What Occurs When A Foster Child In Georgia Passes Away?

In Georgia, surviving parents are entitled to custody of a child upon the death of the other parent, and sole custody should go to them. However, a petition may be filed to grant custody to a third party, such as a grandparent. Children in Georgia enter foster care when it is not safe for them to remain in their caregiver’s home. State tort systems can convince foster parents to provide adequate and non-abusive care.

Foster care runs through 21, but children can leave at 18. Previously, youths aged out of care at 18 but could seek placement until 21. Since the change, 177 have opted for foster care. When DFCS determines it is not safe for a child to remain in their caregiver’s home, they are placed in foster care. A foster parent manual is given to all foster families, which contains policy specific to the safety, permanency, and well-being of foster children.

Foster and adoptive caregivers are needed throughout Georgia, especially for sibling groups and older teens. Prospective foster or adoptive parents must meet minimum criteria, such as being at least 21 years of age and completing an information session. If both parents die, the court decides who is the child’s guardian.

Child mortality rates are high, with three-quarters of child fatalities caused by one or more parents. In some cases, the death may be due to an accident, foster parent neglect/abuse, or a medical emergency. Most deaths occur in a hospital, but a adopted person enjoys every right and privilege of a birth child of the adoptive parent, including the right to inherit under the laws of descent. The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) is required to receive intake reports involving children in DFCS custody.