§ 19-11-184.5.Recognition and enforcement of foreign support agreement
Chapter 11. Enforcement of Duty of Support · Article 3. Uniform Interstate Family Support Act · Part 7. Determination of Parentage · Last amended 2013 · Last verified October 9, 2026
Full Text of § 19-11-184.5
Plain-English Summary
Not every international support obligation comes from a court order. A “foreign support agreement” is an agreement for support, in a record, that is enforceable as a support order in its country of origin; that was formally drawn up or registered as an authentic instrument by a foreign tribunal, or was authenticated by, concluded, registered or filed with one; and that a foreign tribunal may review and modify. The term includes a maintenance arrangement or authentic instrument under the convention (§ 19-11-180). Subsection (a) says a Georgia tribunal shall recognize and enforce such an agreement registered in this state, except as subsections (c) and (d) provide.
An application or direct request must include two records: the complete text of the agreement and a record stating that it is enforceable as an order of support in the issuing country. Under § 19-11-184.8, any record not in English needs a verified English translation.
A tribunal may vacate the registration on its own only if, acting on its own motion, it finds recognition and enforcement would be manifestly incompatible with public policy. In a contest, the tribunal may refuse recognition and enforcement on four grounds: manifest incompatibility with public policy; the agreement was obtained by fraud or falsification; it is incompatible with a support order between the same parties, for the same purpose, from Georgia, another state or a foreign country, if that order is entitled to recognition and enforcement in Georgia; or the record submitted lacks authenticity or integrity.
Subsection (e) treats appeals differently from the rule for orders. A Georgia proceeding to recognize and enforce a foreign support agreement must be suspended while a challenge to or appeal of the agreement is pending before a tribunal of another state or a foreign country. For convention support orders, by contrast, a challenge or appeal does not stay enforcement absent exceptional circumstances (§ 19-11-184.2). The section took effect July 1, 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a support agreement made in another country be enforced in Georgia?
Yes, if it qualifies as a foreign support agreement and is registered here. Under § 19-11-180, that means an agreement in a record that is enforceable as a support order in its country of origin, was drawn up, registered, authenticated, concluded or filed with a foreign tribunal as the definition describes, and can be reviewed and modified by a foreign tribunal. A Georgia tribunal shall then recognize and enforce it, subject to the limited grounds in this section.
What do I need to file to enforce a foreign support agreement in Georgia?
Subsection (b) requires two records: a complete text of the foreign support agreement and a record stating that the agreement is enforceable as an order of support in the issuing country. If either record isn’t in English, § 19-11-184.8 requires the original along with an English translation verified by the translator.
On what grounds can I fight enforcement of a foreign support agreement?
In a contest, the tribunal may refuse on four grounds: recognition and enforcement is manifestly incompatible with public policy; the agreement was obtained by fraud or falsification; it is incompatible with a support order between the same parties, for the same purpose, that is entitled to recognition and enforcement in Georgia; or the record submitted lacks authenticity or integrity. The word is “may,” so refusal is up to the tribunal.
What happens if the agreement is being challenged in the other country?
The Georgia case must pause. Subsection (e) says a proceeding for recognition and enforcement of a foreign support agreement must be suspended while a challenge to or appeal of the agreement is pending before a tribunal of another state or a foreign country. That is stricter than the rule for convention support orders, where an appeal doesn’t stop enforcement absent exceptional circumstances.
Can a Georgia judge reject a foreign support agreement if no one objects?
Only on one ground. Subsection (c) says a Georgia tribunal may vacate the registration of a foreign support agreement only if, acting on its own motion, it finds that recognition and enforcement would be manifestly incompatible with public policy. The other grounds for refusal in subsection (d) come into play only in a contest.
Amendment History
Laws 2013, Act 224, § 1, eff. July 1, 2013.