§ 19-11-163.Governing law; statute of limitations; application of procedural and remedial law of Georgia; prospective application of law of other state or foreign country
Chapter 11. Enforcement of Duty of Support · Article 3. Uniform Interstate Family Support Act · Part 6. Enforcement and Modification of Support Order After Registration · Last amended 2013 · Last verified October 9, 2026
Full Text of § 19-11-163
Plain-English Summary
When a support order from another state or a foreign country is registered in Georgia, two bodies of law meet. This section sorts out which one governs what.
The law of the issuing state or foreign country governs three subjects: the nature, extent, amount, and duration of current payments; how arrearages are computed and paid and how interest accrues on them; and whether other obligations under the order exist and have been satisfied. So a Georgia court enforcing a registered order doesn’t recalculate support under Georgia’s guidelines or apply Georgia’s rules on when support ends. Georgia law, by contrast, supplies the tools. A Georgia responding tribunal shall apply Georgia’s procedures and remedies to enforce current support and to collect arrears and interest.
For a proceeding to collect arrears under a registered order, the statute of limitation is the one from Georgia or from the issuing state or foreign country, whichever is longer. That rule protects obligees from losing older arrears merely because the case moved. A contesting party can raise the limitation period as a defense under § 19-11-166.
One exception applies when more than one order exists. After a Georgia tribunal or another state’s tribunal determines which is the controlling order and issues an order consolidating arrears, if any, a Georgia tribunal shall apply going forward the law of the state or foreign country that issued the controlling order. That includes its law on interest on arrears, on current and future support, and on consolidated arrears. Section 19-11-116 sets the rules for choosing the controlling order. The section was last amended in 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state’s law decides the amount of child support when an order is registered in Georgia?
The issuing state’s, or the issuing foreign country’s. The law of the place that issued the order governs the nature, extent, amount and duration of current payments, the computation and payment of arrearages and interest, and the existence and satisfaction of other obligations under the order. Georgia supplies the procedures and remedies used to enforce it.
What statute of limitations applies to collecting old child support arrears in Georgia?
For a proceeding for arrears under a registered support order, the statute of limitation of Georgia or of the issuing state or foreign country applies, whichever is longer. This section doesn’t state either period itself. A party contesting enforcement can argue under § 19-11-166 that the limitation period bars some or all of the alleged arrearages.
Does Georgia’s interest rate apply to arrears under an out-of-state support order?
Generally no. The law of the issuing state or foreign country governs how arrearages are computed and how interest accrues on them. The exception comes after a tribunal determines the controlling order among several and issues an order consolidating arrears; then Georgia applies, going forward, the law of the state or country that issued the controlling order, including its law on interest on arrears.
Can a Georgia court use contempt to enforce another state’s support order?
Georgia’s enforcement tools are available. A Georgia responding tribunal shall apply the procedures and remedies of Georgia to enforce current support and to collect arrears and interest due on a registered support order of another state or a foreign country. Section 19-11-161 names a rule for contempt and a petition for income withholding as examples of remedies a party may seek with registration.
What law applies after a court decides which of several support orders controls?
The law of the state or foreign country that issued the controlling order. Once a Georgia tribunal or another state’s tribunal determines the controlling order and issues an order consolidating arrears, if any, a Georgia tribunal shall prospectively apply that issuer’s law, including its law on interest on arrears, on current and future support, and on consolidated arrears.
Amendment History
Laws 1997, p. 1613, § 33; Laws 2013, Act 224, § 1, eff. July 1, 2013.