---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-322. Continuing court review when child not adopted; use of hearsay evidence.
collection: code
id: 15-11-322
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-322 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-322
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-322.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-322/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t15-ch1-11a-(v13)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=9c57686b_0#page=202
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-321.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-323.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: COURTS / JUVENILE CODE / TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS / DISPOSITION
---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-11-322. Continuing court review when child not adopted; use of hearsay evidence.

If a petition seeking the adoption of a child whose parents have had their parental rights terminated or surrendered is not filed within six months after the date of the disposition order, the court shall then, and at least every six months thereafter so long as such child remains unadopted, review the circumstances of such child to determine what efforts have been made to assure that such child will be adopted. The court shall:

(1) Make written findings regarding whether reasonable efforts have been made to move such child to permanency;

(2) Evaluate whether, in light of any change in circumstances, the permanency plan for such child remains appropriate; and

(3) Enter such orders as it deems necessary to further adoption or if appropriate, other permanency options, including, but not limited to, another placement.

The court may consider any evidence, including hearsay evidence, that the court finds to be relevant, reliable, and necessary to determine the needs of a child and the permanency and custody of a child whose parents have had their parental rights terminated or who have surrendered their parental rights.

## History

Code 1981, § 15-11-322, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242; Ga. L. 2014, p. 780, § 1-23/SB 364; Ga. L. 2021, p. 134, § 11/SB 28.

## Cross References

Hearsay evidence, T. 24, C. 8.

## Amendments

The 2021 amendment, effective January 1, 2022, added the ending undesignated language in this Code section.