HB 881 seeks to amend Chapter 8 of Title 19 of the O.C.G.A. relating to adoption.

      While a substantive portion of the bill is dedicated to clarification of terms and standardization of forms, HB 881 additionally modifies Georgia law to address: current gaps in code which force biological mothers to waive their state rights for inter-state adoptions to be formalized; delineates the decision of presiding jurisdiction, in the case in which more than one county can claim jurisdiction, to be agreed upon between judges; addresses special cases such as that of a Native American child or parent in active military service; concerns of adoptions occurring in which the adoptee is over the age of 18; to lower the age of access to adoption records from 21 to 18 years of age; the annulment of adoption if it is seen to be in the best interest of the child; etcetera.