Is there an age limit for adult adoption in Georgia?

No, Georgia sets no age limit and no age-gap rule for adult adoption. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-8-21(a), an adult may be adopted if the adult gives written consent. The adoptee needs to be an adult, which means 18 or older.

What the adult adoption section lists:

• The adult's written consent.
• No relationship requirement, so you do not need to be a stepparent or relative.
• No disability requirement and no requirement of a prior parent-child relationship.
• No age or age-gap rule between the adopter and the adult being adopted.

Age rules for adopting a child: These are separate from adult adoption. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-8-3(a)(1), a person adopting a child must be at least 21, or married and living with their spouse. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-8-3(a)(2), the adopter must be at least 10 years older than the child. That 10-year rule does not apply to a stepparent or relative adopting a child. The adult adoption section carries neither requirement.

Parents and other consents: The adult adoption section addresses the adoptee's consent. It does not mention consent from your spouse, the adoptee's spouse, or the birth parents. Your petition must say whether one or both of the adult's parents will be replaced, and the court's decree must say which one. If your situation involves a spouse, a birth parent who may object, or an unknown parent, ask the Superior Court clerk or an attorney about that specific issue.

Where and how it is filed:

• Court: You file in the Superior Court of the county where any petitioner or the adult being adopted lives.
• Residency: For an adult adoption, this is a question of where you file. The bona fide residency rule in O.C.G.A. § 19-8-3 is written for adopting a child.
• Hearing: The court may set the petition for hearing at any time. Before entering a decree, it examines each petitioner and the adult being adopted.
• Home study: The adult adoption section does not address a home study. The clerk in your county can confirm whether any additional steps apply.
• Timeline: Adult adoptions in Georgia typically finalize in 4-8 weeks.

Records after the adoption: If you want updated records, such as a new birth certificate, the Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records is the agency to contact. The Superior Court clerk can tell you what paperwork it asks for.

How we help: StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online, and we prepare the complete court document package for your county. You then file it yourself without an attorney. The price is $349 for one adult adoptee, and your court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions. We back the package with a 100% court acceptance guarantee, and we have helped 1422 Georgia families.