Title 19 — Domestic Relations

Family violence. Defined, §19-13-1. Stepdaughters. Marriages prohibited. Fathers, §19-3-3. Stepsons. Marriages prohibited. Mothers, §19-3-3. STEPPARENTS. Adoption. Stepparent adoptions, §19-8-6. Child adoption generally, §§19-8-3, 19-8-6. Child care, power of attorney delegating c…

Confirmation of a registered support order, whether by operation of law or after notice and hearing, precludes further contest of the order with respect to any matter that could have been asserted at the time of registration. History. Code 1981, § 19-11-167, enacted by Ga. L. 1997…

A party or support enforcement agency seeking to modify, or to modify and enforce, a child support order issued in another state shall register that order in Georgia in the same manner provided in Code Sections 19-11-160 through 19-11-167 if the order has not been registered. A p…

A tribunal of Georgia may enforce a child support order of another state registered for purposes of modification in the same manner as if the order had been issued by a tribunal of Georgia, but the registered support order may be modified only if the requirements of Code Section 19…

Whenever a parent has been determined able to support his child pursuant to Code Section 19-11-15 or 19-11-16 but is unable to provide the support because of a change in circumstances, he may demand a hearing for redetermination. The department shall hold the hearing within 30 da…

(a) If Code Section 19-11-172 does not apply, upon petition a tribunal of Georgia may modify a child support order issued in another state which is registered in Georgia if, after notice and hearing, the tribunal finds that: (1) The following requirements are met: (A) Neither the …

If a child support order issued by a tribunal in Georgia is modified by a tribunal of another state which assumed jurisdiction pursuant to this article, a tribunal of Georgia: (1) May enforce its order that was modified only as to arrears and interest accruing before the modificatio…

(a) If all of the parties who are individuals reside in Georgia and the child does not reside in the issuing state, a tribunal in Georgia has jurisdiction to enforce and to modify the issuing state’s child support order in a proceeding to register that order. (b) A tribunal in Ge…

Within 30 days after issuance of a modified child support order, the party obtaining the modification shall file a certified copy of the order with the issuing tribunal that had continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the earlier order and in each tribunal in which the party knows th…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Code Section 19-11-184.6, if a foreign country lacks or refuses to exercise jurisdiction to modify its child support order pursuant to its laws, a tribunal of Georgia may assume jurisdiction to modify the child support order and bind all indivi…

A party or support enforcement agency seeking to modify, or to modify and enforce, a foreign child support order not under the convention may register that order in this state under Code Sections 19-11-160 through 19-11-167 if the order has not been registered. A petition for mod…

(a) The child support enforcement agency, in accordance with IV-D, shall be authorized to institute collection procedures for all arrearages which have accrued against child support payments owed pursuant to a judgment or support order of a court of competent jurisdiction. Such c…

As used in this part, the term: (1) “Application” means a request under the convention by an obligee or obligor, or on behalf of a child, made through a central authority for assistance from another central authority. (2) “Central authority” means the entity designated by the Uni…

This part applies only to a support proceeding under the convention. In such a proceeding, if a provision of this part is inconsistent with Parts 1 through 6 of this article, this part controls. History. Code 1981, § 19-11-181, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 705, § 1/SB 193. 19-11-18…

The Department of Human Services is recognized as the agency designated by the United States central authority to perform specific functions under the convention. 1244 19-11-183 History. Code 1981, § 19-11-182, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 705, § 1/SB 193. 19-11-183. Duties of Depar…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this part, a party who is an individual or a support enforcement agency seeking recognition of a convention support order shall register the order in this state as provided in Part 6 of this article. (b) Notwithstanding Code Sections 19-11-130 …

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this part, Code Sections 19-11164 through 19-11-167 apply to a contest of a registered convention support order. (b) A party contesting a registered convention support order shall file a contest not later than 30 days after notice of the registr…

(a) A tribunal of Georgia may not modify a convention child support order if the obligee remains a resident of the foreign country where the support order was issued unless: (1) The obligee submits to the jurisdiction of a tribunal of Georgia, either expressly or by defending on …

Personal information gathered or transmitted under this part may be used only for the purposes for which it was gathered or transmitted. History. Code 1981, § 19-11-184.7, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 705, § 1/SB 193. 19-11-184.8. Language.

A record filed with a tribunal of Georgia under this part must be in the original language and, if not in English, must be accompanied by an English translation verified by the translator. History. Code 1981, § 19-11-184.8, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 705, § 1/SB 193. PART 8 INTERST…

(a) Before making a demand that the governor of another state surrender an individual charged criminally in this state with having failed to provide for the support of an obligee, the Governor of this state may require a prosecutor of this state to demonstrate that at least 90 da…

In applying and construing this article, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it. History. Code 1981, § 19-11-190, enacted by Ga. L. 1997, p. 1613, § 33; Ga. L. 2013, p. 705, § 1/SB 193…

This article applies to proceedings begun on or after July 1, 2013, to establish a support order or determine parentage of a child or to register, recognize, enforce, or modify a prior support order, determination, or agreement, whenever issued or entered. History. Code 1981, § 1…

If any provision of this article or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this article which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provision…

(a) The underlying purposes of this article are: 1104 19-11-3 (1) To provide that public assistance to needy children is a supplement to the contribution of the responsible parents; (2) To provide for a determination that a responsible parent is able to support his children; and …

(a) A parent responsible for child support payments may make an assignment of a portion of his wages to the department in order to fulfill his obligations under this article. The employer shall recognize and comply with any wage assignment executed for the purpose of meeting child…

Payment of support pursuant to an administrative determination or a voluntary agreement shall be made to the department. In non-TANF cases, where the department deems it appropriate, it may authorize distribution of the actual payment by other individuals, agencies, or entities a…

The procedures, actions, and remedies provided in this article shall in no way be exclusive but shall be in addition to and not in substitution of other proceedings provided by law. History. Ga. L. 1973, p. 192, § 18.

Appointment as counsel in undefended divorce cases, §19-5-10. 1377 INDEX DISTRICT ATTORNEYS —Cont’d Support and maintenance. Uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act. Foreign support orders. Applicability of representation provision, §19-11-78. Payment of district attorney’s…

Applicability of administrative procedure act, §19-11-4. Consumer reporting agencies. Availability of information about overdue support, §19-11-25. Fee, §19-11-25. Notice to debtor parent, §19-11-25. Court order for increase or decrease, §19-11-12. Definitions, §19-11-3.

Adoption, §19-8-1. Uniform child custody jurisdiction and enforcement act, §19-9-81. Physical custody. Uniform child custody jurisdiction act, §19-9-22. Uniform child custody jurisdiction and enforcement act, §19-9-41. Placement agency. Adoption, §19-8-23. Police stations. Abando…

National medical support notice. Defined, §19-6-32. Military compensation and expenses. Gross income, determining, §19-6-15. Modification. Attorney’s fees, costs and litigation expenses, §19-6-15. Changed circumstances, §19-6-15. Change in income or financial status, §19-6-18. Judgm…

Act remedies not exclusive, §19-11-22. Adjusting support award amount, §19-11-12. Administrative order requesting increase or decrease in amount, §19-11-12. Adoption of necessary regulations authorized, §19-11-24. Alimony for public assistance recipients. Enforcement, §19-11-6. A…

As used in this article, the term: (1) “Account” means a demand deposit account, checking or negotiable order of withdrawal account, savings account, time deposit account, or a money market mutual fund account. (2) “Child support enforcement agency” means the entity within the de…

Paternity, §19-7-45. Georgia protective order registry. Information contained in, §19-13-55. Name changes for family violence victims. Proceeding under seal, §19-12-1. Paternity proceedings, §19-7-53. Protective order registry. Information contained in, §19-13-55. CONFLICTS OF LA…

The department shall establish a computer based registry of account data obtained from financial institutions doing business in this state. Such registry shall include only identifying information for obligors whom the child support enforcement agency believes owe child support an…

The child support enforcement agency shall have the authority to levy and seize a deposit or account in accordance with Code Section 19-11-32. History.

Establishment, §19-11-30.1. Requests for information, §19-11-30.2. Responsibilities of department, §19-11-30.3. Collection of delinquent accounts, §§19-11-34, 19-11-38. Construction of provisions, §19-11-30.7. Definitions, §19-11-30.2. Disclosure of information, §19-11-30.4. Failu…

(a) As used in this Code section, the term “for cause” means that the department has reason to believe that an individual has opened an account at a financial institution. (b) The department shall, pursuant to the provisions of subsection (f) of this Code section, request from eac…

Liability of father for support, §19-11-14. Child support liens, §19-11-18.

No employee or agent of the state shall divulge any information collected pursuant to Code Sections 19-11-30.1 through 19-11-30.3 or Code Section 19-11-30.6 to any public or private agency or individual except in the manner prescribed in this Code section. Information may be disc…

Any financial institution required to submit a report pursuant to Code Section 19-11-30.2 which fails without reasonable cause as determined by the department to comply with such reporting requirements and which, after notification by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery b…

The commissioner of human services, in cooperation with the child support enforcement agency, shall establish a program of wage and bank information sharing with other states. The commissioner is authorized to enter into reciprocal agreements with other states to share lists of a…

Code Sections 19-11-30, 19-11-30.4, and 19-11-30.6 shall not be construed to prevent the release by the commissioner of human services of such wage and bank information data for the purposes described in Title IV-D of the federal Social Security Act. History. Code 1981, § 19-11-3…

The commissioner of human services shall file an annual report describing the status of the wage reporting and bank match systems. The report shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate for the previous state fiscal year no later tha…

As an exception to Code Section 7-1-360, a financial institution furnishing a report or providing information for the commissioner of human services under Code Section 19-11-30.2 shall not disclose to a depositor or an account holder that the name of such person has been received …

(a) Notwithstanding other statutory provisions which provide for the execution, attachment, or levy against accounts, the child support enforcement agency may utilize the process established in this Code section and Code Sections 19-11-33 through 19-11-39 to collect delinquent su…

19-11-34. Verification; immunity from liability. Sec. 19-11-35. 19-11-36. 19-11-37. 19-11-38. 19-11-39. T.19, C.11 Initiation of administrative action for levy; required information in notice to financial institution. Required information in notice to obligor. Challenges to levy; m…

(a) The child support enforcement agency may contact a financial institution to obtain verification of the account number, the names and 1166 19-11-35 social security numbers listed for the account, and the account balance of any account held by an obligor. A financial institution m…

Financial institution duties, §19-11-38. Case registry, §19-11-39.