§ 19-11-136.Communication between tribunals
Chapter 11. Enforcement of Duty of Support · Article 3. Uniform Interstate Family Support Act · Part 3. Civil Provisions · Last amended 2013 · Last verified October 9, 2026
Full Text of § 19-11-136
Plain-English Summary
Two courts handling pieces of the same family’s support case can save everyone time by talking to each other. This section allows it. A Georgia tribunal may communicate with a tribunal outside Georgia in a record, or by telephone, e-mail or other means, to get information on three subjects: the other place’s laws, the legal effect of a judgment, decree or order of that tribunal, and the status of a proceeding. A Georgia tribunal may also furnish similar information by similar means to a tribunal outside Georgia.
The power is permissive — the statute says “may” — and it reaches far. Georgia’s tribunals under the act are the superior courts, the Office of State Administrative Hearings and the Department of Human Services (§ 19-11-102). “Outside this state” covers another state or any country other than the United States, whether or not that country qualifies as a “foreign country” under the act (§ 19-11-101). A Georgia court registering an order from another state, for example, can ask that state’s court what its order means rather than guessing.
The section pairs with § 19-11-137, which lets Georgia tribunals request and provide help with discovery, and with § 19-11-135(f), which requires Georgia tribunals to cooperate with other tribunals in designating a place for remote testimony. The section was last amended in 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Georgia judge contact the judge in another state about my support case?
Yes. A Georgia tribunal may communicate with a tribunal outside Georgia in a record, or by telephone, e-mail or other means. The purpose is to get information about that tribunal’s laws, the legal effect of its judgments, decrees or orders, and the status of a proceeding. The Georgia tribunal may share similar information in return.
What can two courts talk about in an interstate support case?
The section lists three subjects: the laws of the other place, the legal effect of a judgment, decree or order of that tribunal, and the status of a proceeding. A Georgia tribunal may obtain that information from a tribunal outside Georgia and may furnish similar information to one.
Does the communication between courts have to be in writing?
No. The section allows communication in a record, or by telephone, e-mail or other means. A “record” under § 19-11-101 means information inscribed on a tangible medium or stored electronically and retrievable in perceivable form, so written letters and electronic files both count, but a phone call is also permitted.
Can a Georgia court communicate with courts in other countries?
Yes. The section refers to a tribunal “outside this state,” which § 19-11-101 defines as a location in another state or a country other than the United States, whether or not that country is a “foreign country” under the act. So a Georgia tribunal may communicate with tribunals abroad as well as in other states.
Which Georgia bodies count as tribunals for interstate support cases?
Under § 19-11-102, the superior courts, the Office of State Administrative Hearings and the Department of Human Services are Georgia’s tribunals for purposes of the interstate support article. Any of them may use this section to communicate with a tribunal outside Georgia.
Amendment History
Laws 1997, p. 1613, § 33; Laws 2013, Act 224, § 1, eff. July 1, 2013.