2010 Georgia Code
TITLE 15 - COURTS
CHAPTER 11 - JUVENILE PROCEEDINGS
ARTICLE 2 - TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS
§ 15-11-95 - Petition

O.C.G.A. 15-11-95 (2010)
15-11-95. Petition


(a) The petition to terminate parental rights and all subsequent court documents in the proceeding shall be entitled "In the matter of , a child.", except upon appeal, in which event the anonymity of the child shall be preserved by appropriate use of initials. The petition shall be in writing.

(b) The petition shall be made, verified, and endorsed by the court as provided in Article 1 of this chapter for a petition alleging deprivation.

(c) The petition shall state clearly that an order for termination of parental rights is requested and that the effect thereof will be as stated in Code Section 15-11-93, and shall set forth in ordinary and concise language the facts required by Code Section 15-11-38.1.

(d) When a petition seeks termination of the rights of a biological father who is not the legal father and who has not surrendered his rights to the child, the petition shall be amended to include a certificate from the putative father registry disclosing the name, address, and social security number of any registrant acknowledging paternity of the child pursuant to subparagraph (d)(2)(A) of Code Section 19-11-9 or indicating the possibility of paternity of a child of the child's mother pursuant to subparagraph (d)(2)(B) of Code Section 19-11-9 for a period beginning no later than two years immediately prior to the child's date of birth. Such certificate shall document a search of the registry on or after the date of the filing of the petition and shall include a statement that the registry is current as to filings of registrants as of the date of the petition or as of a date later than the date of the petition.