2022 Georgia Code
Title 19 - Domestic Relations
Chapter 7 - Parent and Child Relationship Generally
Article 1 - General Provisions
§ 19-7-2. Parents’ Obligations to Child

It is the joint and several duty of each parent to provide for the maintenance, protection, and education of his or her child until the child reaches the age of majority, dies, marries, or becomes emancipated, whichever first occurs, except as otherwise authorized and ordered pursuant to subsection (e) of Code Section 19-6-15 and except to the extent that the duty of the parents is otherwise or further defined by court order.

History. Orig. Code 1863, § 1743; Code 1868, § 1783; Code 1873, § 1792; Code 1882, § 1792; Civil Code 1895, § 2501; Civil Code 1910, § 3020; Code 1933, § 74-105; Ga. L. 1979, p. 466, § 41; Ga. L. 1992, p. 1833, § 2; Ga. L. 2005, p. 224, § 12/HB 221; Ga. L. 2006, p. 583, § 7/SB 382.

Cross references.

Parents’ obligation to child born out of wedlock, § 19-7-24 .

Responsibility of parent or guardian for enrolling child in education, § 20-2-690 .

Duty of support owed by parent of pauper, § 36-12-3 .

Editor’s notes.

Ga. L. 2005, p. 224, § 1/HB 221, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: “The General Assembly finds and declares that it is important to assess periodically child support guidelines and determine whether existing guidelines continue to be viable and effective or whether they have failed or ceased to accomplish their original policy objectives. The General Assembly further finds that supporting Georgia’s children is vitally important to the citizens of Georgia. Therefore, the General Assembly has determined that it is in the best interests of the state and its citizenry to undertake an evaluation of the child support guidelines on a continuing basis. The General Assembly declares that it is important that all of Georgia’s children are provided with adequate financial support whether the children’s parents are living together or not living together. The General Assembly finds that both parents have a continuing obligation with respect to providing financial and emotional stability for their child or children. It is the hope of the members of the General Assembly that all parents work together to advance the best interest of their children.”

Ga. L. 2006, p. 583, § 10/SB 382, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: “Sections 1 through 7 of this Act shall become effective on January 1, 2007, and shall apply to all pending civil actions on or after January 1, 2007.”

Law reviews.

For comment on Wallace v. Wallace, 221 Ga. 510 , 145 S.E.2d 546 (1965), see 3 Ga. St. B.J. 219 (1966).

For comment on Bateman v. Bateman, 224 Ga. 20 , 159 S.E.2d 387 (1968), see 5 Ga. St. B.J. 263 (1968).

For article, “Trusts for Dependents: Effect of Georgia’s Support Obligation on Federal Income Taxation,” see 8 Ga. St. B.J. 323 (1972).

For note discussing Georgia’s child support laws, their problems, and some proposed solutions, see 11 Ga. L. Rev. 387 (1977).

For note, “The Economics of Divorce in Georgia: Toward a Partnership Model of Marriage,” see 12 Ga. L. Rev. 640 (1978).

For survey article on domestic relations, see 34 Mercer L. Rev. 113 (1982).

For note on 1992 amendment of this Code section, see 9 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 234 (1992).

For article on 2005 amendment of this Code section, see 22 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 73 (2005).

For article on 2006 amendment of this Code section, see 23 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 103 (2006).

For note, “Big Brother is Watching: When Should Georgia Get Involved in Issues of Family Privacy to Protect Children’s Liberties?,” see 34 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 819 (2018).