2021 Georgia Code
Title 51 - Torts
Chapter 1 - General Provisions
§ 51-1-17. Rights of Action for Adultery, Alienation of Affections, and Criminal Conversation Abolished

Adultery, alienation of affections, or criminal conversation with a wife or husband shall not give a right of action to the person's spouse. Rights of action for adultery, alienation of affections, or criminal conversation are abolished.

(Orig. Code 1863, § 2950; Code 1868, § 2957; Code 1873, § 3008; Code 1882, § 3008; Civil Code 1895, § 3869; Civil Code 1910, § 4465; Code 1933, § 105-1203; Ga. L. 1979, p. 466, § 46.)

- Criminal penalty for adultery, § 16-6-19.

Divorce, § 19-5-1 et seq.

- For article surveying legislative and judicial developments in Georgia's divorce, alimony and child custody laws for 1978-79, see 31 Mercer L. Rev. 75 (1979).

JUDICIAL DECISIONS

Retrospective repeal of former section unconstitutional.

- Portion of the Family and Domestic Relations Law which made the repeal of the cause of action for alienation of affections retrospective as to pending actions is unconstitutional. Enger v. Erwin, 245 Ga. 753, 267 S.E.2d 25 (1980).

- O.C.G.A. § 51-1-17, by implication, bars actions based on alleged intentional interference with marital contract and marital relations. Arnac v. Wright, 163 Ga. App. 33, 292 S.E.2d 440 (1982).

- Patient could not bring a medical malpractice claim for damages against a family doctor for interference with the patient's marriage, loss of affection, or depression and anxiety that resulted from the doctor having an affair with the patient's wife because O.C.G.A. § 51-1-17 abolished torts claims for adultery and alienation of affections. The patient's claim of breach of fiduciary duty/confidential relationship was nothing more than a renamed claim of the torts banned by O.C.G.A. § 51-1-17. Witcher v. McGauley, 316 Ga. App. 574, 730 S.E.2d 56 (2012).

Cited in Cook v. Wood, 30 Ga. 891 (1860); Wood v. State, 62 Ga. 406 (1879); Sikes v. Tippins, 85 Ga. 231, 11 S.E. 662 (1890); Sellers v. Page, 127 Ga. 633, 56 S.E. 1011 (1907); Drawdy v. Hesters, 130 Ga. 161, 60 S.E. 451 (1908); Wilson v. Brock, 134 Ga. 782, 68 S.E. 497 (1910); Miller v. State, 9 Ga. App. 827, 72 S.E. 279 (1911); Davis v. Cochran, 42 Ga. App. 215, 155 S.E. 379 (1930); Barney v. Barney, 43 Ga. App. 545, 159 S.E. 595 (1931); Sessions v. Parker, 45 Ga. App. 101, 163 S.E. 297 (1932); Roberts v. Turner, 49 Ga. App. 516, 176 S.E. 91 (1934); Edwards v. Monroe, 54 Ga. App. 791, 189 S.E. 419 (1936); Hosford v. Hosford, 58 Ga. App. 188, 198 S.E. 289 (1938); Sanders v. Chandler, 71 Ga. App. 337, 30 S.E.2d 813 (1944); Kidd v. Holtzendorf, 88 Ga. App. 360, 76 S.E.2d 656 (1953); Posner v. Koplin, 94 Ga. App. 306, 94 S.E.2d 434 (1956); Wright v. Lester, 105 Ga. App. 107, 123 S.E.2d 672 (1961); Emerson v. Fleming, 127 Ga. App. 296, 193 S.E.2d 249 (1972).

RESEARCH REFERENCES

Am. Jur. 2d.

- 41 Am. Jur. 2d, Husband and Wife, § 220 et seq.

Proof of Alienation of Affections, 54 POF3d 135.

- 41 C.J.S., Husband and Wife, § 251 et seq.

- Action for intentional infliction of emotional distress against paramours, 99 A.L.R.5th 445.

Intentional infliction of distress in marital context, 110 A.L.R.5th 371.