History. Orig. Code 1863, § 1685; Code 1868, § 1728; Code 1873, § 1733; Code 1882, § 1733; Civil Code 1895, § 2452; Civil Code 1910, § 2971; Code 1933, § 30-127; Ga. L. 1957, p. 412, § 1; Ga. L. 1962, p. 713, § 1; Ga. L. 1976, p. 1050, § 1; Ga. L. 1978, p. 258, § 2; Ga. L. 1983, p. 632, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 22, § 19; Ga. L. 1986, p. 1000, § 1; Ga. L. 1986, p. 1036, § 1; Ga. L. 1988, p. 1368, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 1656, § 1; Ga. L. 1995, p. 863, § 5; Ga. L. 1999, p. 329, § 3; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1292, § 1; Ga. L. 2007, p. 554, § 5/HB 369; Ga. L. 2011, p. 274, § 2/SB 112; Ga. L. 2013, p. 553, § 2/SB 1; Ga. L. 2016, p. 222, § 1/HB 52.
The 2016 amendment, effective July 1, 2016, substituted “court” for “judge” throughout this Code section and, in subsection (a), twice substituted “court’s” for “judge’s” in the second and third sentences and, in the fourth sentence, substituted “order” for “decree” near the beginning and added “as further set forth in this Code section; provided, however, that unless otherwise ordered by the court, a separate court order exclusively devoted to a parenting plan shall not be required” at the end.
Cross references.
Parenting plan, Uniform Rules for the Superior Courts of Georgia, Rule 24.10.
Editor’s notes.
Ga. L. 2007, p. 554, § 1/HB 369, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: “The General Assembly of Georgia declares that it is the policy of this state to assure that minor children have frequent and continuing contact with parents who have shown the ability to act in the best interests of their children and to encourage parents to share in the rights and responsibilities of rearing their children after the parents have separated or dissolved their marriage or relationship.”
Ga. L. 2007, p. 554, § 8/HB 369, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that the amendment to this Code section shall apply to all child custody proceedings and modifications of child custody filed on or after January 1, 2008.
Ga. L. 2011, p. 274, § 1/SB 112, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: “This Act shall be known and may be cited as the ‘Military Parents Rights Act.’”
Law reviews.
For article recommending more consistency in age requirements of laws pertaining to the welfare of minors, see 6 Ga. St. B.J. 189 (1969).
For comment on Bodrey v. Cape, 120 Ga. App. 859 , 172 S.E.2d 643 (1969), see 7 Ga. St. B.J. 256 (1970).
For article, “The Child as a Party in Interest in Custody Proceedings,” see 10 Ga. St. B.J. 577 (1974).
For article surveying Georgia cases dealing with domestic relations from June 1977 through May 1978, see 30 Mercer L. Rev. 59 (1978).
For annual survey on law of domestic relations, see 42 Mercer L. Rev. 201 (1990).
For note on 1992 amendment of this Code section, see 9 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 243 (1992).
For article, “Domestic Relations Law,” see 53 Mercer L. Rev. 265 (2001).
For survey article on domestic relations cases for the period from June 1, 2002 through May 31, 2003, see 55 Mercer L. Rev. 223 (2003).
For annual survey of domestic relations law, see 56 Mercer L. Rev. 221 (2004).
For survey article on domestic relations law, see 59 Mercer L. Rev. 139 (2007).
For article with annual survey on domestic relations, see 73 Mercer L. Rev. 89 (2021).
Structure Georgia Code
Chapter 9 - Child Custody Proceedings
Article 1 - General Provisions
§ 19-9-1. Parenting Plans; Requirements for Plan
§ 19-9-1.1. Binding Arbitration on Issue of Child Custody and Related Matters
§ 19-9-1.2. Required Domestic Relations Case Filing Information Form
§ 19-9-2. Right of Surviving Parent to Custody of Child; Discretion of Judge
§ 19-9-3. Establishment and Review of Child Custody and Visitation