Section 19-8-12; or(C) Continue the hearing until Code Section 19-8-12 is complied with.(3) If the adoption petition is filed pursuant to Code Section 19-8-5, the court shall examine the financial disclosures required under subsections (c) and (d) of Code Section 19-8-13 and make such further examination of each petitioner and his or her attorney as the court deems appropriate in order to make a determination as to whether there is cause to believe that Code Section 19-8-24 has been violated with regard to the inducement, as such term is defined in Code Section 19-8-24, of the placement of the child for adoption. Should the court determine that further inquiry is in order, the court shall direct the district attorney for the county to review the matter further and to take such appropriate action as the district attorney in his or her discretion deems appropriate.(b)(1) If the petition for adoption was filed pursuant to Code Section 19-8-4, 19-8-5, 19-8-6, or 19-8-7, the court shall enter a decree of adoption naming the child as prayed for in such petition; terminating all of the rights of each living parent, guardian, and legal custodian of the child, other than the spouse of the petitioner in the case of a stepparent adoption pursuant to Code Section 19-8-6; granting the permanent custody of the child to each petitioner; and declaring the child to be the adopted child of each petitioner if the court is satisfied that:(A) Each living parent or guardian of the child has surrendered or had terminated all of his or her rights to the child in the manner provided by law or that each petitioner has complied with the notice requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 19-8-10 and satisfied his or her burden of proof under Code Section 19-8-10 or that the spouse has consented to the petitioner's adoption of the child as required by Code Section 19-8-6;(B) Each petitioner is capable of assuming responsibility for the care, supervision, training, and education of the child;(C) The child is suitable for adoption in a private family home; and(D) The adoption requested is in the best interests of the child.(2) When Code Section 19-8-10 has been relied upon by any petitioner for the termination of rights of a living parent, the court shall include in the decree of adoption appropriate findings of fact and conclusions of law relating to the termination of rights of such living parent and the court's determination that the adoption is in the child's best interests.(3) When the child was born in a country other than the United States, the court shall examine the evidence submitted in order to determine whether sufficient evidence has been proffered to show that the child has a viable path to lawful permanent resident status, if not already obtained. The court shall consider the evidence when making a determination if it is in the best interests of the child to grant the petition for adoption.(4) If there is an existing visitation order pursuant to Code Section 19-7-3 in favor of a family member, the court shall have the authority to continue or discontinue such visitation rights in the adoption order as it deems is in the best interests of the child.(c) If the petition for adoption was filed pursuant to subsection (a) of Code Section 19-8-8 and if the court is satisfied that the petitioner has fully complied with the requirements of Code Section 19-8-13 and has established that he or she finalized his or her adoption of the child in the foreign country, then the court shall enter a decree of adoption naming the child as prayed for in such petition; domesticating the foreign decree of adoption; granting the permanent custody of the child to each petitioner; changing the date of birth of the child if so requested, provided that evidence was presented justifying such change; and declaring the child to be the adopted child of each petitioner. Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (a) of this Code section, the court may domesticate the foreign decree of adoption upon the pleadings without a hearing.(d) If the petition for adoption was filed pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section 19-8-8, the court shall enter a decree of adoption naming the child as prayed for in such petition; terminating the guardianship; granting the permanent custody of the child to each petitioner; changing the date of birth of the child if so requested, provided that evidence was presented justifying such change; and declaring the child to be the adopted child of each petitioner if the court is satisfied that the petitioner has fully complied with the requirements of Code Section 19-8-13 and that:(1) Each petitioner in his or her capacity as guardian of the child has surrendered all of his or her rights to the child in the manner provided by law;(2) Each petitioner is capable of assuming responsibility for the care, supervision, training, and education of the child;(3) The child is suitable for adoption in a private family home; and(4) The adoption requested is in the best interests of the child.(e) In exercising its discretion to determine whether the adoption requested is in the best interests of the child, the court shall consider the following factors:(1) The ability of each petitioner and, if applicable, each respondent to provide for the physical safety and welfare of the child, including food, shelter, health, and clothing;(2) The love, affection, bonding, and emotional ties existing between the child and each petitioner and, if applicable, each respondent;(3) The child's need for permanence, including the child's need for stability and continuity of relationships with his or her siblings;(4) The capacity and disposition of each petitioner and, if applicable, each respondent to give the child his or her love, affection, and guidance and to continue the education and rearing of the child;(5) The home environment of each petitioner and, if applicable, each respondent, considering the promotion of the child's nurturance and safety rather than superficial or material factors;(6) The stability of the family unit and the presence or absence of support systems within the community to benefit the child;(7) The mental and physical health of all individuals involved;(8) The home, school, and community record and history of the child, as well as any health or educational special needs of the child;(9) The child's background and ties, including familial, cultural, and religious;(10) The uniqueness of every family and child;(11) The child's wishes and long-term goals;(12) Any evidence of family violence, substance abuse, criminal history, or sexual, mental, or physical child abuse in the petitioner's home and, if applicable, each respondent's home;(13) Any recommendation by a court appointed agent or guardian ad litem; and(14) Any other factors considered by the court to be relevant and proper to its determination.(f) If the court determines that any petitioner has not complied with this article, it may dismiss the petition for adoption without prejudice or it may continue the case. Should the court find that any notice required to be given by any petitioner under this article has not been given or has not been properly given or that the petition for adoption has not been properly filed, the court shall be authorized to enter an order providing for corrective action and an additional hearing.(g) If the court is not satisfied that the adoption is in the best interests of the child, it shall deny the petition for adoption. If such petition is denied because the court determines that the adoption requested is not in the best interests of the child or for any other reason under law, the court shall set forth specific findings of fact explaining its decision in its order denying the adoption and shall commit the child to the custody of the department, a child-placing agency, or an out-of-state licensed agency if such petition was filed pursuant to Code Section 19-8-4. If such petition was filed pursuant to Code Section 19-8-5, the court shall commit the child to the third party named by the parent in the written surrender of rights pursuant to subsection (a) of Code Section 19-8-5; and if there is no surrender of rights, the court shall place the child with the department for the purpose of determining whether or not a petition should be initiated under Chapter 11 of Title 15. If such petition was filed pursuant to Code Section 19-8-6, 19-8-7, or 19-8-8, the child shall remain in the custody of each petitioner if each petitioner is fit to have custody or the court may place the child with the department for the purpose of determining whether or not a petition should be initiated under Chapter 11 of Title 15. If the petition for adoption is denied, each surrender of rights executed in support of the adoption, whether by a parent, biological father who is not a legal father, or guardian, shall be dissolved by operation of law and the individual's rights shall be restored. The fact that the individual executed a surrender of his or her rights in support of the adoption shall not be admissible as evidence against him or her in any subsequent proceeding.(h) A decree of adoption issued pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section shall not be subject to any judicial challenge filed more than six months after the date of entry of such decree. Notwithstanding Code Section 9-3-31, any action for damages against an adoptee or the adoptive parents for fraud in obtaining a consent or surrender of rights shall be brought within six months of the time the fraud is or ought to reasonably have been discovered.(i) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of Code Section 19-8-23, the decree of adoption issued pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section shall authorize the clerk of the court to issue one or more certified copies of the decree of adoption to the petitioner or his or her attorney at the time of entry of the final decree without further order of the court and without cost.Amended by 2021 Ga. Laws 140,§ 11, eff. 7/1/2021.Amended by 2018 Ga. Laws 285,§ 1-1, eff. 9/1/2018.