Georgia Adoption Reunion Registry
Birth Family Search
The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) may be able to assist you with a family search through the Georgia Adoption Reunion Registry (GARR). For each of the search services listed below, the consent of each involved individual must first be received. DHS/GARR will gather and register each party’s consent or dissent.
Adult Search for Biological Parents
If you are an adult adoptee (18 years or older), GARR may be able to obtain identifying information and/or facilitate contact with your biological parents, in accordance with Georgia law. Note: If the adoptee is deceased, the adoptee’s surviving adult child may receive the same services from GARR in order to obtain identifying information and/or establish contact with his/her grandparent.
Adult Search for Siblings
Adult siblings (18 years or older) seeking contact with each other may receive assistance from GARR, provided one is an adoptee. If the adopted person is deceased, the same sibling search service can be provided to the adult child of the deceased adoptee.
Birth Parent Search for a Child Placed for Adoption
If you are a birth parent who placed a child for adoption, GARR may be able to obtain identifying information and/or facilitate contact, provided the adoptee is over the age of 18 years. Note: If the birth parent is deceased, parents or siblings of the deceased birth parent may receive the same services from GARR in order to obtain identifying information and/or to establish contact with the adoptee.
Access to Background Information
If you are an adult adoptee (over the age of 18), GARR may provide you with non-identifying information from your sealed adoption record without a court order. If you are under the age of 18, your adoptive parents must request this information in your stead.
Biological Family Assistance
DHS/GARR will assist a biological family member to register written consent for the release of identifying information or to contact the adoptive family with this information. DHS/GARR will also register the desire of a biological family member to have their identifying information protected; which involves prohibiting the release of identifying birth family information from the sealed adoption record.