---
title: O.C.G.A. § 19-8-40. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 19-8-40
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 19-8-40 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/19-8-40
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/19-8-40.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/19-8-40/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t18-t19-(v16)-2022-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=b0848ebd_0#page=918
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/19-8.md
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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: DOMESTIC RELATIONS / ADOPTION / EMBRYO TRANSFERS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 19-8-40. Definitions.

As used in this article, the term:

(1) “Embryo” or “human embryo” means an individual fertilized ovum of the human species from the single-cell stage to eight-week development.

(2) “Embryo relinquishment” or “legal transfer of rights to an embryo” means the relinquishment of rights and responsibilities by the person or persons who hold the legal rights and responsibilities for an embryo and the acceptance of such rights and responsibilities by a recipient intended parent.

(3) “Embryo transfer” means the medical procedure of physically placing an embryo into the uterus of a female.

(4) “Legal embryo custodian” means the person or persons who hold the legal rights and responsibilities for a human embryo and who relinquishes said embryo to another person or persons.

(5) “Recipient intended parent” means a person or persons who receive a relinquished embryo and who accepts full legal rights and responsibilities for such embryo and any child that may be born as a result of embryo transfer.

## History

Code 1981, § 19-8-40, enacted by Ga. L. 2009, p. 800, § 2/HB 388.

## Law Reviews

For annual survey of law on domestic relations, see 62 Mercer L. Rev. 105 (2010).